Standard

 

 R State Standard         £ Institutionally Developed          College: n/a

 

FSC 151 - Fire Prevention & Inspection

Course Description

Emphasis is placed on the shared responsibility of all fire service personnel to prevent fires and fire losses by survey of fire prevention activities, conducting basic fire prevention inspections, practicing life safety codes, review of local and state laws regarding fire inspection, and review of applicable codes and standards. Topics include: code administration, inspection, use and occupancy, building limitations and types of construction, fire resistive construction elements, installation of fire protection systems, mean of egress, interior finish requirements, general fire safety provisions, maintenance of fire protection systems, means of egress maintenance for occupancies, hazardous materials, flammable liquids and aerosols, detonation and deflagration hazards, hazardous assembly occupancies, other storage and processing occupancies, compressed gases and cryogenic liquids, pesticides and other health hazards, and using referenced standards. Successful completion of FSC 151 qualifies individuals to test for the National Professional Qualification (NPQ) Inspector Level-I examination.

Competency Areas

Hours

Code Administration

Class

4

Inspection

D. Lab

2

Use and Occupancy

P. Lab/O.B.I.

0

Building Limitations and Types of Construction

Credit

5

Fire Resistive Construction Elements

 

 

Installation of Fire Protection Systems

 

 

Means of Egress

 

 

Interior Finish Requirements

 

 

General Fire Safety Provisions

 

 

Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems

 

 

Means of Egress Maintenance for Occupancies

 

 

Hazardous Materials

 

 

Flammable Liquids and Aerosols

 

 

Detonation and Deflagration Hazards

 

 

Hazardous Assembly Occupancies

 

 

Other Storage and Processing Occupancies

 

 

Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Liquids

 

 

Pesticides and Other Health Hazards

 

 

Using Referenced Standards

 

 

 

Prerequisite:

Program Admission

Corequisite:

n/a

 

Course Guide

 

Competency

After completing this section, the student will be able to:

Hours

Class

D.Lab

P.Lab/

O.B.I.

Code Administration

3

0

0

 

Describe the model code process and name the 4 model code groups.

 

 

 

 

Describe the origin of the first National Building Code.

 

 

 

 

Describe the code adoption process used by state and local governments and explain the basis for their authority to enact such regulations.

 

 

 

 

Describe the economic forces behind the current movement toward a single national model code.

 

 

 

 

Explain the relationship for the Life Safety Code works with fire prevention.

 

 

 

Inspection

3

10

0

 

Describe the limits of the right of entry provisions contained in the model fire prevention codes.

 

 

 

 

Explain why warrant must be secured in order to inspect certain building and structures.

 

 

 

 

Describe the permit and inspection models and the benefits of each.

 

 

 

 

Describe the legal requirements for written notices and orders and how freedom of information laws impacts the fire prevention bureau.

 

 

 

 

Describe how the appeals process within the model codes is established and designated to operate.

 

 

 

 

Complete a routine inspection of a predetermined structure.

 

 

 

Use and Occupancy

3

0

0

 

Describe the classification system used by the model building codes to group buildings by use and occupant characteristics.

 

 

 

 

Describe how multiple used or mixed uses within a single building are addressed by the model building codes.

 

 

 

 

Explain the need for special occupancy requirements in some buildings.

 

 

 

 

Explain the fire official’s responsibility in illegal changes in use.

 

 

 

Building Limitations and Types of Construction

3

0

0

 

Define fire resistance.

 

 

 

 

Describe the 5 basic construction types.

 

 

 

 

Explain why building height and area are regulated by the building codes.

 

 

 

 

Describe the methods used by the codes to permit height and area increases.

 

 

 

Fire Resistive Construction Elements

2

0

0

 

List the 4 classes of fire and give examples of each.

 

 

 

 

Identify fire suppression systems agents that are compatible with the different classes of fire and describe the method of extinguishments provided by each.

 

 

 

 

List and describe the 4 basic types of sprinkler systems.

 

 

 

 

Describe the difference between the NFPA 13, 13D, and 13R sprinkler standards and the application of each.

 

 

 

 

Describe the function of standpipe pressure reducing valves and the potential hazards posed by improper installation.

 

 

 

 

Describe the purpose for the development of the UL-300 standard for restaurant cooking equipment.

 

 

 

 

Identify varied installation requirements of fire protection systems in the Life Safety Code.

 

 

 

Installation of Fire Protection Systems

2

0

0

 

List the 4 classes of fire and give examples of each.

 

 

 

 

Identify fire suppression systems agents that are compatible with the different classes of fire and describe the method of extinguishments provided by each.

 

 

 

 

List and describe the 4 basic types of sprinkler systems.

 

 

 

 

Describe the difference between the NFPA 13, 13D, and 13R sprinkler standards and the application of each.

 

 

 

 

Describe the function of standpipe pressure reducing valves and the potential hazards posed by improper installation.

 

 

 

 

Describe the purpose for the development of the UL-300 standard for restaurant cooking equipment.

 

 

 

 

Identify varied installation requirements of fire protection systems in the Life Safety Code.

 

 

 

 

Complete a routine fire protection system inspection.

 

 

 

Means of Egress

4

0

0

 

Identify and define the 3 components of a means of egress.

 

 

 

 

Define the terms: common path of travel, dead end, design occupant load, horizontal exit, and travel distance.

 

 

 

 

Describe what is meant by the terms: gross floor area and net floor area in the BNBC and SBC, and floor area in the UBC.

 

 

 

 

Describe the 6 steps used in this chapter to design or assess the means of egress from a building of space.

 

 

 

 

Calculate the required means of egress from a multipurpose space.

 

 

 

 

Calculate the maximum occupant load for assembly occupancy based on the exits provided.

 

 

 

 

Identify and locate varied means of egress provisions in the Life Safety Code.

