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Established1911

Doran Pruisner

Iowa Administrative Code section 661-201.2(100) and 201.2(1) adopts the International Fire Code, 2009 edition, published by the International Fire Code Council as the general fire safety requirements and shall apply to all occupancies other than those to which provisions specific to an occupancy explicitly exclude these provisions or any individual provision contained therein.

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Existing facilities that were approved and built prior to June 1, 2004 are allowed to meet alternative requirements set forth in the earlier 1994 and 2000 editions of the Life Safety Code. Facilities built between June 1, 2004 and January 1, 2010 are allowed to meet the requirements of the 2003 Life Safety Code.

January 1, 2010 the State Fire Marshals Office adopted the 2010 International Fire Code as the code for all facilities (except health care) as the enforcement code for the State of Iowa.

Documentation needed: Fire Alarm Reports inspected annual (or ½ of devices every 6

months) in accordance NFPA 72. Sprinkler Reports inspected yearly and quarterly in accordance with

NFPA 13 or 13R. Quarterly Sprinkler Inspection: NPFA 25 Inspection, Testing, and

Maintenance of Water Based Fire Protection Systems◦ Alarm devices◦ Hydraulic Name Plate◦ FDC connection◦ Gauges◦ Control Valves◦ If you don’t have a copy of NFPA 25 check with your sprinkler

provider for a copy. Ansul System inspected bi-annually per NFPA 96 (Kitchen Hood and

Duct).

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Generator maintenance report and testing under load monthly and weekly tests.

Emergency Lighting testing and documentation.◦ Test emergency lighting for 30 seconds monthly.◦ Test emergency lighting for 90 minutes yearly.◦ Document each for review.

Fire drills from the past two years conducted not less than 6 times per year on a bi-monthly basis, with not less than 2 drills conducted during the night when residents are sleeping. 661-405.2(b)

Fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plans and associated drills shall comply with the requirements of Sections 404.2 through 404.5.1 IFC 2009 edition.

1. Identity of the person conducting the drill.2. Date and time of drill.3. Notification method used.4. Staff members on duty and participating.5. Number of occupants evacuated.6. Special conditions simulated.7. Problems encountered.8. Weather conditions when occupants evacuated.9. Time required to accomplish complete

evacuation.

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IFC 408.5.1 fire safety and evacuation Plan-The fire safety and evacuation plan required by Section 404 shall include special staff actions including fire protection procedures necessary for residents and shall be amended or revised upon admission of any resident with unusual needs.

408.5.2 Staff Training- Employees shall be periodically instructed and kept informed of their duties and responsibilities under the plan. Such instruction shall be reviewed by the staff at least every 2 months. A copy of the plan shall be readily available at all times within the facility.

408.5.3 Resident training- Residents capable of assisting in their own evacuation shall be trained in the proper actions to take in the event of a fire. The training shall include actions to take if the primary escape route is blocked. Where the resident is given rehabilitation or habilitation training, training in fire prevention and actions to take in the event of the fire shall be a part of the rehabilitation training program. Residents shall be trained to assist each other in case of fire to the extent their physical and mental abilities permit them to do so without additional personal risk.

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408.5.4 Drill Frequency-Emergency evacuation drills shall be conducted at least 6 times per year, two times per year on each shift. Twelve drills shall be conducted in the first year of operation. Drills not required to comply with the time requirement of Section 405.4. (Amended in the Iowa Administration Code) Fire drills conducted not less than 6 times per year on a bi-monthly basis, with not less than 2 drills conducted during the night when residents are sleeping. 661-405.2(b)

408.5.5 Resident participation- Emergency evacuation drills shall involve the actual evacuation of residents to a selected assembly point.

There are no simulated or mock drills. The facility will do evacuations.

Once the paperwork portion of the inspection is complete it is time for the walk through of

the facility. Each inspector has their own order in conducting the facility inspection.

They may start in the basement and work up or top floor and work down. They want to avoid as much back tracking as possible.

