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Certificate of Occupancy Requirements


Listed below are items considered during the Inspection for Certificate of Occupancy:  
  1. 8 ½” x 11” Site and Floor PlanDetailed site and floor plan provided for Fire Department planning.  To include the Square Footage of the building.
  2. Building Addressing12-inch Arabic numerals or alphabet letters in front and rear of the building, contrasting background, plainly visible and legible from the road. Located at the highest elevation of building. 4-inch suite numbers on front and back doors.
  3. Operational Permits – See Attachment 1 for a list of Required Operational Permits as required in International Fire Code 2000; Section 105.6.
  4. Fire Extinguishers  - At least (1) 2A; 10B; C Fire Extinguisher mounted in an easily accessible area of the building is required.  In larger buildings, more than one fire extinguisher may be required. Fire extinguisher must have a State Fire Marshal’s Inspection Tag, which can be provided by any licensed fire extinguisher company. (Exception: For new fire extinguishers, proof of purchase will substitute for the State Fire Marshal’s Tag for one (1) year from date of purchase.)
  5. Key Boxes – Shall contain any and all keys and/or devices required to gain emergency access to the building.
  6. Exit Route Exits may not lead through hazardous rooms; exits must terminate at a public way (i.e. Paved surface.). Not obstructed in any manner.
  7. Exit Sign Illumination – Required when 2 exits required.  Required to have back-up power supply or continuously (self-luminous) illuminate when power is discounted.
  8. Emergency Lighting Required when Occupant Load exceeds 100.
  9. Exit door SwingOpens in direction of travel when occupant load exceeds 50 or Hazardous Areas.
  10. Exit Locking Hardware – “No Knowledge” single action lever or panic bar on all doors.  The main entrance door may have “key locking” hardware on the door when a sign stating “Door Shall Remain Unlocked During Business Hours” is posted.  Additional deadbolt locks are not allowed unless connected to lever.  Panic hardware required in Assembly rooms/building where occupant load exceeds 50.  Manual Flush Bolts Prohibited.
  11. Dead End Corridors – Not to exceed 20 feet.
  12. Roof Access – If provided, proper signage required.
  13. Fire Department AccessApproved access road provided to within 150 ft. of exterior portions of building, as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building.
  14. Fire Lanes – Fire apparatus access roads width is a minimum of 24 ft, and an obstructed vertical clearance of not less than 14 ft.
  15. Electrical – Main panel room identified on exterior door of electrical room.
  16. Elevators – Lunar key and override keys must be provided and maintain in supra box.
  17. Fire Sprinklers ACCEPTANCE INSPECTONS COMPLETE. Overhead hydrostatic and final acceptance inspections.
  18. Fire Department ConnectionShould have “Knox FDC Plug(s)” in place.
  19. Fire Sprinkler Riser Access Sign on exterior and/or interior doors.
  20. Fire Alarms – installed as required
    1. ACCEPTANCE INSPECTION COMPLETE.
    2. DEVICE MAP POSTEDMap indicating device location and address posted near main control panel.
    3. Remote AnnunciatorLocated at main entrance of facility.  Instructions are provided for silence and reset instructions in Supra Box.  8 ½” X 11” framed floor plan is located at the annunciator indicating zones and device location.
    4. Sprinkler Monitoringrequired on all systems
    5.  Active Tamperson detector check, PIV’s and riser control valves, if provided. Trouble alarm received.
    6.  Dedicated Phone Linessend trouble to central station when discounted.
    7.  A/C Power Disconnect and Batteries Back-up Disconnecttransmits trouble alarm.
    8. Battery Back-upsends alarm when system is activated without A/C power.
    9.  Pull Station and Horn/Strobeare located in occupied area and function properly.
    10. AddressProper zone and address dispatched.  (i.e. water flow vs. trouble vs. pull station)
    11.  A/C Power Disconnectis locked. 
Operational Permits
The code official shall obtain permits required by the International Fire Code 2000.  Permit fees shall be paid prior to the issuance of a permit.  Operational permits shall be kept on premises and available for inspection by the code official.  
 An operational permit allows the applicant to conduct an operation or business for which Section 105.6 of International Fire Code 2000 requires a permit.  Operational permits shall be renewed annually with a one-time fee for initial permit.

