General Fire Inspection

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The Fire Marshal Office has guidelines and requirements for fire inspections. For additional questions regarding general inspections, contact our office at 806-378-4238.

◼ Fire Marshal General Fire Inspection Request

Based on state requirements or licensing — this application is for Day Cares (both child and adult), Foster Homes, Group Homes, Shelters, Nursing Homes, and Hospitals.

◼ Fire Marshal Hotel/Motel Inspection Request

This application is for all hotel and motels in the City of Amarillo, this required biennial inspection is due on odd numbered years. Needs to be completed by December 31.

◼ Fire Marshal Apartment Inspection Request

This application is for all apartments in the City of Amarillo, this required biennial inspection is due on even numbered years. Needs to be completed by December 31.

◼ Fire Marshal Final Fire Inspection for Certificate of Occupancy

This application must be filled out to conduct the final fire inspection prior to a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) being issued. The Fire Marshal's office conducts the fire protection portion of the CO inspection. The Certificate of Occupancy is managed by the City of Amarillo Building Safety Department.

◼ Building Safety's Commercial Certificate of Occupancy Application

The Building Safety Department manages the Commercial Certificate of Occupancy process. Contact Building Safety by email at building@amarillo.gov or phone at 806-378-3041. If you have specific fire-safety related questions, contact the Fire Marshal Office at 806-378-4238.

General Fire Inspection Fees

Occupancy Inspection Type	Occupant Load/Additional Information	Fee
Childcare Facilities	Licensed for up to 150 occupants	$100
	Licensed for over 150 Occupants	$100+$40 per each additional 100 occupants or fraction thereof
Adult Care Facilities	Licensed up to 150 occupants	$100
	Licensed over 150 Occupants	$100+$40 per each additional 100 occupants or fraction thereof
Foster/Group Home/Shelter	1-5 occupants	$50
	6-15 occupants	$100
Multiple Home/Shelter Inspections		$50 or $100 (plus $10 per home/shelter within the same zip code with a max of 10 homes/shelter per inspection request)
Nursing Home	Licensed for 50 beds or less	$200
	Licensed for 51-100 beds	$250
	Licensed for 101 beds or more	$300
Hospital	Licensed for 200 beds or less	$350
	Licensed for 201 beds or more	$600
Other Facilities/Occupancies	5,000 sq ft or less	$100
	5,001-10,000 sq ft	$150
	10,001-50,000 sq ft	$200
	50,001-100,000 sq ft	$250
	100,001 sq ft or more	$250 + $100 for each additional 25,000 sq ft or fraction there of over 100,000 sq ft
Hotel/Motel Biennially Inspection (requiredduring Odd Numbered years)	5,000 sq ft or less	$100
	5,001-10,000 sq ft	$150
	10,001-50,000 sq ft	$200
	50,001-100,000 sq ft	$250
	100,001 sq ft or more	$250 + $100 for each additional 25,000 sq ft or fraction there of over 100,000 sq ft
Apartment Biennially Inspection (requiredduring Even Numbered years)	5,000 sq ft or less	$100
	5,001-10,000 sq ft	$150
	10,001-50,000 sq ft	$200
	50,001-100,000 sq ft	$250
	100,001 sq ft or more	$250 + $100 for each additional 25,000 sq ft or fraction there of over 100,000 sq ft
Certificate of Occupancy	5,000 sq ft or less	$50
	5,001-10,000 sq ft	$100
	10,001-50,000 sq ft	$150
	50,001-100,000 sq ft	$200
	100,001 sq ft or more	$200 + $100 for each additional 25,000 sq ft or fraction there of over 100,000 sq ft
First Reinspection		No charge
Subsequent Reinspection	Unresolved noncompliance spanning multiple inspections may result in citation	$50 per inspection after first reinspection
No Show/Not Ready		$50
After Hours Inspection		$100 per hour

General Fire Inspection Checklist for Commercial Properties

If you have further questions about fire safety requirements, contact the Fire Marshal office at 806-378-4238.

