OG 3002 Inspection Types

Issued By: FIRE PREVENTION (D. Day)
Approved By: Fire Chief William H. Mosher    
Date of Issue:  2009/05/20

Forms Required:    
•    FD-253 Home Inspection


PURPOSE: 

To identify the level and types of inspections(s) carried out by the various divisions of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency for all occupancies within HRM. 

OBJECTIVE:

This operating guideline will ensure an acceptable minimum level of fire and life safety while allowing the Municipality to achieve its legislated responsibilities.

SCOPE:

This operating guideline applies to career and volunteer members of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency.

PROCEDURE:

Types of Inspections are described below:

•    Occupancies with a Legislated Inspection Frequency:

Description: 

The inspection frequency of Assembly (Group “A”) occupancies shall be every three (3) years as established by the Fire Safety Act. A General Life Safety

Check by Operations for assembly occupancies with an Occupant Load of less than sixty (60) persons, excluding Day Cares or Licensed Beverage establishments shall be the method of inspection for the purpose of satisfying the intent of the Fire Safety Act. 

Inspections of all other occupancy classes shall be carried out in accordance with OG 3001 Inspection Frequencies.

•    Life Safety Check Inspections:

Description: The primary inspection process used for all other Occupancy Classes, shall be accomplished through the General Life Safety Check Program. The general life safety program shall be an operations driven initiative and frequency of the checks shall be in accordance with OG 3001.

This program consists of two parts:

1)    The collection, conformation and/or establishment of accurate property files for entry into the data base.
 
2)    The visual check of the property with the owner/occupant using a formalized check list, to ensure that the property meets an acceptable minimum level of fire and life safety. In those situations where operations personnel are unable to meet the knowledge requirements to conduct a proper inspection of specific hazards or hazardous process or they are unable to resolve all concerns with the owner/occupant then the file shall be forwarded to a fire prevention officer for compliance.

•    Licensing Inspections:

For those occupancies requiring a favorable inspection report from Fire Services, in order to obtain a license to operate through another government body, these inspections shall remain the responsibility of the Fire Prevention Division. This shall include unlicensed community based or small option housing.

Considerations: 

Whereas licensing renewals often do not coincide with the legislated inspection frequency outlined in the Fire Safety Act. The Fire Prevention Officer, may issue a letter indicating license approval based on the following criteria.

a)    For new; the applicant/owner has submitted a copy of the occupancy permit and an acceptable Fire Safety Plan where required. The area FPO shall conduct an inspection of the facility at his/her earliest convenience.

b)    The Fire Prevention Division has conducted an inspection of the facility in the previous 24 months, the inspection was satisfactory and the property file indicates an approved fire safety plan is in place.

•    Complaint request for Inspection:

Considerations:

Due-diligence inspections: Periodically the Fire Service receives a request for favorable inspection reports to qualify for financing, finalize real-estate transactions or satisfy insurance underwriters. Building owners shall be advised to seek the services of an independent consultant to avoid any liability on the Municipality.

•    Complaints from tenants regarding residential properties.

Tenants, who express issues or concerns regarding conditions in their rented residential unit, shall be advised to contact the HRM Call Centre and file a “Residential Minimum Standards “complaint. The property file in FDM shall be reviewed and if no General Life Safety Check has been carried out in the frequency outlined in OG 3001, then a request shall be forwarded to the Operations Division to carry-out a General Life Safety Check of all common areas of the building.

Consultations:

•    Commercial Industrial, Mercantile Occupancies;

Periodically Fire Prevention receives requests from the owners or occupants of commercial/industrial occupancies. The following considerations shall be used in determining whether Fire Prevention will become involved or the client will be directed to obtain the services of a Consultant.

a)    The building is question requires an inspection in accordance with OG 3001 Inspection Frequency. This may be accomplished by a referral to Operations requesting a General Life Safety Check or may be carried out by the Fire Prevention Division after consultation with the Divisional Captain.

b)    The request may be followed-up on by Fire Prevention if the request is a result of an active/open inspection file. 

c)    If the request involves retrofits, upgrades, design, or code of practice for hazardous processes or operations, the client shall be directed to contact an independent consultant.


•    Solid Fuel Appliance Inspection:

Solid fuel appliance inspections remain one of the Fire Service greatest tools for prevention of fires in residential settings. These inspections are an opportunity to ensure not only safe installation and operation of solid fuel appliances but present an opportunity to deliver messages  of good fire prevention practices for the home. Solid fuel appliance inspections are to be conducted only for existing installations of free standing space heaters (wood stoves).

Callers requesting information on proper installation or pre-installation consultation shall be encouraged to obtain the services of a WETT certified installer or technician. For situations where an on-site inspection has revealed an existing installation requires alterations to achieve compliance with the manufacturers installation requirements or CSAB365, the home owner shall be encouraged to obtain the services of a WETT certified installer or technician to make the necessary alterations. In these cases, correspondence shall be sent to the home owner advising them not to use the appliance until all necessary repairs are made.

During the site visit, Fire Prevention Officers shall offer to provide the home owner with an inspection of the home using Form FP-253 Home Inspection. The form may be left with the home owner should they choose not to accept this offer.

RELATED POLICIES/ OPERATING GUIDELINES:

•    OG 3001 Inspection Frequencies
•    OG 4025 General Life Safety Check
•    P-204 Case File Management, P-205 Display Fireworks & Pyrotechnics
•    OG 3003 Night Safety Inspections
•    OG 4018 In-Service Home Inspections

OPERATING GUIDELINE REVIEW:

This operating guideline shall be reviewed when/if there are changes/amendments to the type and level of inspections carried out by Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency.