(A) Permit required. A permit will be required to be obtained from the Fire Marshal’s office for the installation of a new sprinkler and or standpipe system. A permit will also be required for renovations or modifications to any existing systems when more than 20 new or relocated sprinklers are required to be added or modified.
(B) Permit issuance and fee. The permit fee will be based on the service and permit fee schedule. Once the plans are approved then a permit will be issued to the contractor. The fee for the permit must be paid when the permit is issued. A copy of the permit along with the approved set of plans will be returned to the contractor.
(C) Application and plans required. Plans, blueprints and/or hydraulic calculations for the system being installed, along with a permit application, shall be submitted to the Fire Marshal’s office for review and approval prior to the issuance of a permit. No work may commence until a permit has been issued. Two sets of all plans, blueprints and hydraulic calculations shall be submitted. One set will be returned with the appropriate remarks from the plan review and one set will be kept on file in the Fire Marshal’s office. All submittals for review must be signed when required by code or General Statute. Plans not signed when required will not be reviewed. The set returned approved to the contractor will be the job copy, and must be kept on the job site at all times. All drawings must be prepared in accordance with NFPA standards. All plans must be drawn to scale and accompanied by required sections and completely legible. Drawings not legible or without complete information will be returned without review and will require additional submittal. Fire resistive and structural integrity must also be shown in detail and how it will be maintained.
(D) Inspections required.
(1) The Fire Marshal’s office must be notified at least 48 hours in advance to schedule any inspections. Inspections required include:
(a) Inspection of pressure testing of all piping;
(b) Rough-in inspection of any concealed piping;
(c) Inspection of any hydrants, yard or county to ensure proper placement to meet code standards; and
(d) Final inspection and complete system testing.
(2) It will be the responsibility of the contractor to have the necessary personnel present to conduct any tests.
(E) Renovations or remodeling work.
(1) When more than 20 sprinklers are added or relocated, a set of shop drawings showing the extent of the renovation shall be submitted to the Fire Marshal’s office. These drawings shall be reviewed and approved in the same manner as for a new system. Two sets of all submittals will be required. One set will be kept on file in the Fire Marshal’s office and one set will be returned with the appropriate remarks from the plan review and will be the job copies which must be on the job site at all times. All drawings must be prepared in accordance with NFPA 13. All plans must be drawn to scale and accompanied by required sections and completely legible. Drawings not legible or without complete information will be returned without review and will require additional submittal. Fire resistive and structural integrity must also be shown in detail and how it will be maintained.
(2) The Fire Marshal’s office must be notified at least 48 hours in advance to schedule any inspections and must be notified if any existing system is to be shut down for any renovations. When less than 20 sprinklers are added or modified the Fire Marshal’s office must be notified that the work is being scheduled and a follow-up letter be provided to the Fire Marshal’s office advising that the work has been completed by a licensed fire sprinkler contractor in accordance with the appropriate North Carolina Building Codes and NFPA standards.
(F) Materials test and certification. Once a system has been deemed approved by the Fire Marshal’s office, the contractor will be responsible for issuing a materials test and certification letter to the Fire Marshal’s office. This letter shall state that the system has been installed in accordance with the appropriate NFPA Standards and North Carolina Building Codes General Construction and North Carolina Building Codes Fire Prevention along with the amendments of the North Carolina State Building Code. The letter shall state that the system has been tested and all materials used are approved for their use and the system is in full operation and the system meets or exceeds the appropriate NFPA Standards and the of North Carolina Building Codes. A letter shall be submitted for any new system or any renovation work or when a permit has been issued.
(G) Inspection report and finalization. An inspection report will be completed after each inspection conducted on the sprinkler and/ or standpipe system. A copy will be left with the contractor with the remaining copies of the inspection report filed in the Fire Marshal’s office. Once all the necessary requirements have been met for the sprinkler and/or standpipe system, the Inspector may then consider the permit complete and final and may note as such on the permit. No permit may be considered final until all requirements including receipt of the permit fee are completed.
(Ord. O-02-08, passed 6-5-2008) Penalty, see § 151.999