Codes & Standards

There were a couple of ordinances in the 1902 code that relate to fire prevention activities. One of the duties of the chief was to inspect all buildings and premises within the City and identify hazards. He was to require people to correct any hazards found. He was to regulate combustibles, flammables and explosive materials storage. This is the first time the fire department had enforcement capabilities. The other code provision related to buildings of three stories or more used as a hall, theater or used or let for public assemblies, and for entertainment or amusement shall have one or more substantial fire escapes. There was another section to make sure the fire escapes were kept maintained so as not to be a danger.

The act of creating a fire inspector in the 1880 and the concern over the fire escapes in 1900 are the beginnings of our effective, modern bureau of Codes and Standards. There were other fire safety measures affected by the Council in the 1900’s; two of these were initiated in 1902. The Mayor asked in August of 1902, that the fire limits ordinance be enforced to prevent too much combustion in the downtown area. The fire limits ordinance was established to control sources of fire in the main mercantile area. Later in 1902, the Council passed an ordinance to stop the storage of boxes, barrels or other flammable materials in alleys, backyards or the rear of premises in the fire limits. This was another attempt to bring the fire limits under better control.

Fire prevention was given a great push in the 1930’s. For several years during this period the Fire Chief spoke strongly on the department efforts to make the citizens "fire conscious". The affect of gas service into homes and apartments on reduction of fires was brought out. The companies were assigned a home inspection program. All homes in town were inspected. The inspection program was built up during the 1930’s again. When the department went to two shifts in 1935, another inspector was added. This brought the total number of inspectors to three. In 1934 the intense fire prevention program, which was started in 1932, paid off. The fire loss for that year was $21,720. This was the lowest fire loss since permanent records have been kept. It is a record that is still hard to beat even in our present day and time. Fire prevention was given much greater attention in the 1952 City code’s updating. The codes established many new standards for the Bureau of Investigation. It also stated that the Chief of the Bureau of Investigation shall hold office at the pleasure of the Chief of the Fire Department. Here in this code is the formal written recognition of the need for a legal environment to be developed. No prior City code goes into such detail to provide for a fire safe environment. Earlier codes began this trend but only covered the most dangerous hazards. The 1952 City codes were much wider in scope than any former code.

Today the City adopts amended model fire and building codes along with referenced standards. These codes have evolved over the years through careful study and analysis of significant loss of property and life due to fire. The inspection division has grown along with the City over the years. Currently there are a total of 18 personnel assigned to the Division of Codes and Standards. The duties and responsibilities of the division have also grown. Today the division is divided into two groups, new construction and performance inspections. Codes and Standards also reviews all fire calls within the City to gather statistics and forward those statistics to a national data base. These statistics are a valuable tool used to determine current trends in aspects of firefighting and fire protection.

The Division of Codes and Standards new construction division is composed of a Life Safety Division and a Fire Protection Feature Division. The Life Safety Division reviews plans and inspects items in regard to means of egress. It also handles items such as new storage tank installation and hood suppression systems for commercial cooking operations. All items not directly associated with means of egress and life safety are reviewed and inspected by the Fire Protection Feature Division. This would include such items as sprinkler systems, fire alarms, emergency generators, elevators, fire pumps, water supply and fire department access.

Much planning must take place before a building is built. The infrastructure must be carefully laid out to include services such as streets, phones, power, and water mains are of sufficient nature to handle the specific type of occupancies in that area. For example, an industrial area would place a higher demand on services than a residential neighborhood. The Fire Department is involved early on to see that proper water supply is available with a distribution system of fire mains of sufficient size to handle the quantity of water required at the planned buildings. When plans are submitted Fire Department access is a main area of concern Life safety plans or construction plans are submitted prior to construction or renovation of a building or structure. These plans are used to determine code compliance issues. Plans for buildings or structures built under the city's jurisdiction have to meet the minimum requirements of adopted codes and standards before they are approved. Life Safety plans for new construction or renovation are reviewed with the building official and are submitted to the plans review coordinator for the City of Montgomery.

Technical drawings on sprinkler plans and fire alarm plans are submitted separately to the Fire Department. These plans are reviewed along with other required technical documents to insure adopted minimum standards are met. A detailed checklist is provided on our forms page and includes items reviewed on a sprinkler plan submittal. Any feature of fire protection which is supervised or monitored by the fire alarm system such as access controlled locks, door hold open devices, generators, elevators, self-contained extinguishing systems, sprinkler systems, fire pumps, private water tanks, mechanical ventilation, and smoke removal systems are to be considered on the fire alarm plan and must meet minimum adopted standards.

The Fire Department works closely with other departments in an effort to review plans in a timely effort.

Performance inspections of existing businesses and occupancies are made on a periodic basis. These inspections are performed referencing the 1997 Edition of the adopted Fire Prevention Code from the National Fire Protection Association. The rate of inspection is dependent on the type of occupancy or target hazard. Those occupancies, which might present a high degree of loss to life or property, are inspected on a more frequent basis. The rates of inspections are as follows:

Inspections performed on a three-month rotation are those occupancies classified as hospitals and nursing homes.

Inspections performed on a six month rotation are those occupancies classified as detention facilities, dormitories, rooming and lodging homes, board and care homes, group homes, domiciliaries, assisted living homes, retirement homes, elderly apartments, and commercial day cares.

Inspections performed on an annual basis are those occupancies classified as assemblies, family day cares, hotels and motels, apartments, mercantiles, businesses, industrial, storage, schools and churches.

The purpose of a Performance Inspection is basically the same on all occupancies.

The first objective is to gain as much information about the occupancy as possible. This would include contact information, operational features, features of fire protection, and so on. An example of a basic inspection form can be found by accessing the link icon at the bottom of this page.

The second objective is to reference specific related adopted codes or standards and educate the occupant or owner of their duties and responsibilities. This insures that the highest level of life safety is provided and the incidence of fire is reduced to a minimal.

Any deficiencies noted during the fire inspection are cited. Life threatening violations are required to be corrected immediately. All other violations are given sufficient time to correct before a re-inspection is scheduled. All violations should be brought into compliance upon re-inspection. Failure to comply with code requirements could result in court action.

Duties other than occupancy inspections which are the responsibility of the performance inspector include but are not limited to aboveground storage tank installations, underground storage tank installation, storage tank removals, issuing burn permits, issuing tent permits, and handling complaint calls.

As a general rule, business owners welcome Performance Inspectors. Prudent owners realize that a good fire inspection increases life safety and reduces the incidence of fire.

The requirements for persons who work on, test, maintain and inspect sprinkler systems in the State of Alabama may be found in Title 34, Chapter 33 of the 1975 Code of Alabama. The City of Montgomery places no further restrictions on sprinkler contractors who work in the City other than a City business license.
For Sprinkler Contractors who plan to install a new system or performs extensive work to an existing system, a detailed sprinkler plan submittal checklist is required to be filled out and submitted upon plan submittal. Minor repairs or adjustments are required to be reported to Codes and Standards at 334-241-2916.

The City of Montgomery requires that at a minimal, sprinkler systems be inspected on an annual basis with a copy of the inspection report forwarded to the Montgomery Fire/Rescue. Sprinkler systems are required to be inspected and maintained in accordance with applicable adopted standards.

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