Construction-Related Fire Department Requirements (1)

Fire Rescue Construction Site Minimum Requirements

1. All permits and plans must be on site, trades that do not have will be asked to leave the job site.
2. All requirements of the current edition NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration and Demolition Operations, must be met and maintained.
3. Address signage will be visible from the roadway on both the building and fencing around the site.
4. Knox locks will be required on all chained gates.
5. Overhead map of the entire site showing gate access locations shall be provided.
6. Monthly aerial photographs showing construction progression.
7. Access to fire crews for site and building construction familiarization (new buildings).
8. Roadways constructed of shell rock (or harder) will be accessible and able to support the largest Fire apparatus.
9. All roadways will be a minimum of 20’ in width, unobstructed.
10. There shall be no parking on both sides of the street.
11. A minimum of 13’6” of vertical clearance shall be maintained.
12. A turn-around area for fire apparatus shall be available for any dead-end roadways during construction.
13. Upon completion of all underground, the site should have 360-degree accessibility for emergency apparatus.
14. Any structure greater than 3 floors, will have an easily accessible and identifiable fire department connection “FDC” leading to a dry standpipe in a stairwell at 1 floor level below the highest working floor.
15. Where required, a site safety plan will be developed and approved prior to construction.
16.  No vertical construction is to begin prior to a water supply (hydrant) being accessible.
17. Prior to final approval of construction, it is the responsibility of the property owner or their designee to ensure 99% radio/cellular communication capabilities for all fire and police personnel in accordance with NFPA 72 paragraph 24.5.2* Two-Way Radio Communications Enhancement Systems. If a failure occurs, a radio/cellular enhancement system will need to be installed.

Fire Rescue General and Sub-Contractor Responsibilities

General Contractor - New Construction / Build-Outs – for “Final Fire”

1. Addressing.
2. Mechanical – all new duct detectors shall be tested with smoke.
3. Knox box – (new buildings) shall be mounted and have the following placed inside of the box:
   1. Keys to the following:
      1. Main entrance.
      2. All mechanical and electrical rooms.
      3. Emergency elevator operations (2).
      4. Fire alarm panel.
      5. Pull stations.
   2. Business card of 24/7 emergency point of contact.
4. Electrical – Panel schedule, spares in the off position.
5. Signage – Stairwells, mechanical, electrical, exits.
6. Lighting - emergency.
7. Extinguishers – quantity, type, location.
8. Prior to final approval of construction, it is the responsibility of the property owner or their designee to ensure 100% radio/cellular communication capabilities for all fire and police personnel in accordance with NFPA 72, Chapter 24, Paragraph 24.5.2 Two-Way Radio Communications Enhancement Systems.  If a failure occurs, a radio/cellular enhancement system will need to be installed.

Fire Sprinkler Contractor

1. Below ground testing certificate.
2. Above ground testing certificate.
3. Fire Pump testing certificate (new buildings).
4. An original copy (non-copy machine) of NFPA 13.
5. Hydraulic plates.
6. Spare Heads and associated wrenches.
7. Escutcheons/cover plates.
8. Copy of plans – 4” PVC by FACP.
9. Maintenance Contract.
10. Signage.

Fire Alarm Contractor

1. Location of electrical panel and breaker associated with the panel.
2. Contact number inside of the panel door.
3. Account number inside of the panel door.
4. All strobes within visual of another shall be in synchronization.
5. Record of Completion.
6. Monitoring Contract.
7. Maintenance Contract.
8. Copy of plans – 4” PVC by FACP.

Fire Suppression Contractor

1. UL-300:
   1. Notification Device.
   2. Gas company representative.
   3. Electrical Inspector.
   4. Representative of the business (owner/chef).
   5. Chain.
   6. Shunt Trip.
   7. Chocks.
   8. Pre-Engineered Restaurant Fire Suppression Systems Report.
   9. Signage.
2. FM-200:
   1. Notification Device.
   2. Fan test – Enclosure Integrity Report.
   3. Signage.

Petroleum Fuel Tank Contractor

1. Underground visualization to ensure tank integrity.
2. Underground of tank to ensure mounting/strapping.
3. Pressure Test of all lines coming from tanks.
4. Upon completion, each emergency shut-off to be tested.

Fire Rescue General Permitting Requirements

For new construction, “Site/Civil Plans” must be approved prior to the submission of any structural plans being reviewed.

Two sets of all permits (shop drawings) regardless of permit type must be submitted. 

Two sets of all supporting documentation and/or manufacture specification sheets must accompany the submitted plans.

Minimum requirements for specific permit types are listed below.

New Construction / Build-Outs

1. List of the most current Building and NFPA codes used in developing the plans.
2. Business name and address on each page.
3. A Life Safety Plan “LSP” to include all the following:
   1. Type of occupancy.
   2. Occupant load calculations.
   3. Common paths of travel and distances to exits.
   4. Corridor width.
   5. Fire extinguisher location(s).
   6. Emergency lighting*.
   7. Illuminated exit signage*.
   8. *May be on the lighting/reflective ceiling plan or the LSP, but if on both they must be identical.
4. If Mechanical Plans, the proper location of Duct Detectors in the supply & return for systems greater than 2000 CFM or 60,000 BTUs and their respective test switches.
5. If Mechanical Plans in a non-sprinklered/non-fire alarm building, the proper location of their respective test switches AND the location of each “Smoke” indicator.
6. If Electrical Plans, the panel schedule needs to indicate which breaker is for the emergency lighting and which breaker is for the Fire Alarm Control Panel “FACP” in an alarmed structure.
7. If Lighting Plans, the location of all illuminated exit signs and emergency lighting must match that of the LSP.
8. Any fire system related work shall require a sub-permit from the specific trade performing the work.

