Course Offerings

Learn how to review construction documents and verify their compliance with fire and safety codes: site plans for emergency access, water supply, and hydrants architectural drawings for construction codes, egress, and fire-resistive compartmentalization; HVAC evaluations for exit illumination and emergency power supplies; and assessments of need for built-in smoke management and fire protection systems.

Course Objectives

Explain how plans review relates to a jurisdiction's overall fire prevention efforts for the protection of life and property.

Apply a systematic approach to verify compliance of construction documents with applicable codes and standards.

Synthesize fire code enforcement situations that require special plans review knowledge and an expertise in buildings design features to resolve fire and life safety compliance issues.

Outline of Instruction

UNIT 1: CODE FOOTPRINT INFORMATION

• The students will evaluate drawings to determine if required information is provided (code footprint).

UNIT 2: SITE PLANS: FIRE PROTECTION FEATURES

• Evaluate civil (site) drawings to determine compliance with requirements for fire department access, water flow requirements, and the presence of special hazards.
• Identify building code requirements that establish fire-resistance requirements based on site separation.

UNIT 3: ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES: FIRE PROTECTION

• Identify and interpret building code requirements that establish the allowable area and height of buildings and structures, especially as they relate to fire protection and life safety.

• Identify and interpret the building and fire code requirements related to the concepts of separated and non-separated uses/hazards.

• Explain the differences and application of listed fire-rated assemblies, calculated fire resistance, and specified assemblies.

• Describe the differences between bearing and nonbearing structural elements and identify such on architectural and structural drawings.

• Evaluate architectural and structural drawings to determine compliance with requirements for fire-rated assemblies.

UNIT 4: ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES: LIFE SAFETY

• Identify and interpret building and fire code requirements that establish occupant load.

• Evaluate architectural drawings to determine compliance with the requirements for occupant load.

• Identify and interpret building and fire code requirements that establish provisions for means of egress.

• Evaluate architectural drawings to determine compliance with the requirements for means of egress.

• Identify and interpret the building and fire code requirements that establish the provisions for vertical opening arrangements and protection.

• Identify and interpret the building and fire code requirements that establish requirements for interior finishes.

• Evaluate architectural drawings to determine compliance with the requirements for interior finishes.

• Explain the building code applications for special uses and occupancies.

UNIT 5: ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

• The students will evaluate architectural and electrical drawings for requirements for egress illumination and emergency and standby power.

UNIT 6: MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

• The students will evaluate architectural, mechanical, and electrical drawings to determine compliance with requirements for fire and smoke dampers and combustion air.

UNIT 7: FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

• Evaluate architectural drawings to determine where and what type of active fire protection system (sprinklers, standpipes, fire alarms, and other extinguishing systems) are required.

• Evaluate architectural drawings to determine where and what type of smoke control or smoke management systems are required.

Contact Hours

40

CEUs

1

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

None

Website

None

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

CE or CU Articulation

No

Prerequisites

Certification as Fire Inspector I by ICC, NFPA, individual State fire training organization or individual State fire marshal's Office; or completion of NFA's Fire Inspection Principles course and 18 months subsequent experience or individual State fire training organization or building technology degree or certificate from an accredited community college

Learning Supplies Needed

Work book and (1) full set of commercial structure blue prints per student

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

Smart Classroom and/or drafting lab

Requirements for Successful Completion

90% attendance
Complete final exam with a passing score at 70 or above.

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

N/A

Intended Audience

Specific Industry or Business Support Needs

Fire Inspector, Building Inspector, Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshal

Wake County Need for Industry Positions

N/A

Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment

Fire Inpector

Fire Marshal

Deputy or Assistant Fire Marshal

Building Inspector

Related Courses

Course Contact Information

Steven Fowler
919-866-6124
[email protected]