Required Operational Permits:
Aerosol products – To manufacture, store, or handle Level 2 or Level 3 aerosol products in excess of 500 pounds 
Amusement buildings- To operate a special amusement building 
Aviation facilities – To use a Group H or Group S occupancy for aircraft servicing or repair and aircraft fuel-servicing vehicles 
Carnivals and Fairs – To conduct a carnival or fair 
Battery systems – To install stationary lead-acid battery systems with a liquid capacity of more than 50 gallons 
Cellulose nitrate film – To store, handle, or use cellulose nitrate film in a Group A occupancy 
Combustible fibers – To store and handle combustible fibers greater than 100 cubic feet
Compressed gasses – To store, use, or handle at normal temperatures and pressure of compressed gasses over amounts listed in IFC 2000, Table Section 105.6.9 
Covered mall building – To place retail fixtures and displays, concession equipment, displays of highly combustible goods, display liquid or gas fired equipment in the mall, or use of open flame or flame producing equipment in the mall.
Cryogenic fluids – To produce, store, transport on site, use, handle, or dispense cryogenic liquids in excess of amounts listed in IFC2000, Table Section 105.6.11
Cutting and Welding – To conduct cutting or welding operations
Dry cleaning plant – To engage in dry cleaning business or to change to more hazardous solvent
Exhibits and Trade shows – To operate exhibits and trade shows
Explosives – To manufacture, store, handle, sale, or use any quantity of explosive, fireworks, or pyrotechnic special effects
Fire hydrants and valves – To use or operate fire hydrants or valves intended for fire suppression purposes which are installed on water systems and accessible to or used by the public
Flammable and Combustible Liquids – 
  1. To use or operate a pipeline for the transportation within facilities of flammable and combustible liquids.
  2. To store, handle, or use Class I liquids in excess of 5 gallons in a building or excess of 10 gallons outside a building.
  3. To store, handle, or use Class II or IIIA liquids in excess of 25 gallons in a building or excess of 60 gallons outside a building except for fuel oil used for oil-burning equipment.
  4. To remove Class I or II liquids from an underground storage tank by any other means other than the approved onsite pumps
  5. To operate tank vehicles, equipment, tanks, plants, terminals, wells, fuel-dispensing stations, refineries, distilleries, etc. where flammable and combustible liquids are produced, transported, stored, dispensed, or used.
  6. To install, alter, remove, abandon, or place out of service (for more than 90 days) an underground or protected above ground flammable or combustible liquid tank.
  7. To change the type of contents stored in a flammable or combustible liquid tank to a material which is a greater hazard than the tank was constructed and designed for.
  8. To manufacture, process, blend or refine flammable or combustible liquid
Floor finishing – To operate floor finishing or surfacing operations that exceed 350 square feet using Class I or Class II liquids
Fruit and Crop ripening – To operate a fruit or crop-ripening facility or conduct a fruit-ripening process using ethylene gas
Fumigation and thermal insecticidal fogging – To operate a business of fumigation and to maintain a room, vault, or chamber in which a toxic or flammable fumigant is used
Hazardous materials – To store, transport on site, dispense, use or handle hazardous materials in excess of amounts listed in IFC 2000 Table Section 105.6.21
HPM Facilities – To store, handle, or use hazardous production materials
High-piled storage – To use a building or portion thereof for high-piled storage that exceeds 500 square feet

Hot works operation –  

  1. To conduct public exhibitions and demonstrations
  2. To use portable hot work equipment inside a structure (exception with a construction permit)
  3. To use in a fixed site such as a welding booth
  4. To conduct hot work in a hazardous fire area
  5. To use open flame devices in application of roof coverings
  6. To issue a permit to carry out a Hot Work Program to allow approved personnel to regulate their facility’s hot work operations
Industrial ovens – To operate an industrial oven
Lumber yards and woodworking plants – To store or process lumber that exceeds 100,000 board feet
Liquid or gas fueled vehicles or equipment in assembly buildings – To display, operates, or demonstrates liquid or gas fueled vehicles or equipment in assembly buildings
LP-gas – To store and use LP gas and operate cargo tankers that transport LP-gas  (exception Group R-3 individual containers with a water capacity of 500 gallons or less)
Magnesium – To melt, heat treat or grind more than 10 pounds
Miscellaneous combustible storage – To store in any building or upon any premise in excess of 2500 cubic feet gross volume of combustible empty packing crates, boxes, barrels, rubber tires, or similar combustible material
Open burning – To kindle or maintain an open fire or a fire on any public street, alley, road, or other public or private ground
Open flames and candles – To remove paint with a torch; use a torch or open flame device in a hazardous fire area or to use open flames or candles in connection with assembly areas, dining areas of restaurants or drinking establishments
Organic coatings – To manufacture any organic coating that produces more than 1 gallon of coating in 1 day
Places of assembly – To operate a place of assembly
Private fire hydrants – To remove from service, use, or operation a private fire hydrant
Pyrotechnic special effects material – To use or handle pyrotechnic special effects material
Pyroxylin plastics – To store or handle more than 25 pounds of cellulose nitrate plastics and any assembly or manufacture of articles involving pyroxylin plastics
Refrigeration equipment – To operate a mechanical refrigeration unit or system regulated by Chapter 6 of IFC 2000
Repair garages and Service stations – To operate repair garages and automotive, marine, and fleet service stations
Rooftop heliports – To operate a roof top heliport
Spraying or dipping – To conduct a spraying or dipping operation utilizing flammable or combustible liquids or the application of combustible powders
Storage of scrap tires and tire byproducts – To establish, conduct, or maintain storage of scrap tires and tire byproducts that exceeds 2500 cubic feet of total volume
Temporary membrane structures, tents, and canopies – To operate an air-supported temporary membrane structure or a tent having an area in excess of 200 square feet or a canopy in excess of 400 square feet
Tire-rebuilding plant – To operate and maintain a tire-rebuilding plant
Waste handling – To operate a wrecking yard, junkyard, and waste material handling facility
Wood products – To store chips, hogged material, lumber or plywood in excess of 200 cubic feet

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