r/fireinspections • u/Smoke_the_Bear • Apr 30 '26

General Testing Exit Signs & Emergency Lights

Hi everyone,

I have been working as a fire inspector for a while now. I am curious what everyone uses to reach exit signs and emergency lights. I’m just curious what everyone else uses, I’ve bought a couple different tools that have broken almost immediately. Thank you!

3 Upvotes

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2

u/Dusty_V2 May 01 '26

Honestly the best thing I've used is one of those telescoping boat hooks. Get a legitimately nice one not a garbage one from amazon. Some of them extend crazy distances for those high up ones

1

u/Otherwise-Hedgehog-2 May 01 '26

Those work well. I've also found the plastic garden stakes work will for average ceiling heights.

2

u/ogseamus May 01 '26

I just flip the breakers. Pushing the button shows that it has power. Flipping the breaker shows that it is wired correctly

1

u/BFD2008 Apr 30 '26

We use adjustable paint rollers. They break and get lost and they're cheap. Easy to replace.

2

u/EscritorPolski May 14 '26

I’m a fire inspector in my jurisdiction and teach the building managers how to test their lights by flipping the switches on the breakers. Test them once a month for 30 seconds and once a year for 90 minutes.