Fire Sprinkler Permit Requirements

1. Permit required if installation/alteration is > 5 heads.
2. List of the current NFPA code(s) used in developing the plans.
3. Business name and address on each page.
4. 2 sets of shop drawings.
5. All manufacture product (cut) sheets.
6. Hangar details.
7. If > 49 heads, an Engineers stamp is required.

Fire Alarm Permit Requirements

1. Permit required for all alterations and installation.
2. List of the current NFPA code(s) used in developing the plans.
3. Business name and address on each page.
4. 2 sets of shop drawings.
5. All manufacture product (cut) sheets.
6. If system is wireless then a map showing the primary and alternate(s) cell/radio towers should the primary fail.
7. If > $5000 value, an Engineers stamp is required.

Fire Suppression Permit Requirements

1. UL-300 (Kitchen Suppression Systems):
   1. Permit required for all installations and alteration.
   2. List of the current NFPA code(s) used in developing the plans.
   3. Business name and address on each page.
   4. 2 sets of shop drawing.
   5. Sequence of operations on the drawings.
   6. All manufacture product (cut) sheets.
2. FM-200 (Clean Rooms):
   1. Permit required for all installations and alteration.
   2. List of the current NFPA code(s) used in developing the plans.
   3. Business name and address on each page.
   4. 2 sets of shop drawings.
   5. Sequence of operations on all drawings.
   6. All manufacture product (cut) sheets.

Tent Permit Requirements

1. Completion of the Temporary Tent Application Package form.
2. Sample of tent material.
3. Map of location showing the location of the tent.

Special Event Permit Requirements

1. Completion of the Special Event Permit Application.
2. 2 copies of all supporting documentation.
3. Map of the event location.
4. Tent permit for all commercially installed temporary tents.

Firework Permit Requirements

1. Completion of the specific Outdoor Fireworks Display Permit Application.
2. Evidence of financial responsibility of the property owner.
3. Evidence of financial responsibility of the operator.
4. Qualifications of all operators and assistants.
5. Clear driver license photo of each operator and assistant.
6. Letter from the Homeowners Associations (HOA) granting permission for the display if located in a development.
7. The quantity, a detailed inventory and manufacture product specifications of each firework to be shot off.
8. Map of the event location showing all stand-off distances, fall-out distances, audience location, roads and buildings within range of the display and the location of the vehicle used to store the fireworks.
9. 24/7 name and number of the event organizer.
10. 24/7 name and number for the display operator.

Fire Rescue Construction Inspection Requirements

General Scheduling Requirements

1. All fire related inspections are required to be scheduled at least 1 day prior to the inspection.
2. Same day inspections if the schedule allows, may be conducted after a “same day” inspection fee is paid.
3. All inspection time requests are for either morning or afternoon, no specific times will be given.
4. Inspections are conducted Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
5. On the day of the inspection, you may call the permit counter to coordinate a narrower window for inspection with the actual inspector if available.
6. No “courtesy or miscellaneous inspections” are conducted.
7. All FINAL inspections are to be scheduled by permit number.
8. All FINAL inspections are to be called in by the General Contractor.
9. All FINAL inspections are to be scheduled together (same date & time).
10. All ROUGH inspections are to be called in by the sub-contractor.
11. A representative of each trade shall be on site at the time of their respective inspection.
12.  The Permit card shall be on site for each of the inspections being conducted.
13. A copy of all approved/stamped plans will be on site for each of the inspections being conducted.
14. Cancellation of inspections must be called in no later than 8:30 AM else an unproductive fee will be assessed.

Specific Scheduling Requirements

1. Fire Sprinkler Scheduling Requirements:
   1. The requirements listed in section 1 above.
   2. All rough inspections are to be scheduled by the sub-contractor performing the work.
   3. Rough inspections to include:
      1. All underground.
      2. All flushing prior to connection to the fire sprinkler riser.
      3. Fire pump acceptance testing.
      4. Existing construction - 1 hard-lid inspection per job.
      5. New construction, commercial – 1 hard-lid inspection per floor.
      6. New construction to including hotels, apartments, residential board and care – 1 hard-lid inspection per wing, each floor.
      7. New construction, residential – 1 hard-lid inspection.
   4. Final Inspection called in by the General Contractor.
2. Fire Alarm Scheduling Requirements:
   1. The requirements listed in section 1 above.
   2. The sub-contractor performing the work is not to call for inspection.
   3. Final Inspection called in by the General Contractor.
3. Fire Suppression Scheduling Requirements:
   1. The requirements listed in section 1 above.
      1. UL-300, Kitchen Suppression Systems:
         1. The sub-contractor performing the work is not to call for inspection.
      2.  FM-200, Clean Agent Systems:
         1. The requirements listed in section 1 above.
         2. Fan-Pressure Test to be called in by the sub-contractor performing the work.
   2. Final Inspection called in by the General Contractor.
4. Petroleum Fuel Tank Scheduling Requirements:
   1. The requirements listed in section 1 above.
   2. The sub-contractor shall call in Underground visualization of mounting.
   3. The sub-contractor shall call in the pressure test of gas lines.
   4. Final Inspection called in by the General Contractor.