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The inspector will want to look in the attic at all two hour wall separations for penetrations of wires, ducts etc. and that all are sealed properly.

They will also look above the ceiling tile at all smoke/fire barriers for penetrations and that they are sealed.

All fire/smoke doors will be checked to see that they close and latch properly

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All smoke seals around door frames will be checked along with the rating of all doors in

resident rooms and hazardous rooms to make sure they are the correct doors. (EX. Smoke barrier doors shall be rated at least 20min, Hazardous rooms 45 min doors)

Inspectors will be checking all EXIT signs to make sure the battery back up works along with all emergency lighting.

Extinguishers will be checked to make sure that they have been currently inspected and tagged according to NFPA 10.

All storage rooms, mechanical rooms, public bathrooms, facility kitchen, and janitorial closets will be looked at for penetrations, storage too close to sprinkler heads etc.

Emergency lighting will be checked to see if operable.

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Resident rooms are considered the residents home. If no one is home at the time of the inspection it is up to the administration to allow access. If a resident is home then that resident is asked if it is okay for the inspector to enter to have a look around. If a dwelling unit has no resident then the administration will allow access during the inspection.

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Some of the things the inspector is looking for in resident rooms is the use of extension cords, surge protectors in use for things other than computer equipment. Smoke detection and sprinkler coverage, or anything that may pose a serious risk of starting a fire.

Any time work is done in the facility and there are penetrations through smoke/fire barriers make sure that those penetrations are caulked with an approved one hour fire rated material. (Fire rated caulk can be used for a penetration up to ¼ of an inch. Any penetrations bigger than ¼ of an inch must be protected in accordance with an approved UL fire resistive assembly).

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Make sure no surge protectors are being used for anything other than office equipment.

Check for storage next to sprinkler heads. NFPA 13 states that there can’t be anything within 18” of a sprinkler deflector.

Check for storage around electrical panels. NFPA 70 states that there must be a 3ft clearance around all electrical panels.

Periodically check to make sure all Ground Fault Circuit Interrupts (GFCI) are working properly.

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Remove all door wedges from the facility. During Winter shovel all required exit doors

and all pathways leading to a public way and maintain them clear of all obstructions at all times.

Maintain the Fire Department Connection free and clear of all obstructions.

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NOTIFY STAFF AND RESIDENTS OF THE FIRE BY SETTING OFF FIRE ALARM.

FOLLOW YOUR FACILITIES EMERGENCY PLAN.

IF TRAINED ON FIRE EXTINGUISHER, FOR A SMALL FIRE TRY TO EXTINGUISH, BUT IF YOU FEEL FIRE IS BEYOND EXTINGUISHER EVACUATE AND LET PROFESSIONALS FIGHT THE FIRE.

RESIDENTS COME FIRST! GET THEM TO SAFETY! YOU CAN ALWAYS REPLACE PROPERTY!

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If your facility does have a fire after you contact the Department of Inspection and Appeals contact the State Fire Marshals Office (515.725.6145) so we are aware of it no matter how small of a fire it was.

Contact SFM and DIA immediately. Examples: FIRE

SPRINKLER BREAKFIRE ALARM SYSTEMTORNADO DAMAGE

Procedures to follow:FIRE WATCH-EVERY 30 MINUTES AND DOCUMENT. EACH PERSON ASSIGNED SHALL NOT TAKE AWAY FROM NORMAL STAFFING AND THAT PERSON IS DEDICATED TO THE FIRE WATCH NO OTHER DUTIES AND SHALL BE AWARE OF FIRE HAZARDS AND PROPER PROCEDURES TO NOTIFY REST OF STAFF AND RESIDENTS IN EMERGENCY.

Who took care of deficiency. (ex. Miller Construction)

When fixed. (12/23/2011) How it was fixed. (ex. Penetration repaired

using 3M 2 hour rated fire caulk)

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DORAN PRUISNERConstruction/Design Engineer, SeniorDIVISION OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL515.725.6152EMAIL PRUISNER@DPS.STATE.IA.US