 

 

 

Interior Finish Requirements

2

0

0

 

Describe what building elements are regulated as interior finish.

 

 

 

 

Describe the test method used to classify interior finish elements.

 

 

 

 

Discuss the need to regulate interior finish based on previous fire experiences in the United States.

 

 

 

 

Identify varied interior finish provisions in the Life Safety Code.

 

 

 

General Fire Safety Provisions

3

0

0

 

Describe NFPA 550 The Fire Safety Concepts Tree and its uses.

 

 

 

 

List the 2 strategies for fire safety used by the model fire prevention codes.

 

 

 

 

List 3 objectives for achieving the goal of life and property protection using each strategy.

 

 

 

 

Describe the significance of illegal changes in use and list of the code sections that apply.

 

 

 

 

List 4 rated assemblies that an inspector would routinely check to ensure compliance with the code.

 

 

 

 

Identify varied fire safety provisions in the Life Safety Code.

 

 

 

Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems

2

0

0

 

List the appropriate standards for the maintenance and inspection of sprinklers, standpipes, wet and dry chemical extinguishing systems and fire alarm systems.

 

 

 

 

Describe the importance of examining maintenance and inspection records kept by building owners.

 

 

 

 

Describe what circumstances would cause an inspector to require an evaluation of an engineered fire protection system.

 

 

 

 

Identify varied fire protection requirements in the Life Safety Code.

 

 

 

Means of Egress Maintenance of Occupancies

4

0

0

 

Name 5 ways that the means of egress for a building or space can be compromised.

 

 

 

 

Describe the importance of posted occupant loads in assembly buildings.

 

 

 

 

Describe the process used to establish the occupant load.

 

 

 

 

Describe what constitutes “overcrowding” in assembly occupancy.

 

 

 

 

Identify related chapters in the Life Safety Code.

 

 

 

Hazardous Materials

2

0

0

 

Describe the control areas concept of hazardous materials management.

 

 

 

 

List the steps that must be taken to establish control areas.

 

 

 

 

Describe the importance of hazardous materials management plans and hazardous materials inventory statements to the inspections process.

 

 

 

 

Describe the NFPA 704 Hazard Identification System

 

 

 

Flammable Liquids and Aerosols

2

0

0

 

Describe the system used to classify flammable and combustible liquids.

 

 

 

 

Describe the hazards involved in the storage or aerosol products and the protection methods required by the model codes.

 

 

 

 

Discuss the importance of using tanks in accordance with their listing.

 

 

 

 

Discuss the importance of labeling requirements for containers.

 

 

 

Detonation and Deflagration Hazards

2

0

0

 

List and describe the 3 basic categories of explosive materials in commercial use.

 

 

 

 

Describe 2 different methods for the initiation of explosive materials.

 

 

 

 

Describe the duties and responsibilities of the fire official in allegations of property damage or accidents involving commercial blasting.

 

 

 

 

Describe the duties and responsibilities of the fire official in permitting public firework displays.

 

 

 

 

Describe the handling of misfires of explosive materials and fireworks.

 

 

 

Hazardous Assembly Occupancies

2

0

0

 

Describe the hazards associated with heliports and helistops on buildings, and how the model codes address them.

 

 

 

 

Describe the hazards that make airport terminal buildings require special fire protection features.

 

 

 

 

Describe the hazards associated with bowling pin and lane refinishing.

 

 

 

 

List 5 general safety provisions for tents and air-supported structures.

 

 

 

Other Storage and Processing Occupancies

3

0

0

 

Discuss the value of corporate safety programs in industrial occupancies.

 

 

 

 

List 3 of the 5 main causes and contributing factors involving storage facility fires.

 

 

 

 

Explain the reasons for the proliferation of waste material and rubbish handling facilities.

 

 

 

 

Describe how the provisions of the model fire prevention codes attempt to reduce fire risk at lumberyards.

 

 

 

 

Identify related chapters in the Life Safety Code.

 

 

 

Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Liquids

2

0

0

 

Describe the 4 physical states in which gases are commonly stored within containers.

 

 

 

 

Define the term gas.

 

 

 

 

Describe the combined gas law and its significance.

 

 

 

 

List 2 fire safety strategies for gas storage as they relate to the combined gas law.

 

 

 

 

Explain why LPG container requirements are expressed in water gallon capacity.

 

 

 

Pesticides and Other Health Hazards

2

0

0

 

Identify the signal words required for all Class I and Class II pesticides.

 

 

 

 

List the 3 categories of pesticides.

 

 

 

 

Describe the multiple hazards posed by many pesticides.

 

 

 

 

Describe the code provisions that ensure employee and firefighter awareness of the presence of toxic materials.

 

 

 

 

Describe the difference between a toxic material and a health hazard material.

 

 

 

Using Referenced Standards

4

0

0

 

Described what is meant by permissive code language.

 

 

 

 

List 3 features of the standards referenced by the model fire prevention codes.

 

 

 

 

List 5 organizations that develop standards referenced or recognized by the model fire prevention codes.

 

 

 

 

Identify varied areas in the Life Safety Code.

 

 

 

 

Suggested Resources

 

Media
text/audio/
visual/www/
other)

Author

Title: Subtitle

Edition

Place of Publication

Year

Publisher/Publication

pp.

Text

Diamantes, D.

Fire Prevention – Inspection And Code Enforcement

6th Ed.

Clifton Park, NY

2007

Thompson.  ISBN 0-8273-8412-2.

 

Text

FSTA

Fire Inspection And Code Enforcement

 

 

2006

IFSTA.  ISBN 0-8793-9150-2

 

Text

NFPA

Nfpa 101 - Life Safety Code.

 

Quincy, MA

 

NFPA.

 

 

Posted: 06/24/08