With some basics in place from last month’s Fire Code Inspections Part 1 we can now explore an actual inspection and what may occur on a given inspection. This article will be from the perspective of a rookie fire code inspector and how to go about being successful in that role. The first step is to ask yourself what are you inspecting; extinguishers? Alarm systems? Egress? Just as important as what is being inspected would be where (in what setting) are the inspections; local businesses? A college campus? New construction?

An incoming inspector can continue to use past record formats which can be based on the location and/or types of issues likely encountered at a given setting. By all means do not be hesitant to suggest and/or implement more efficient changes. An inspector should always strive to improve the inspection process recognizing that in some cases, there may not be any choice. The NYS Education Department uses this form for inspection of schools that would literally take an “act of Congress” to change.

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Although keeping paper records are usually necessary an inspector moving to digitize would be a move in the right direction making sure to have back-up copies. Consistent with good record keeping would be developing your own quick reference guides or “cheat sheets”. These can help make an inspection proceed more smoothly but more importantly when an inspector develops their own materials it facilitates learning and memorizing necessary standards. This would be largely dependent on the employing agency and/or the experience of the investigator. For example, the following “frequency charts” were based on the most likely NFPA standards encountered on a college campus:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rVtLtGM-uNfhF7hH16K4TeAu3NPc29iy/edit?rtpof=true&tab=t.0

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RM6jywZvcmmQ_Oy3aw2AEQblb6lgvXu8/edit

A fire marshal may also develop a checklist to aid with inspections but realistically they should be utilized afterwards to ensure accuracy. Using a checklist during an inspection will always result in missed violations. In fact, according to Town of Brighton Fire Marshal Chris Roth using a checklist “Will cause an inspector to walk past a stack of dynamite while looking for a fire extinguisher.”

Chris further advises to take a more wholistic approach when conducting a fire code inspection and to let the building “talk to you” rather than focusing on single items on a list. Focusing on a checklist during an inspection may also open the door for a client to walk you past a violation or something they don’t want you to see. Perhaps a locked door that a good inspector will insist on seeing what is in that room.

Before even going out to a site though it is important to thoroughly go over any past inspection records to view when the most previous inspection took place. More importantly past records will show the most frequent violations that have taken place and what compliance efforts have been taken to address those violations. Note that most if not all NFPA standards have language indicating how often an inspection should take place. For example, NFPA 10 governs fire extinguishers that must be inspected monthly while NFPA 25 talks about standpipe, sprinkler systems and fire pumps all of which have different inspection frequencies.

Reviewing past records will also help to establish a rapport with any client an inspector is responsible to examine. Establishing rapport does not necessarily mean being friendly or not applying accountability. Clients will try and take advantage of the new inspector so be prepared. This is why past records and a prior review are so important because an inspector will then see who is honest, accepts responsibility for violations and works to correct them as opposed to a serial excuse-maker.

Picture this conversation:

Inspector: I noticed there is a lot of inventory in your storeroom potentially blocking egress.

Store owner: Yeah, we just got a lot of new inventory delivered yesterday and we always get everything

processed and put away to avoid that.

Inspector: Really? Because it appears there always seems to be inventory delivered on the day of inspection and the records I reviewed yesterday indicate five violations in the past two years that even when given the opportunity to correct didn’t get done.

Remember what your goals are as a fire inspector though. It isn’t necessarily to go in “guns a blazing”, shutting down businesses and removing tenants from their homes although that could happen. Yes, fire marshals have to deal with violations but should strive to keep businesses open and residents in their homes which in turn keeps people employed, paying taxes and contributing to their community.

What about actually issuing a violation though? Do fire marshals have any discretion when doing so? That answer is two-fold. On the one hand establishing rapport will go much further in not only reducing fire code violations but also getting those business owners and landlords to remedy any existing issues. On the other hand, if a violation is observed and recorded then it must be issued because the potential result is just too great to ignore.

This brings us to the wording of any violation. Any violation should NOT be worded such that any remedy will occur within 30 days because that allows an unnecessary and potentially dangerous window for unsafe conditions to continue. Rather, any violation should be worded such that any remedy be done so IMMEDIATELY and that re-inspection will occur in 30 days and/or as the schedule allows. The latter closes the gap and requires prompt attention.

A fire code inspector should always keep in mind the bigger picture. Why are these inspections important? Not to state the obvious but preventing (sometimes actively) fire related tragedies for a community https://www.news10.com/video/first-responders-day-2026-at-saratoga-race- course/12000656/.

Lastly, Fire Inspectors also provide preventative safeguards for firefighters. For example, the discovery of contractors using CSST, a cheaper but thin-walled gas piping system that according to DeWitt Deputy Fire Chief Tim Cowan has been responsible for multiple fires and at least two LODDs (see attached online Power Point – used with permission).