Fire Marshal Guidelines & Publications

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Many of the guidelines and publications provided by the Fire Marshal are available for viewing in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF). This is a popular format for viewing electronic documents online. To view and print the PDF version of a guideline or publication, you must have Adobe Reader installed on your computer. Download a FREE copy of Adobe Reader

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FIRE SAFETY & EVACUATION PLANNING

In accordance with Section 404 of the Fire Prevention Code, an approved fire safety and evacuation plan shall be prepared and maintained for the occupancies and buildings listed below. A code compliance guideline is provided for each occupancy and building type to assist planners in meeting the fire safety and evacuation requirements of the Fire Prevention Code.

• Assembly Occupancies - 4/07
• Covered Malls - 6/05
• Educational Occupancies - 6/05
• Hazardous Group Occupancies - 6/05
• High-Rise Buildings - June 2009
• Institutional I-1 Occupancies (Secured Nursing Facility) - 6/05
• Institutional I-2 Occupancies (Hospital, Nursing Home) - 6/05
• Institutional I-3 Occupancies (Jail) - 6/05
• Mercantile Occupancies (Group M Buildings) - 4/07
• Residential R-1 Occupancies (Hotel, Motel) - 6/05
• Residential R-2 Occupancies (Dormitory, Apartment) - 6/05
• Residential R-4 Occupancies (Residential Care Facility) - 6/05

State Regulated Care Facilities (SRCF). When a state license is required by the Virginia Department of Social Services; Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services; Virginia Department of Education; or Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice to operate, SRCF shall comply with this section and the provisions of Section 404 of the Fire Prevention Code.

  Watch the Video "Shelter in Place"  

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CODE REFERENCE PACKAGE

The Fire Marshal Code Reference Package (CRP) is authored and compiled by members of the Engineering Plans Review Branch. The document provides information and guidance to architects, engineers, designers, and installers about document submittal and plan review requirements related to the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), Fire Prevention Code, and Fairfax County Public Facilities Manual (PFM). In addition, design, installation, and acceptance testing guidelines and policies for fire protection equipment and aboveground and underground storage tanks are provided. The CRP also outlines fire protection and safety requirements as well as tenant occupancy requirements for buildings under construction and renovation.

• 2006 Code Reference Package (PDF)
• 2003 Code Reference Package (PDF)

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CODE COMPLIANCE GUIDELINES

The following guidelines are provided to assist you in preventing the occurrence of fire and hazardous conditions through compliance with applicable building and fire related codes, standards, and regulations.

• All-Night Grad/After-Prom Events (PDF)
• Carnivals, Circuses, Fairs, Festivals & Outdoor Public Assemblages (PDF)
• Temporary Tents (PDF)
• Posting of Occupant Load in Assembly Occupancies (PDF)
• Panic & Fire Exit Hardware (PDF)
• Open-Flame Decorative Devices PDF
• Open-Flame Cooking Devices (PDF)
• Outdoor Solid Fuel Burning Devices (PDF)
• Controlled Burning
• Bonfires
• Recreational Fires
• Retail Sale of Permissible Fireworks
• Outdoor Fireworks Displays
• Indoor Pyrotechnics Displays (Coming Soon)
• Fire Prevention Code Permit & Inspection Requirements for Public Pools
• Vehicle Displays Inside a Building (PDF)
• High Rise Building Sign Samples
• Fire Lanes & Fire Hydrants
• Decorative Vegetation Inside Buildings
• Displays and Decorative Materials in Schools
• Lobby and Corridor Furniture in Schools
• Halloween Party & Haunted House Fire Safety

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SELF-INSPECTION GUIDELINES

The following self-inspection guidelines are provided to assist you in preventing the occurrence of fire and hazardous conditions through compliance with applicable building and fire related codes, standards, and regulations.

• Mercantile Occupancies (PDF)

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FIRE PREVENTION CODE PERMITS

In accordance with Section 108 of the Fire Prevention Code, operational permits are required for activities involving the handling, storage or use of substances, materials or devices regulated by the Fire Prevention Code; conducting processes which produce conditions hazardous to life or property; and establishing and operating certain types of occupancies such as a place of assembly/education, special amusement building or carnival, circus, festival, or fair.

Operational permits issued by the Fairfax County Fire Marshal are known as Fire Prevention Code Permits (FPCP). Detailed FPCP requirements are listed in the following publication:

• Fire Prevention Code Permits & Filing Fee Requirements (PDF)

NOTICE: Permits and inspections relating to blasting and the handling, use, and transportation of any quantity of explosives or explosive materials is handled by the Hazardous Materials Enforcement Branch.

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MEANS OF EGRESS & SPECIAL LOCKS

The following publications are provided to assist you in preventing the occurrence of hazardous conditions, impediments, and obstructions to the means of egress through compliance with applicable building and fire related codes, standards, and regulations.

• Panic & Fire Exit Hardware (PDF)
• Special Locking Arrangements (PDF)

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FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

The following publications and resources are provided to assist you in preventing the occurrence of fire and hazardous conditions through compliance with applicable codes and standards relating to fire protection equipment and systems.

• Dry Sprinkler Failures
• Fire Protection Equipment Installations & Modifications: Permit Requirements
• Posting of Central Station Monitoring Company Information

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HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

The following publications and resources are provided to assist you in preventing the occurrence of hazardous conditions through compliance with applicable codes, regulations, and standards relating to the handling, storage, and use of hazardous materials.

• Fairfax Joint Local Emergency Planning Committee (FJLEPC)
• EPA Tier II Reporting Instructions (PDF)
• EPA Tier II Reporting Form (PDF)
Household Hazardous Waste
• Business Hazardous Waste
• Report Environmental Crimes

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	Office of the Fire Marshal Guidelines & Publications 10700 Page Avenue Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Telephone: 703-246-4800 Fax: 703-691-0209

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