Arkansas Fire Marshal's Association

Residential Sprinklers Save Lives!

The following information helps to explain the typical role of your local fire prevention office, and how they can best serve their communities.

Common Services Provided by Your Local Fire Marshal

Local Fire Marshals are obligated to enforce state and local fire prevention codes as adopted.

The International Fire Code, or Volume I of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, is a maintenance code.  Meaning it applies to existing facilities.  It also applies across the state including rural / county areas.  Fire marshal’s are required to enforce to codes to protect the community and the fire fighters who will place their lives at risk when a fire starts.  The International Building Code, or Volume II, and International Residential Code, Volume III of the AFPC also apply state wide.

 

Code Enforcement

Fire Marshals should serve an active role in helping to assist and provide community education to schools, the elderly, and other interested community members.

Educating the public that only the sprinklers over a fire activate, and not all the sprinklers is critical to helping the public understand how residential sprinkler systems work and save lives for less than $1/sq.ft.  Teaching children about how sprinklers really work vs. what is in the movies will save many lives in the years to come.

Public Education

Reviewing or having plans reviewed by a qualified review agency before construction begins can significantly reduce change orders and prevents the fire marshal from being placed in a bad position when it is time to occupy a building and violations exist.

Reviewing architects and engineers plans before fire protection bids are locked in and while the actual “designers” are accountable will go a long way towards achieving code compliance. 

Designers are responsible for code compliance, not the AHJ.  Jurisdictions should utilize the provisions within the code to outsource plan review and inspections if adequate technical resources are not available within the jurisdiction.

Plan Reviews and Inspections

Fire Marshals frequently play an active role in the investigation and prosecution of intentionally set fires.  In some jurisdictions this duty is delegated to other law enforcement officers.

Investigation of fires not related to arson can also help code officials to better understand how fires start, how they spread, what can slow the spread, and how properly enforced codes can limit damage from fires.

Better understanding of fire science helps to better understand and apply the intent of code requirements.  This is very useful when evaluating alternative methods to achieving code compliance in difficult situations.

Arson, Cause & Effect Investigation