Fire Inspections
The State Building Code Council establishes the minimum building, mechanical, fire, plumbing, and energy code requirements necessary to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the state of Washington by reviewing, developing, and adopting the state building code.
In the State of Washington and the City of Tacoma, fire prevention rules are addressed in the International Fire Code (IFC) with state-adopted amendments. In addition to the requirements detailed in the 2018 IFC, the City of Tacoma has adopted its local amendments, as outlined in Title 3, Fire, Chapter 3.02 of the Tacoma Municipal Code. Â For more information about the IFC or to purchase a copy of the code book, visit the International Code Council website.
Inspection Services
The City of Tacoma’s adoption of the International Fire Code authorizes and requires the Fire Department to inspect all commercial properties subject to fire regulations. A fire prevention inspection program has been developed to meet this requirement.
The Tacoma Fire Department maintains an inventory of all commercial buildings in the City of Tacoma. We track all the required fire protection system confidence testing to ensure all systems are functional. All Tacoma Fire Department Fire Companies have an inspection assignment of the commercial buildings in the district they serve. The goal is to inspect the buildings once every year. The assignments are scheduled among the four shifts and are rotated each year so all district personnel become familiar with the buildings.
The scope of these inspections is building familiarization in the event of fire and identifying obvious fire hazards such as, electrical cords, combustible storage, blocked exits, and hazardous conditions. Violations are written by the Company Officer and require an additional inspection to ensure compliance with the code requirements.
Complex code violations and non-compliance of requirements are sent to the Fire Prevention Division for a Fire Inspector to intercede. Fire Inspectors are firefighters that maintain an International Fire Code Certification and take continuing education code related classes to maintain their certification and skill level.
Types of Inspections
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Before calling for an inspection, the Tacoma Power Electrical Inspector must sign off on the electrical permit, and the system must be pretested. This includes all auxiliary equipment and the fire alarm controls. All carpeting, ceiling tile, drywall, and doors must be in place to conduct alarm audibility tests.
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Underground pipe inspection must occur before covering. All tie rodding and other hardware must be complete and coated with bituminous or other acceptable corrosion retarding material. Inspection of thrust blocks may occur during or after pouring. The depth and width of the block must be exposed for measurement. View Installing Underground Fire Mains for more information.
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Underground may be covered if a cover inspection has occurred. However, pressure drops must be within allowable limits. Hydro must occur before connection with the building or the City; if testing against City check valves, a frying pan device must be installed.
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The inspection must occur before connecting with the building system.
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You must call for cover inspections before installation of drywall or tiles that would interfere with visual access.
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In Tacoma, the State of Washington regulates the professional care of children and adults under the Washington Administrative Code and Revised Code of Washington. These state regulations are further supplemented by the Tacoma Municipal Code, which regulates Licensing and Zoning, and the International Fire Code, which deals with life safety. Rules and requirements are particular and differ with the number of children or adults at a given location. The Tacoma Fire Department and the Washington State Fire Marshal’s office are the agencies responsible for relicensing inspection of care facilities.