During an inspection of a building, the first area to be inspected should be the

• A. Exterior
• B. Interior
• C. Roof
• D. Basement

Answer: (A)

Starting with the exterior gives you a quick, nonintrusive snapshot that sets up the rest of the inspection. From outside you can confirm the correct address and visible signage, and you can assess fire department access to the building—whether lanes, entrances, and hydrants are unobstructed. Exterior observations also reveal hazards or conditions that affect interior work, such as locked or blocked entries, vegetation encroachment, or visible damage to the building envelope. Seeing exterior openings, egress paths, and the general construction helps you anticipate where interior doors, concealed spaces, or potential fire spread paths might be, guiding how you plan the interior and roof checks. This approach also enhances safety by identifying hazards before you step inside and by giving you context about construction type and layout that informs your interior evaluation. Once the exterior baseline is clear, you can move into interior, roof, and basement with a plan shaped by what you observed outside.