Inspection Information

Approved Plans Must be on Site

Approved plans must be kept on site at all times for use by inspectors. Approved plans will have a stamp and signature from the Queen Anne’s County Office of the Fire Marshal. Copies of plans are not acceptable. Shop drawings and other plans without stamps and signatures are not acceptable. Failure to have these plans will result in cancellation of your inspection and fees assessed. Have these ready to save both yours and the inspector's time.

Comment Letters

Comment letters from the plans reviewer are part of your approved plans and must be kept on site at all times for use by the inspectors. Make sure you read them thoroughly. Important information is often on these that may not be on the plans.

Deviation from approved plans-revised plans needed. It is required that construction matches approved plans. Should changes be made to construction or systems, plans must be revised through the Office of the Fire Marshal plans reviewer. Revised approved plans and signature must be on site for inspections. Failure to have revised approved plans on site will delay your inspection process. Deviation, without revised approved plans require approval of the Fire Marshal.

Permits required (related to the Fire Marshal Inspection):

• Above ground flammable / combustible liquid tanks (60 gal. Or greater capacity)
• Building permit
• Electric permit
• Fire alarm system permit
• Kitchen fire suppression system permit
• Kitchen hood and duct
• LP tank installations
• Sprinkler permit
• Underground fire service main

Separate permits are required for all of the above. No other permits are issued automatically with the building permit even if plans for those items are included with the building permit set of plans. A separate application for permit and review period is required. Should the building already exist and a system is being added, changed or modified, a mechanical permit is required.

Work Without Permits

Make sure an approved permit is on site prior to starting any work. No work is permitted without a permit and plans from the Queen Anne’s County Office of the Fire Marshal. This includes pulling wire for the alarm systems.

No occupancy until final inspections is complete. Occupancy in whole or in part is not allowed until final inspections are completed. If it is desired to stock prior to occupancy, a stocking permit is required. Application for this is made through the Fire Marshal.

Underground Fire Service water lines for sprinkler systems: An inspection and hydrostatic test of the line is required and must be witnessed by a representative of Queen Anne’s County or the Fire Inspector. Line flushing is preformed in accordance with NFPA 13 and NFPA 24 standards, which require that a certain velocity of water (measured as gallons per minute) is achieved during the flush as determined by the diameter of the line.

Sprinkler Systems

No inspection will take place on a sprinkler system unless all piping is exposed. Approved plans must be on site for the inspection. Piping shall not be painted until the system is inspected and approved by the Fire Inspector.

• Hydrostatic test required for greater then 20 heads
• Visual inspection required for any number of sprinkler heads
• The system must match approved plans

Did you use an instant sprinkler permit? If so, a final inspection certification form must be prepared and be available to the fire inspector upon arrival at the time of the inspection. An inspection will not be conducted without this form.

• All piping must be marked along its length as to the manufacture and type.
• All control valves must have signs identifying its function.
• Painted sprinkler heads must be replaced
• Doors to rooms containing sprinkler equipment / control valves must be marked
• Hydraulic data plate must be displayed in the riser room
• Stock of spare sprinklers in box with wrench in riser room
• Any loss of pressure or visible leaks is cause for failure
• Fire pump installation:
  • Fire pump must be signed off by the electrical inspector prior to the test
  • Inspection and test must be witnessed by the fire inspector in accordance with NFPA 20, the standard for the installation of centrifugal fire pumps
• Standpipes: Must be hydrostatically tested and flushed, witnessed by the fire inspector

Kitchen Hoods

Hoods and ductwork must be inspected on the ground before it is hung to check for welds, proper dimensions, model number and wall construction type that the hood will be adjacent to, as specified on plans.

Requirements for hood/duct and suppression system are as follows:

• Approved plans on site
• Installation in accordance with NFPA 96
• Electrical inspection
• Drop light to place inside of duct to inspect welds

Upon suppression system activation, an audible or visual indicator must be provided. If a fire alarm is provided, the activation of the suppression system must activate the fire alarm system.

When the suppression system activates, the fan must come on. If the fan was on it must remain on.