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Fire Prevention, Code Enforcement, And Fire And Life Safety Education

Unit 4

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Learning Objectives• Discuss fire prevention code enforcement functions.• Describe what is necessary in a fire protection organization

and the sources of standards, codes, and enabling legislation.

• Identify fire department functions and the role of personnel related to fire prevention and fire and life safety education..

• Discuss goal-setting and ways to evaluate the effectiveness for fire and life safety educational programs.

• Discuss the target audiences and identify what groups in a community are likely to be most at risk, and list programs that can be used to reach them.

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Introduction• Fire prevention activities• Fire prevention was secondary to suppression– Now focuses on many activities

• Fire and life safety education– Part of fire prevention effort– Increases awareness– Develops skills and knowledge– May include specialized training

• Safety education– Reach all ages– Audiences

4Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement• Function of fire prevention

– Methods• Inspection• Enforcement• Public fire safety education• Fire investigation• Engineering

• Function of fire prevention continued– Fire suppression personnel

• History of fire prevention• Fire prevention codes, standards, and recommended practices

– Terms– National Fire Codes– Regulations supported with inspections.

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Organization for Fire Prevention

• Chief of fire prevention or local fire marshal• Fire inspector or fire prevention officer• Fire protection engineer• Responsibility for fire prevention• Alternative organizational patterns• Assignment into shifts• Fire prevention activities in volunteer

departments

4Standards, Codes, and Enabling Legislation

• Federal government– Interstate and international laws– National parks and forests– Armed forces– Research on fire prevention and protection– Canada

• National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA)– Adopted more widely each year– Protect millions throughout the world– Used in many contexts

• American Insurance Association (AIA)• Underwriters Laboratories (UL)• Local codes and ordinances

4Inspections • Ensuring adherence to regulations

– Inspection– Enforcement

• Qualified inspectors• Inspections of hazards in various occupancies• Target properties• Objectives of inspections• Types of inspections and personnel

– Company– Technical

• Fire prevention bureau• Pre-incident planning and training• Private homes

4Inspections• The inspection process– Review records related to area.– Make list of items to look for.– Before entering, examine property, check fire escapes,

survey for obstruction.• The inspection process continued– Inform the person in charge an inspection is to be made.– Inspection often begins at roof.– Special attention to items of interest

• Pre-incident planning• Computerized inspection procedures• Non-compliance with regulations• Inspector appearance• Correction of violations

4Fire Department Functions Related to Fire Prevention

• Construction plans review• Consultation• Public fire and life safety education• Records and reports• Fire investigation• Water supply

4Personnel Assignment and Fire Prevention Priorities

• Personnel assignment• National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control

(1973)• Expansion of fire prevention activities• Role of the company officer in fire prevention• Fire prevention goals and objectives for company

officer and chief• Legal foundations to enforce fire code regulations• Individual rights versus public protection• Fire code retroactivity in life safety codes• Role of company officer in legal matters

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Overview of Fire and Life Safety Education

• President’s Commission on Fire Prevention and Control

• Direct action by government• Learn Not to Burn® programs• Injury in America• Risk WatchTM

• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

4Organizing for Fire and Life Safety Education Programs

• Identifying needs– Questions– Answers– Focus is to generate interest and cooperation.

• Setting goals and objectives– List sample goals and objectives.– Include KSAs.– Take course in fire and life safety education.– Participation by those involved and affected– Programs have learning objectives.

• Distributing program materials– Materials– Distributors

4Organizing for Fire and Life Safety Education Programs

• Pilot programs• Schoolchildren• Children in alternative education• Boy scouts, girl scouts, and other activity groups• Adults• Older adults• Residents of hospitals, nursing homes, and other

group homes• Motels and hotels• Media

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Organizing for Fire and Life Safety Education Programs (7 of 7)

• Monitoring, evaluating, and improving the program– Ask questions– Track performance– Monitor effectiveness

4Summary • Fire prevention activities deserve greater

resources than they have received.• Major goal of code or standard is to provide

safety to life and property from fire.• Members should be thoroughly familiar with

codes at all levels.• Participation and coordination with other

functions enhance a company’s and a department’s productivity.

• Competence enhancement in prevention is of great importance.

• Officer who considers satisfaction ensures that positives dominate negatives.

4Summary • Fire and life safety education increases

awareness and develops skills and knowledge.• Managers of programs– Identify problems and audiences– Design a program– Deliver the right program to the right people

• Considerations– Resources for fire and life safety education effort– Plans to be prepared– Schedules to develop for events– More fire fighter interest and involvement– Training for fire fighters and others involved– Nontangible rewards