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FIRE INSPECTOR 1 STUDY GUIDE
(STATE OF FLORIDA)
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Accredited
The inspector must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the following items:
Enabling legislation, State/Local Statues, ways to alter State/Local Statues
The personnel given the responsibility for fire and life safety inspections programs are members of the:
Fire Department
Categories of Inspections are:
Annual (Routine), Issuance of a permit, Response to a complaint, Eminent hazard, New Construction, Change
in Occupancy, Owner/Occupant Request
At the time of inspection the inspector should:
invite the building owner/occupant
Federal buildings in the local jurisdiction are
not required to comply with local codes
The development and implementation of codes are a result of a cooperative effort among:
Fire department administration, Mayor or city/county manager, Municipal legislative body, Legislative body
Occasionally, it is prudent to obtain written permission to enter a site before inspection. The use of a:
Consent-To-Enter form will remove questions
Standards and Codes are adopted by:
the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)
Standard
is a set of principles, protocols, or procedures that is developed by committees through a consensus process. A
STANDARD ONLY BECOMES A LAW WHEN LEGALLY ADOPTED BY A JURISDICTION OR
INCLUDED AS PART OF A CODE. "DEVELOPED THROUGH A CONSENSUS PROCESS"
Code
is a collection or compilation of rules and regulations enacted by a legislative body to become law in a
particular jurisdiction. CODE MUST HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS TO EXPLAIN HOW AND
WHEN THE STANDARDS ARE TO BE APPLIED. "HAS THE FORCE OF LAW" --LEGAL DOCUMENT--
ANSI
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The American National Standards Institute. A private nonprofit organization that administers and coordinated
the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system.
NFPA 1
Uniform Fire Code
NFPA 13
Standard for the installation of Sprinkler Systems
NFPA 14
Standard for the installation of Standpipe and hose systems
NFPA 101
Life Safety Code
NFPA 1031
Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Inspector and Plan Examiner
Smoke Damper
Device installed in air ducts that penetrate a vertical or horizontal assemble such as a wall, floor, or ceiling.
Designed to restrict the movement of smoke between compartments.
Board of Appeals
Has authority to interrupt fire code, consists of 3-7 members who have experience in fire prevention or building
construction.
Variance
A one time modification
Primary duty of a fire inspector
to ensure the life safety of both citizens and fire and emergency responders.
Oxidation
is a chemical reaction involving the combination of oxygen and other materials.
Fire Triangle
HEAT, OXYGEN, FUEL
Fire Tetrahedron
FUEL, OXYGEN, HEAT, CHEMICAL REACTION
Air consists of
21 Percent Oxygen
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Potential Energy
energy possessed by an object that may be released
Chemical Heat Energy
Energy that is released when two or more chemicals combine and react with one and another. Chemical heat
energy is the most common source of heat in combustion reactions.
Mechanical Heat Energy
Form of energy generated by friction or compression.
Conduction
Transfer of heat within an object or to another object by direct contact.
Convection
Transfer of heat energy from a fluid to a solid
Radiation
Transmission of energy as an electromagnetic wave, light waves, radio waves...
Class A Fires
Involve ordinary, solid, combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics
Class B Fires
Involve flammable and combustible liquids and gasses such as gasoline, oil, lacquer...
Class C Fires
Involve energized electrical equipment
Class D Fires
Involve combustible metals such as aluminum
Class K Fires
Involve oils and greases normally found in commercial kitchens
Fire Development
Incipient Stage, , Growth Stage, Fully Developed, and Decay
Thermal Layering
Tendency of gasses to separate into layers according to temperature.
Rollover
, 4|Page
Describes a condition where the unburned fire gases accumulated at the top of a compartment ignite and flames
propagate through the hot-gas layer
Fully Developed Stage
Occurs when all combustible materials in the compartment are burning.
Factors that affect Fire
Fuel, Location, Compartment Volume, Ventilation, Ambient Conditions such as wind, humidity..
Bearing Wall
Wall that supports itself and the weight of the roof
Type 1 Construction
Non or Limited Combustible materials. Highest Safety Levels.
Type 2 Construction
Low Fire Risk, Materials won't contribute to the spread.
Type 3 Construction
Used in schools, churches, mercantile. Exterior walls are non-combustible.
Type 4 Construction
Heavy Timber, Large Dimensioned lumber.
Type 5 Construction
Commonly known as wood frame
Assembly Occupancies
50 or more people, Churches, Arenas, Theaters..
Business Occupancies
Large number of occupants
Educational Occupancies
Pre-School through 12th grade. High Loads, Multiple Uses..
Factory/Industrial Occupancies
Factory, subdivided due to use
Institutional Occupancies
People with physical limitations, penal or corrections institutions.
