FIRE PREVENTION SPECIALIST / FIRE PROTECTION INSPECTOR

Definition

Under direction inspects buildings and premises to identify and eliminate fire hazards and enforce the provisions of relevant fire safety codes and related regulations; does related work as required.

Under direction, reviews plans and performs fire protection inspection work involved in enforcement of the State Uniform Construction Code, the fire protection subcode, and relevant fire protection laws within the concerned jurisdictions; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Inspects various buildings, structures, and premises to identify and eliminate fire hazards.
• In accordance with established regulations, guidelines, standards, and procedures, and schedules, inspects buildings classified as High-rise and Life Hazard Use for compliance with the Uniform Fire Safety Code.
• Inspects fire extinguishing and fire protection equipment to ensure that it is operable and prepares reports identifying any deficiencies.
• Observes tests of fire prevention or protection equipment in plants where explosive or flammable materials are processed or stored.
• Observes tests of equipment and inspects storage conditions to ensure conformance to fire and safety codes.
• Notes and investigates unsafe conditions and practices which might cause or increase fire hazards.
• May instruct employees of business establishments in fire safety practices.
• Inspects buildings of six or more stories, used for human occupancy, to ensure that they are equipped with standpipes installed in accordance with applicable regulations.
• Reports findings to the Fire Official utilizing authorized forms and detailing violations and corrective action.
• Inspects areas in which flammable or combustible materials are stored and reports, or takes steps to correct, undesirable conditions.
• Serves penalty notices, orders, rulings, and other legal process, including notices of violation.
• Ensures that automatic fire alarm systems, when required, are present, operable, and properly maintained in accordance with pertinent regulations.
• Inspects buildings for proper and adequate means of egress as determined by use, design, and layout.
• Ensures all means of egress are accessible, safe, properly equipped and maintained, and meet the requirements of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code or other relevant codes or ordinances.
• Ensures that all exit and information signs are properly displayed and maintained and meet the requirements of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code with regard to location, illumination, height, and so forth.
• Reinspects buildings, structures, and premises that have been identified as having violation(s) of applicable fire codes, and that constitute imminent hazard to the health, safety, or welfare of the occupants or intended occupants, firefighters, or the general public, for abatement of said violation(s).
• Reinspects buildings, structures, or premises within a prescribed time after they have been cited for violations to determine that violations have been properly and completely abated.
• Issues penalty notices for fire hazards not abated on subsequent inspection.
• Examines interiors and exteriors of buildings, structures, and premises to detect hazardous conditions or violations of fire regulations and laws.
• Prepares reports of violations and penalty orders.
• Discusses conditions with owner or agent and recommends safe methods of storing flammable or other hazardous materials.
• Informs owner or agent of conditions requiring correction such as deficient egress facilities, improper fire protection equipment and faulty wiring, and issues violation notices.
• Explains the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code and regulations to owners and provides advice on how to abate existing violations.
• Ensures permit applications are obtained where Code requires and performs inspections on uses related to the permit.
• Performs inspections to ensure compliance with conditions of permits issued by the Fire Official.
• Works closely with the Fire Official, fire department, and municipal officials in interpreting/applying the NJ Uniform Fire Code and ensuring construction permits are obtained where necessary.
• Prepares and files inspection reports.
• Prepares and serves violation notices and orders.
• Investigates complaints of alleged fire code violations and provides reports on findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Investigates fires to determine origin, cause, and speed.
• Maintains file of inspection records, prepares reports of activities, and coordinates activities with other officials responsible for ensuring fire and life safety.
• Prepares and maintains inspection records of actions taken, violations found, progress made, and other conditions observed.
• Takes photographs pertinent to assignments.
• May perform building inspections to identify health and safety violations.
• Gives testimony in court and at hearings and acts as a witness when required
• May speak before civic, school, and community organizations/groups to encourage use of fire prevention methods by community residents.
• May give talks/demonstrations to adults and/or children on appropriate fire safety procedures in the home, school, or other buildings.
• Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and comprehensive reports of inspections and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Maintains essential records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Examines and approves plans for fire protection work to see that they comply with the fire protection subcode of the Uniform Construction Code (UCC).
• Inspects and evaluates work in construction projects to ensure that all work and materials installed conform to approved plans and the fire protection subcode of the UCC and relevant fire protection laws/regulations.
• When violations of the fire protection subcode are found, determines the cause and takes corrective action.
• Gives testimony in court cases.
• Prepares recommendations regarding both temporary and final certificates of occupancy.
• Prepares reports.
• Establishes and maintains records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Requirements

<b>LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION</b>

Possession of a current, valid Fire Inspector Certification issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

License

Possession of a valid license as a Fire Protection Inspector of the appropriate grade, issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. There are two (2) licenses issued based on the class structure to be reviewed, industrial and commercial (ICS), or high-rise and hazardous (HHS).

