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Inspection Process
Safeguarding Construction,
Alteration, and Demolition Operations
Tenant Space Certificate of Occupancy Procedures
Common Code Violations
Smoke Alarms Save Lives
Fire Marshal's
Office Jurisdiction
The City of Fort Oglethorpe Fire Marshal's Office is
charged with enforcing "Rules and Regulations for the
State Minimum Fire Safety Standards" as adopted by the
State Fire Commissioner. The Fire Marshal's Office
is the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) in these
matters for all the City of Fort Oglethorpe. The
Fire Marshal's Office has three major responsibilities:
▪ Conduct fire & life safety inspections of
existing buildings and structures.
▪ Review plans and specifications for proposed
buildings and structures, issue plans review
certificate when plans are approved, and conduct
fire & life safety inspections of such buildings
and
structures.
▪ Issue permanent and temporary certificates of
occupancies.
These responsibilities are established in Title 25
Chapter 2 of the Official Code of Georgia. The
Fire Marshal's Office issues certificates of occupancy
jointly with the City of Fort Oglethorpe Fire Marshal
Office for buildings that fall under their jurisdiction.
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Inspection Process
The inspection process for new buildings begins
with plan review. Plans are initially brought to
the Fire Marshal's Office. After necessary
corrections are made and plans approved by City of Fort
Oglethorpe Fire Marshal's Office, developers then take
plans to the City of Fort Oglethorpe Buildings
Department for final approval. Contractors are
then required to keep a set of approved plans on the
building site during construction. Inspection
request then can be made during any phase of
construction. Depending on the structure, separate
inspections may be requested for the fire alarm system,
duct detectors, kitchen hood systems, paint booths,
emergency lights and sprinklers. After violations
are corrected, then a "Certificate of Occupancy" is
issued by the Fire Marshal's Office.
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NFPA
241, 2000ed.--Safeguarding
Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations
Section 7.5.5.1 Every building shall be
accessible by fire department apparatus by means of
roadways having an all-weather driving surface of not
less than 20 ft. of unobstructed width, having the
ability to withstand the live loads of fire apparatus,
and having a minimum of 13 ft 6 in. of vertical
clearance.
Section 7.5.5.2 Dead-end fire department access roads in
excess of 150 ft (46m) in length shall be provided with
approved provisions for turning around fire department
apparatus.
Exception: The requirements of 7.5.5 shall be
permitted to be modified where, in the opinion of the
fire department, fire-fighting or rescue operations
would not be impaired by such modification.
Section 7.5.5.8 Access for use of
heavy fire-fighting equipment shall be provided to the
immediate job site at the start of the project and
maintained until completion.
Section 7.5.6.1 In all buildings over
one story in height, at least on stairway shall be
provided that is in usable condition at all times and
that meets the requirements of NFPA 101, Life Safety
Code. Section
7.5.6.2 This stairway shall be extended upward as each
floor is installed in new construction and maintained
for each floor still remaining during demolition.
The stairway shall be lighted.
Section 7.6 In all new buildings in
which standpipes are required or where standpipes exist
in buildings being altered or demolished, such as
standpipes shall be maintained in conformity with the
progress of building construction in such a manner that
they are always ready for use.
Section 8.7.2.1 A water supply for
fire protection, either temporary or permanent, shall be
made available as soon as combustible material
accumulates.
Section 8.7.4.2.1 The standpipes shall be provided with
conspicuously marked and readily accessible fire
department connections on the outside of the building at
the street level and shall have at least one standard
hose outlet at each floor.
Section 8.7.4.2.7 The standpipes
shall be extended up with each floor and shall be
securely capped at the top.
Section 8.7.4.2.8 Top hose outlets
shall be not more than one floor below the highest
forms, staging, and similar combustibles at all times.
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Tenant Space Certificate of
Occupancy Procedures
1. Bring three (3) sets of plans to the
Fire Marshal's Office for review. Small tenant
space plans may
be done on 8 1/2" X 11" paper provided the following
items are shown:
▪ Dimensions for the overall space and dimensions
for each room
▪ All doors and windows
▪ Emergency lighting and exit sign locations
▪ Fire extinguishers
▪ Fire alarm devices
▪ On separate sheet show overall building foot
print or floor plan, showing tenant separation walls.
