Fire Prevention – Individual Responsible for Plan Reviews

Introduction

Plan reviews for fire service organizations are crucial because they help verify whether a
proposed structure conforms to the required code before construction begins. A review of the
building plans before starting the construction is a pivotal part of the building permit application
process. In fire service organizations, fire department reviews are done for structural fire
protection (Wallace, 2021). This report discusses the individual responsible for conducting plan
reviews in the fire service organizations, the required qualifications, and a description of the plan
review process.

Literature Review

The person in the fire service tasked with completing plan reviews is the Fire Plan
Examiner. This individual also schedules planning activities and informs firefighters and other
stakeholders about the scheduled activities. Also, the fire plan examiner plans and prepares
reports pertaining to fire protection engineering issues. Remarkably, the fire plan examiner
performs complex fire life safety inspections on existing buildings and construction sites
(Diamantes & Jones, 2020). From the interview, it is evident that the individual’s job title is a fire
plan examiner, and he operates in the fire prevention department. However, the fire prevention
department often meets resistance from other departments, and there are many causes for such
opposition. Notably, the fire prevention department can receive resistance from design
professionals and developers who often aim at streamlining the process by advocating for the
safest buildings (Diamantes & Jones, 2020). Additionally, resistance may emanate from the
building official who has the authority to bring the plan to a halt.

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Fire plan examiners must meet specific qualifications to perform their duties effectively.
One of the qualifications is that the fire plan examiner must have an associate’s degree from an
accredited college in fire technology. Also, the fire plan examiner should have at least three
years of experience conducting fire plan reviews and other inspections (Diamantes & Jones,
2020). The fire plan examiner should also obtain certification from the National Institute for
Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET).
The plan review process of a fire service organization entails numerous activities. First,
the fire plan examiner must review the site location and establish if it meets all expectations
before construction begins. The other activity entails a review of the building plan to ensure that
it meets the fire protection ratings and will include structures that can protect it from fire
incidents (Diamantes & Jones, 2020). Also, the fire plan examiner must ensure that all the
necessary fire protection systems are included in the plan, including smoke control and fire alarm
systems. The fire department also actively participates in the plan review process. The items of
great interest to the fire department often include fire protection systems, fire hydrant locations,
fire lanes, and building construction type and location (Diamantes & Jones, 2020).

Conclusion and Recommendations

Fire plan examiners play an essential role in the plan review process and ensure that all
fire protection systems are included in the building plan. Notably, a fire plan examiner must meet
specific qualifications to undertake their duties diligently. The plan review process for fire
service organizations entails numerous activities aimed at improving building fire protection
systems. One of the recommendations for fire plan examiners when conducting the review
process is to ensure that all the necessary fire protection systems are included in the building plan
before the construction begins.

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References

Diamantes, D., & Jones, A. M. (2020). Principles of fire prevention. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Wallace, M. (2021). Fire department strategic planning (3 rd ed.) Fire Engineering Books.