Fire Protection Systems Inspection, Testing and Maintenance

Fire Alarm systems, sprinklers and fire pumps shall be inspected, test and serviced annually. (IFC901.6)
Records of all fire protection system inspections, tests and maintenance shall be kept on the premises for review by the Fire Official. (IFC 901.6.3)
Fire protection systems shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times. (IFC 901.6)
Emergency lighting (1008.2) and exit sign (1013.6.3) lighting shall be working properly at all times.(IFC 1006)
Emergency generator systems shall be routinely inspected, operated and serviced per NPFA 110 &111. All records shall be kept on the premises for review by the Fire Official. (IFC 604)
Commercial cooking fire protection systems shall be test at least every 6 months. (IFC 904.5.1)
Hoods, grease removal devices, fans ducts, etc. shall be cleaned to bare metal. Cleaning shall be recorded, and records shall state the extent, time and date of cleaning. Records shall be maintained on premises. (IFC 606)
Private hydrants shall be inspected, serviced and flow tested annually. (IFC 507.5.3)

Exits

Exit doors shall be unlocked when building is occupied. (IFC 1010.2.4)
Exit signs, doors, halls shall not be visually or physically obstructed by storage, decorations, furnishings, snow or ice. (IFC 1013.1)
Exit signs shall be illuminated. (IFC 1013.3)
Exit ways shall be illuminated at all times the building is occupied including during commercial power failures. (IFC 1008)
Fire doors, smoke dampers and other fire resistance barriers and assemblies shall not be modified or otherwise impaired from the proper operation at any time. (Ch.7)

Combustible and Flammable Material Storage

Combustible materials (cardboard, paper, plastics, kerosene, paint, etc.) shall not be stored in boiler rooms, mechanical rooms, or electrical equipment rooms. (IFC 315.3.3)
Combustible materials shall not be stored in exit ways, hallways, stairways or exit enclosures. (IFC 315.3.2)
Outside dumpsters shall be kept at least 5 feet away from combustible walls, windows, doors, overhangs and lid shall be closed. (IFC 304.3.3)
Combustible storage shall be at least 2 feet below the ceiling or 18 inches below sprinkler heads. (IFC 315.3.1)
Compressed gas containers, cylinders and tanks shall be secured to prevent falling. (IFC 5303.5.3)
Flammable materials (gasoline, propane, alcohol, etc.) shall not be stored indoors. Including fuel tanks of motorcycles, lawn-care equipment or cooking equipment, etc. (IFC313)

Building Maintenance

All private hydrants, fire lanes, fire department connections (FDC) and control valves shall be clear, labeled, visible and unobstructed, including snow and ice removal. (IFC 503, 507)
The building address shall be clearly visible from the street, minimum 4 inches in height with contrasting background. (IFC 505.1)
A knock box with all entrance and interior keys for emergency access is required for all structures that automatically dial 911. (IFC 506.1)
Fire-resistance-rated construction shall be maintained. (IFC 703.1)
Occupant load signs must be legible, permanent and posted in conspicuous location. (IFC 1004.9)
Door labels are required for accesses to electrical, furnace, sprinkler, mechanical, and generator rooms and to the roof. (IFC 509)
Candles and other open flames are not permitted in commercial properties without special permission from the Fire Marshal. (IFC 308)

Electrical

A working space of not less than 30 inches wide (or width of equipment), 36 inches deep and 78 inches high shall be provided in front of electrical service equipment. No storage with this workspace. (IFC 603.4)
“Power strips or surge protectors” shall be UL listed, polarized, grounded and equipped with over current protection and shall be directly connected to a permanently installed receptacle. (IFC 603)
“Power strips” cords shall not extent through walls, ceilings, floors, under doors, or floor coverings, nor be subject to environmental or physical damage. (IFC 603.6)
Extension cords, Multi-plug adapters and flexible cords shall not be a substitute for permanent wiring. (IFC 603.6)
All electrical boxes shall be properly covered. (IFC 603.2.2)
Portable electric heaters shall be UL listed and plugged directly into a permanent wall receptacle, not into an extension cord, power strip or adapter. The must be positioned at least 3 feet away from combustibles. (IFC 603.9.4)

Portable Fire Extinguishers

A minimum of one 2A-10:BC portable fire extinguisher shall be provided within 75 feet of travel distance from anywhere in the business on each floor. (IFC 906.3)
A class K fire extinguisher shall be mounted within 30 feet of commercial food equipment using vegetable or animal oils. (IFC 906.1)
Fire extinguisher shall not be obstructed and all shall be in a conspicuous location. When visually obstructed, approved signs shall be provided to indication location and not obstructed. (IFC 906.6)
Fire extinguishers shall be mounted on wall with hanger at least 4 inches above the floor and no more than 60 inches above the floor. (IFC 906.7)
Annual, certified inspections of all extinguishers are required. (IFC 906.2)

General Fire Inspection Checklist for Foster Homes or Group Care Centers

City of Amarillo, TX

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