Chapter 5

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2nd Edition

Plan Review

Chapter 5

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2nd Edition

Objectives

Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to:

•Discuss the reasons construction plans are reviewed before construction

•List the types of plans that fire departments typically review

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2nd Edition

Objectives (cont’d.)

• List five potential site plan items for review

• Discuss the benefits of fire department involvement in plan review for the business community

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2nd Edition

The Importance of Plan Review

• Public officials sometimes point fingers after a tragic incident

• Fire departments are being included in plan review schemes of many jurisdictions

• Primary purpose: verify proposed structure complies with code before work begins

• Reviewers cannot anticipate every condition/contingency

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2nd Edition

Plan Issues of Interest to the Fire Service

• Significant potential operational impact in emergencies– Fire department access roadways to

structures– Locations of fire department connections,

hydrants, and fire command centers– Access to building services and control

features for fire protection systems

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2nd Edition

Site Plan Issues

• Approval: first step in the regulatory process, may be part of a rezoning

• Typical items:– Building construction type and location– Fire department vehicle access issues– Fire protection systems– Fire flow requirements

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2nd Edition

Building Plan Issues

• Many fire departments review plans for:– Structural fire protection and separation or

fire protection ratings– Emergency egress– Fire protection systems

• Plan reviewer with fire operations in-depth knowledge/experience– Complement review by building official’s staff

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Fire Protection System Plan Issues

• Fire department input specially valuable in review and approval of– Sprinkler, fire alarm, smoke control, and other

fire protection systems• Fire operations personnel become the end users

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Resistance to Fire Department Plan Review

• Possible opposers:– Design professionals– Developers– Contractors– Elected officials– Building department– Fire chief

• Many valid issues must be addressed before fire department becomes involved

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2nd Edition

Resistance from Design Professionals and Developers

• Care must be taken to streamline the plan review process

• Formal plan review procedures/guidelines available for download– Help allay fears that fire department will make

unrealistic demands

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2nd Edition

FIGURE 5-4Publishing concise plan review guidelines allays developer fears of “additional” or unnecessary requirements.(Courtesy of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.)

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2nd Edition

Resistance from the Building Official

• Building official should see fire department as an ally, not an adversary

• Fire department plan review office at physical location of building department– Save considerable time– Improve communication among agencies

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2nd Edition

Skills, Knowledge, and Ability for Plan Reviewers

• Job in fire prevention bureau– Skills/demeanor not necessarily match those

looked for in firefighters

• Some departments hire engineers as plan review staff– In-depth training on fire department

operational objectives and needs

• Firefighters may serve admirably as plan review staff

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2nd Edition

Certification

• Testing and recertification: International Code Council

• National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies– Required by many state/local governments to

• Design, repair, perform maintenance, or inspect fire protection systems

– Gold standard when hiring technicians

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2nd Edition

FIGURE 5-5

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2nd Edition

Summary• Fire department involvement in plan

approval process: significant potential– Extends over years

• Early stages problems resolved by fire department expertise in the review of– Fire department access roadways– Structural fire protection– Means of egress– Specific hazards