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of basic fire prevention measures required in residential, commercial, industrial, and other buildings/structures.
• Knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations concerning all types of fire prevention measures.
• Knowledge of practices/procedures of fire code enforcement.
• Knowledge of fire safety systems of buildings and uses including but not limited to means of egress, fire suppression systems, fire alarm systems, and methods for limiting flame spread, flammability, or combustibility of materials.
• Knowledge of the safe use and maintenance of facilities, buildings, and the uses of such structures which are subject to the NJ Uniform Fire Code.
• Knowledge of safe handling of materials which pose a fire hazard.
• Knowledge of standards for installation of fire detection, fire alarm, and suppression systems.
• Knowledge of requirements for means of egress including exit, access, exit discharge, and exit signs.
• Knowledge of requirements of the NJ Uniform Fire Code regulating use/occupancy of buildings.
• Knowledge of procedures used in inspection/evaluation of buildings/structures for fire hazards and fire safety.
• Knowledge of code requirements related to fire ratings of structural components, arrangement, sizing, protection of means of egress, and flame spread.
• Knowledge of operation and maintenance of smoke detectors and alarms.
• Ability to comprehend and interpret basic laws and regulations.
• Ability to make inspections to determine hazardous conditions.
• Ability to recognize existing/potential fire safety hazards, call these to the attention of the proper persons, and prepare detailed reports thereon.
• Ability to act as a witness in hearings and court procedures and give testimony under oath.
• Ability to establish cooperative work relationships with local police, fire officials, owners, agents, tenants, and other interested individuals.
• Ability to make required field visits, inspections, and investigations.
• Ability to prepare inspection reports in accord with established procedures/guidelines.
• Ability to maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to prepare correspondence relating to the work of the agency.
• Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODE: 2/13/2018
• <b>FIRE PROTECTION INSPECTOR</b>
• There are two (2) classes of licenses, which are cumulative in terms of knowledge and abilities. The basic license (ICS) comprises the core knowledge and abilities for this title:
• Knowledge of the organization and content of Uniform Construction Code regulations and of the organization and content of the fire protection subcode.
• Knowledge of the fire protection subcodes background, purpose, history, place in local government structure, and relation to construction code enforcement programs at other levels of government.
• Knowledge of classification of structures into class categories.
• Knowledge of systems design and installation practices required by the UCC and/or its referenced standards for active/passive fire suppression, fire detection, and fire alarm systems sufficient to permit the review of plans to determine adequacy of the systems.
• Knowledge of basic fire protection requirements.
• Knowledge of height and area limitations.
• Knowledge of fire resistance ratings of structural components.
• Knowledge of arrangement, sizing, and protection of means of egress.
• Knowledge of flame spread and smoke generated requirements.
• Knowledge of combustibility of materials.
• Knowledge of requirements for installation of fire detection, alarm, and suppression systems.
• Knowledge of chimneys, flues, and vents.
• Knowledge of heating equipment and appliances.
• Knowledge of basic plan reading sufficient to perform duties of the position.
• Knowledge of testing methods, agencies, and test verification procedures incorporated in the code for combustibility and flame spread of materials.
• Knowledge of the use of basic inspection tools and test methods.
• Knowledge of the construction process for smaller buildings and the points at which inspection must be made.
• Knowledge of basic inspection report writing including preparation of violation notices and required inspection record keeping.
• Knowledge of the material requirements found in the electrical code.
• Knowledge of proper installation methods for all approved materials.
• Knowledge of the relationship of fire prevention codes which regulate use/occupancy of industrial and commercial buildings, and fire protection codes which regulate their construction.
• Knowledge of fire prevention code provisions, enforcement procedures, and objectives including the protection of places of assembly.
• Knowledge of the fire prevention code regulatory process which will ensure an understanding of the manner in which those fire hazards not regulation by the construction code can be regulated in the interest of public safety and fire protection.
• Knowledge of the information pertaining to structural, architectural, mechanical, fire protection, and electrical features of buildings which must be shown on the plans to ensure compliance with requirements of the code.
• Knowledge of analysis methods needed to ensure that fire protection elements of buildings depicted on plans do in fact conform to code requirements.
• Knowledge of field inspection and controlled inspection techniques necessary to ensure that materials installed at the construction site are of appropriate strength and quality.
• Ability to analyze and interpret the Uniform Construction Code.
• Ability to examine and approve plans for residential and small commercial structures.
• Ability to carry out field inspection activities for structures in classes I and II.
• Ability to organize assigned fire protection field inspections and investigative work and to make the required field visits/inspections/investigations.
• Ability to prepare detailed and technical correspondence.
• Ability to maintain records and files.
• Ability to compile factual fire safety data relating to a particular structure and prepare clear, sound, accurate, and detailed reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations for approval or disapproval.
• Ability to recognize approved materials found in the electrical code.
• Ability to understand standards and test methods which lead to approval.
• Ability to ensure that all materials are installed in accord with proper methods.
• The highest level license (HHS) incorporates all knowledge and abilities previously listed, and the following:
• Knowledge of fire protection material requirements established by the code including testing and listed procedures, and an understanding of test methods.
• Knowledge of code requirements related to fire divisions in buildings exceeding the height and area limitations established in the code.
• Knowledge of code requirements related to unlimited area buildings.
• Knowledge of design analysis methods needed to ensure that fire protection elements of buildings depicted on plans do in fact conform to code requirements.
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret test reports for both active/passive fire protection requirements of systems of the type required to be incorporated in class I buildings.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODE: 9/24/1999
• DUAL TITLE CODE:

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Applicants who possess the higher level certification as a Fire Official are considered to have met the above certification requirement.

Appointees may be required by some jurisdictions to possess a license as an Inspector Hotels and Multiple Dwellings, issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, when assigned to a municipality approved to conduct cyclical inspections of multiple dwellings in conjunction with the State Local Cooperative Housing Inspection Program (SLCHIP).

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.