Indicate what type of occupancy
(or what business) is on either side of your space.
▪ Tenant space in a mall, must show the
pedestrian walk way in front of the tenant space.
A
minimum of 10' clear width is
required in front of each tenant, this includes any
temporary
construction walls. The
mall space shall provide a minimum of 20' clear width.
▪ Fire rated walls
▪ Fire alarm and/or sprinkler system work will
require separate plans to be submitted by
subcontractor.
▪ Plans not done on 8 1/2" X 11", requires a copy
of the plans reduced down to an 8 1/2" X 11"
paper and submitted with your plans.
▪ Plans must be readable.
2. If your plans are for a Day Care (with an
occupant load of 12 and under), Personal Care Home
(Board and Care), or Lodging, plans must be dropped off
at our office (plans will be reviewed). You
will be called when they are ready for pickup.
3. Once the Fire Marshal's Office approves your
plans, take the approved plans to the City of Fort
Oglethorpe Building Department Plan Review Office
(706-866-2544). You will then purchase a
"Permit" at this time.
4. Call for field inspections from the Building
Department (706-866-2544), and the Fire Marshal's
Office at (706-861-4194).
5. Once all inspections have passed and a Business
License is purchased a Certificate Occupancy
will be issued.
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Common Code Violations
1. Violation: ADDRESS OR SUITE
NUMBER NOT POSTED
Applicable Code:
Section 505.1, 2006 International Fire Code new and
existing buildings shall
have approved address numbers, building numbers or
approved building identification place in a
position that is plainly legible and visible from the
street or road fronting the property. These
numbers shall be Arabic
numeral or alphabet letters. Numbers shall be a
minimum of 4 inches high
with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inches.
2. Violation: EXPOSED WIRING
Applicable Code: Section 605.6, 2006
International Fire Code open junction boxes and
open-wiring
splices shall be prohibited. Approved covers
shall be provided for all switch and electrical outlet
boxes.
3. Violation: HYDRANT OBSTRUCTED
Applicable Code: Section 508.5.5, 2006
International Fire Code, a 3-foot clear space shall be
maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants
except as otherwise required or approved.
4. Violation: FIRE DEPARTMENT CONNECTIONS
NOT VISIBLE TO APPARATUS OR
OBSTRUCTED
Applicable Code:
Section 912.2.2, 2006 International Fire Code, on
existing buildings, wherever
the fire department connection is not visible to
approaching fire apparatus, the fire department
connection shall be
indicated by an approved sign mounted on the street
front or on the side of the
building. Such sign
shall have the letters "FDC" at least 6 inches high and
words in letters at least 2
inches high or an arrow to
indicate the location. All such signs shall be
subject to the approval of the
fire code official.
912.3 immediate access to fire department connections
shall be maintained at all
times and without
obstruction by fences, bushes, trees, walls or any other
object for a minimum of 3
feet.
5. Violation: COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDER NOT
SECURED
Applicable Code: Section 3003.5.3, 2006
International Fire Code, compressed gas containers,
cylinders and tanks shall
be secured to prevent falling caused by contact,
vibration or seismic activity
6. Violation: STORAGE WITHIN 30 INCHES OF
ELECTRICAL PANELS
Applicable Code:
Section 605.3, 2006 International Fire Code, a working
space of not less than 30
inches in width, 36 inches in depth and 78 inches in
height shall be provided in front of electrical
service equipment is wider than 30 inches, the working
space shall not be less than the width of the
equipment. No storage of any materials shall be
located within the designated working space.
7. Violation: EXTENSION CORDS USED AS
PERMANENT WIRING
Applicable Code: Section 605.5, 2006
International Fire Code, extension cords and flexible
cords
shall not be a substitute
for permanent wiring. Extension cords and flexible
cords shall not be affixed
to structures, extended
through walls, ceilings, or floors, or under doors or
floor coverings, nor shall
such cords be subject to
environmental damage or physical impact. Extension
cords shall be used
only with portable appliances.