Health Care and Ambulatory Care Occupancies
FIRE INSPECTOR 1 STUDY GUIDE
(STATE OF FLORIDA)
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Accredited
The inspector must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the following items:
Enabling legislation, State/Local Statues, ways to alter State/Local Statues
The personnel given the responsibility for fire and life safety inspections programs are members of the:
Fire Department
Categories of Inspections are:
Annual (Routine), Issuance of a permit, Response to a complaint, Eminent hazard, New Construction, Change
in Occupancy, Owner/Occupant Request
At the time of inspection the inspector should:
invite the building owner/occupant
Federal buildings in the local jurisdiction are
not required to comply with local codes
The development and implementation of codes are a result of a cooperative effort among:
Fire department administration, Mayor or city/county manager, Municipal legislative body, Legislative body
Occasionally, it is prudent to obtain written permission to enter a site before inspection. The use of a:
Consent-To-Enter form will remove questions
Standards and Codes are adopted by:
the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)
Standard
is a set of principles, protocols, or procedures that is developed by committees through a consensus process. A
STANDARD ONLY BECOMES A LAW WHEN LEGALLY ADOPTED BY A JURISDICTION OR
INCLUDED AS PART OF A CODE. "DEVELOPED THROUGH A CONSENSUS PROCESS"
Code
is a collection or compilation of rules and regulations enacted by a legislative body to become law in a
particular jurisdiction. CODE MUST HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS TO EXPLAIN HOW AND
WHEN THE STANDARDS ARE TO BE APPLIED. "HAS THE FORCE OF LAW" --LEGAL DOCUMENT--
ANSI
,2|Page
The American National Standards Institute. A private nonprofit organization that administers and coordinated
the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system.
NFPA 1
Uniform Fire Code
NFPA 13
Standard for the installation of Sprinkler Systems
NFPA 14
Standard for the installation of Standpipe and hose systems
NFPA 101
Life Safety Code
NFPA 1031
Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Inspector and Plan Examiner
Smoke Damper
Device installed in air ducts that penetrate a vertical or horizontal assemble such as a wall, floor, or ceiling.
Designed to restrict the movement of smoke between compartments.
Board of Appeals
Has authority to interrupt fire code, consists of 3-7 members who have experience in fire prevention or building
construction.
Variance
A one time modification
Primary duty of a fire inspector
to ensure the life safety of both citizens and fire and emergency responders.
Oxidation
is a chemical reaction involving the combination of oxygen and other materials.
Fire Triangle
HEAT, OXYGEN, FUEL
Fire Tetrahedron
FUEL, OXYGEN, HEAT, CHEMICAL REACTION
Air consists of
21 Percent Oxygen
,3|Page
Potential Energy
energy possessed by an object that may be released
Chemical Heat Energy
Energy that is released when two or more chemicals combine and react with one and another. Chemical heat
energy is the most common source of heat in combustion reactions.
Mechanical Heat Energy
Form of energy generated by friction or compression.
Conduction
Transfer of heat within an object or to another object by direct contact.
Convection
Transfer of heat energy from a fluid to a solid
Radiation
Transmission of energy as an electromagnetic wave, light waves, radio waves...
Class A Fires
Involve ordinary, solid, combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics
Class B Fires
Involve flammable and combustible liquids and gasses such as gasoline, oil, lacquer...
Class C Fires
Involve energized electrical equipment
Class D Fires
Involve combustible metals such as aluminum
Class K Fires
Involve oils and greases normally found in commercial kitchens
Fire Development
Incipient Stage, , Growth Stage, Fully Developed, and Decay
Thermal Layering
Tendency of gasses to separate into layers according to temperature.
Rollover
, 4|Page
Describes a condition where the unburned fire gases accumulated at the top of a compartment ignite and flames
propagate through the hot-gas layer
Fully Developed Stage
Occurs when all combustible materials in the compartment are burning.
Factors that affect Fire
Fuel, Location, Compartment Volume, Ventilation, Ambient Conditions such as wind, humidity..
Bearing Wall
Wall that supports itself and the weight of the roof
Type 1 Construction
Non or Limited Combustible materials. Highest Safety Levels.
Type 2 Construction
Low Fire Risk, Materials won't contribute to the spread.
Type 3 Construction
Used in schools, churches, mercantile. Exterior walls are non-combustible.
Type 4 Construction
Heavy Timber, Large Dimensioned lumber.
Type 5 Construction
Commonly known as wood frame
Assembly Occupancies
50 or more people, Churches, Arenas, Theaters..
Business Occupancies
Large number of occupants
Educational Occupancies
Pre-School through 12th grade. High Loads, Multiple Uses..
Factory/Industrial Occupancies
Factory, subdivided due to use
Institutional Occupancies
People with physical limitations, penal or corrections institutions.
Health Care and Ambulatory Care Occupancies
