OVERVIEW

The Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC), simply referred to as the Fire Prevention Code, is a state regulation promulgated by the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development (BHCD) in cooperation with the Virginia Fire Services Board (VFSB), both Governor-appointed boards. The purpose of the regulation is to establish statewide standards to safeguard life and property from the hazards of fire or explosion arising from the improper maintenance of life safety and fire prevention and protection materials, devices, systems and structures and the unsafe storage handling, and use of substances, materials and devices, including fireworks, explosives and blasting agents, wherever located. Fairfax County enforces this state regulation.

Enforcement Authority. Pursuant to §62-2-6 of the Fairfax County Code, the Fire Marshal's Office (i.e., Fire Prevention Division of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department) is authorized to enforce the Fire Prevention Code. Furthermore, in accordance with §27-97 of the Code of Virginia, Fairfax County is empowered to adopt fire prevention regulations that are more restrictive or more extensive in scope (i.e., County Amendments), and may establish such procedures or requirements as may be necessary for the administration and enforcement of the Fire Prevention Code. The more restrictive or extensive regulations and local administration and enforcement provisions (known as county amendments) are contained in §62-2-8 of the County Code. Fairfax County is authorized to enforce the Fire Prevention Code in Clifton, Herndon, and Vienna.

The Fire Marshal Code Reference Package (CRP) is authored and compiled by members of the Engineering Plans Review Branch. The CRP publication provides technical information and procedural guidance to architects, engineers, designers, and installers about document submittal and plan review requirements associated with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), the Fire Prevention Code, and the Fairfax County Public Facilities Manual (PFM) for projects requiring fire marshal review and approval.

In addition to document submittal and plan review requirements, the CRP provides installation and acceptance testing guidelines and policies for fire protection equipment and systems as well as detailed guidance related to means of egress locking arrangements, fire lane installations and markings, and aboveground and underground fuel storage tanks. The CRP also includes fire protection and safety requirements for buildings under construction and renovation as well as occupancy requirements for new buildings and alterations to existing buildings as required by the Fairfax County Special Inspections Program (SIP).

For code compliance information not contained within the CRP, visit the Code Compliance Information page of our website for information about operational permits, public safety plans, fire safety and evacuation planning, and other non-construction or non-installation related code compliance topics.

2021 EDITION

The 2021 Edition (Version 1, April 2026) of the CRP is based on the 2021 USBC, 2021 Fire Prevention Code, as well as current editions of the PFM and SIP, and is known as the 2021 CRP.  All building permits applied for on or after March 1, 2026, must comply with the requirements of Version 1 of the 2021 CRP as well as the 2021 USBC.  All trade permits associated with these building permits (i.e., sprinkler, fire alarm, etc.) must comply with the editions of NFPA standards referenced by Chapter 35 of the 2021 USBC.

To request a PDF of previous CRP versions (2018 Edition, Version 1 or 2; 2015 Edition; 2012 Edition), please contact the Engineering Plans Review Branch by emailing fire.engplansreview@fairfaxcounty.gov.

FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS

The Fairfax County Fire Marshal's Office (FMO) encourages the use of Fire Protection Engineers (FPE’s) on architectural design teams for all building projects. Historically it has been found that the use of fire protection engineers from the very beginning of a project improves the fire and life safety code compliance of the design and reduces the number of comments generated from plan reviews conducted by FMO engineering staff. This in turn reduces the number of plan resubmissions and generally decreases the time it takes to obtain final approval of the plans from this office.

We highly recommend use of FPE’s on all high-rise buildings and other complex buildings including shopping malls, places of assembly, nursing homes, hospitals, day care facilities, buildings with storage planned to exceed 12 feet in height (high-piled storage), and buildings using or storing moderate to large amounts of hazardous or flammable materials. We also recommend use of FPE’s to consult on all fire protection systems contractors’ shop drawing submittals for these types of buildings.

This list includes known firms or individuals located in the Washington / Baltimore metropolitan area, and other firms from outside this area who have previously done work in Fairfax County. Anyone with questions or concerns regarding this list, or if you wish to be added to this list, should call the Engineering Plans Review Branch at 703-246-4806.

Companies and individuals listed are not intended to be an endorsement or recommendation by Fairfax County. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is not liable for any work done or not done by any of these consultants on this list.  You should conduct your own investigation into the qualifications, licenses, bonds, insurance, and references of each company or individual prior to hiring any of them to do any work.

User Feedback Welcome.  Users of the CRP publication are encouraged to provide constructive feedback about needed changes and improvements. To provide us with your feedback, call the Engineering Plans Review Branch at 703-246-4806.