Inspections
Fire inspections
encompass a large portion of the prevention
staff’s time in day to day operations. Our
goal is to ensure that every structure built
in the communities we serve is built for
life. This basically means that for the life
of that building, anyone who lives, works,
or plays in that structure will be as safe
as fire and building codes will allow.
At the very beginning
of a project, we work with the cities served
throughout the phases of development, plan
review, and code compliance inspections
during construction. Before the project is
certified as completed, very thorough final
inspections in conjunction with all city
code officials ensure everything is complete
and code compliant before a Certificate of
Occupancy is issued. When the final
Certificate of Occupancy is issued, it means
that the building has met all applicable
code requirements and is ready for occupancy
by the business(s) and/or the public.
Another aspect, and the
most time consuming part of the inspection
process is maintaining the large existing
infrastructure in the cities served by the
District. Once a building is built and
occupancy is allowed, fire prevention staff
is then tasked with on-going code
maintenance in these structures for the life
of the building. Multi family occupancies
such as apartments and condominiums with
four units or more are inspected annually.
The annual fire inspection requirement is
just one part of the rental licensing
programs in each city served. Multi- family
housing is one of the largest life safety
risks we have due to the potential for large
loss of life and property within our
District.
Starting in 2007, fire
prevention staff hopes to implement a
commercial inspections program to ensure
that commercial occupancies have documented
general fire inspections on a regular basis.
Complaint
investigations dealing with a wide range of
topics including reports of potential fire
hazards, chemical dumping, locked or blocked
exits, persons causing false alarms or
malfunctioning fire alarm systems, etc. are
other areas that fall under fire prevention
staff’s responsibility. Complaints made to
either the District or the cities served are
taken very seriously and given the utmost
attention to prevent harm to persons or
property to the customers served by West
Metro Fire-Rescue District.
For questions regarding
fire inspections completed in your facility
or to request a fire inspection, please call
the fire prevention staff at 763.230.7000, Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm.
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