8. Violation: NO SUPPLY OF SPARE SPRINKLER
HEADS
Applicable Code: Section 5.4.1.4, NFPA 25,
2002 ed., a supply of spare sprinklers (never fewer
than six) shall be
maintained on the premises so that any sprinklers that
have operated or been
damaged in any way can be promptly replaced.
Section 5.4.1.4.1, the sprinklers shall correspond
to the types and temperature ratings of the sprinklers
in the property. A minimum of two sprinklers of
each type and temperature rating installed shall be
provided. Section 5.4.1.4.2, the sprinklers shall
be kept in a cabinet
located where the temperature in which they are
subjected will at no time
exceed 100oF.
9. Violation: NO SPECIAL WRENCH AVAILABLE
Applicable Code:
Section 5.4.1.6, NFPA 25, 2002 ed, a special sprinkler
wrench shall be provided
and kept in the cabinet to be used in the removal and
installation of sprinklers. One sprinkler wrench
shall be provided for each
type of sprinkler installed.
10.Violation: SPRINKLER BLOCKED BY STORAGE
Applicable Code: 5.2.1.2, NFPA 25, 2002 ed,
unacceptable obstructions to spray patterns shall
be corrected.
Section A-5.2.1.2 obstructions to spray patterns include
continuous or non continuous
obstructions less
than or equal to 18 inches below the sprinkler deflector
that prevent the pattern
from fully developing.
11.Violation: EXTINGUISHERS OUT OF DATE
Applicable Code: 6.1.2, NFPA 10, 2002 ed, the
procedure for inspection and maintenance of fire
extinguishers varies considerably. Minimal
knowledge is necessary to perform a monthly "quick
check" or inspection
in order to follow the inspection procedure as outlined
in Section 6.2. A
trained person who has undergone the instructions
necessary to reliably perform maintenance
and has the manufacturer's service manual shall
service the fire extinguishers not more than 1 year
apart, as outlined in
Section 6.3.
12.Violation: EXIT BLOCKED
Applicable Code: Section 7.1.10.1, 2000
Life Safety Code, means of egress shall be continuously
maintained free of all obstructions or
impediments to full instant use in the case of fire or
other
emergency.
13.Violation: MULTIPLE LOCKS ON EXIT DOORS
Applicable Code: Section 7.2.1.5.4,
2000 Life Safety Code, a latch or other fastening device
on a
door shall be provided with a releasing device
having an obvious method of operation under all
lighting conditions. The releasing
mechanism for any latch shall be located not less than
34 in
(86 cm) and not more than 48 in (122 cm) above
the finished floor. Doors shall be open able with
not more than one
releasing operations.
14.Violation: FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SHUTDOWN
Section 9.6.1.8, 2000 Life Safety Code, where
a required fire alarm system is out of service for
more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period, the
authority having jurisdiction shall be notified, and the
building shall be evacuated or an approved fire
watch shall be provided for all parties left
unprotected by the shutdown until the fire alarm
system has been returned to service.
15.Violation: SPRINKLER SYSTEM SHUTDOWN
Section 9.7.6, 2000
Life Safety Code, where a required automatic sprinkler
system is out of service
for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period, the
authority having jurisdiction shall be notified, and the
building shall be evacuated or an approved fire
watch shall be provided for all parties left
unprotected by the shutdown until the sprinkler
system has been returned to service. Sprinkler
impairment procedure shall comply with NFPA 25,
Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and
Maintenance of Water-Base Fire Protection
Systems.
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Smoke Alarms Save
Lives
If you have a working smoke alarm in your home,
your chances of dying in a fire are cut nearly in half.
Testing your smoke alarm regularly each week will help
ensure that it will operate properly when it is needed.
We encourage residents to change the batteries in their
smoke alarms at each time change, once in the spring and
once in the fall. The National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) also recommends replacing your smoke
alarm if it is more than 10 years old. According
to the NFPA the alarms have a 30 percent chance of
failure after being installed for 10 years. NFPA
also recommends that a dwelling have a smoke alarm
installed on each level of the dwelling and outside each
sleeping area.
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