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Home My WebLink About406.003 - Making Work Available for InspectionEffective Date: October 2023 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer Current Revision Date: 10/18/2023 Section 406.003 Next Revision (1) Date: 10/18/2026 Page 1 of 4 400 Fire Prevention Manual SECTION 406.003 MAKING WORK AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION PURPOSE This policy has been established to provide direction to applicable stakeholders of Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) requirements related to the inspection of, and access to, work which is required to be made available for inspection. These requirements are clearly noted in the latest edition of the California Fire Code (CFC) and were previously covered in FFD Industry Bulletin 2023-002. APPLICATION This policy applies to all permit construction (including new installations of all types, tenant improvements, alterations, etc.), including inspections of required and voluntary systems, components, appurtenances, etc. throughout the City of Fresno and all contract service areas. OPERATIONAL POLICY As noted in the latest edition of the California Fire Code (CFC), it is the duty of the permit applicant to cause all work to remain visible and able to be accessed for inspection purposes. Where any installation subject to inspection prior to use is covered or concealed without having first been inspected, the fire code official has the authority to require such work be made visible and able to be accessed for inspection. Neither the fire code official nor the jurisdiction can be held liable for any expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow inspection. As noted in the 2021 edition of the International Code Council (ICC), IFC code commentary for the applicable section, “The section requires that any work to be concealed upon completion must remain exposed until an inspection is made. If the work requiring inspection is covered up before the inspection takes place, the fire code official has the authority to require removal of the concealing construction.” The section also makes it clear that any expense incurred in removing or replacing material that conceals an item to be inspected is not the responsibility of either the fire code official or the jurisdiction. Obviously, this can be a time-consuming and expensive procedure that can be eliminated by good communication and cooperation between the contractor or permit holder and the fire code official.” Fresno City Fire Department Effective Date: October 2023 Author: Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer Current Revision Date: 10/18/2023 Section 406.003 Next Revision (1) Date: 10/18/2026 Page 2 of 4 FFD’s position on this issue is clear: Concealed work which is not made available for inspection by the permit applicant will not be approved, and no permit sign off will occur. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE This section intentionally left blank. PROCESS This section intentionally left blank. INFORMATION As noted in the CFC, the fire code official has the authority to formulate policies they deem necessary based upon local conditions related to all aspects of performing inspections. FFD has now been requested to define the scope and terms of, “making work available for inspection”. To be helpful, it is perhaps better to explain what “making work available for inspection” is not. Any inspection which requires the use of a visual aid (inspection camera, photographs, videos, etc.) does not meet the intent of the CFC or “making work available for inspection”, and as such is prohibited. This prohibition does not include Remote Video Inspections (RVI) which are covered by separate FFD policies. Similarly, cutting access holes in ceilings for FFD staff to put their head through (with or without the need for an additional aid such as a ladder), opening holes in drywall along piping or wiring routes (while leaving the remainder of the ceiling, floor or wall enclosed), also does not meet the intent of the CFC or “making work available for inspection”, and as such, is prohibited. Finally, leaving sections of adjacent construction elements open, including ceilings, floors, walls, etc., so that FFD staff are required to inspect the work at an oblique, side facing, or turned angle (with or without the need for an additional aid such as a ladder) also does not meet the intent of the CFC or “making work available for inspection”, and as such is prohibited. Effective Date: October 2023 Author: Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer Current Revision Date: 10/18/2023 Section 406.003 Next Revision (1) Date: 10/18/2026 Page 3 of 4 All items related to the permitted work which is to be inspected by FFD must be afforded access for inspection, and a key specification for all overhead inspections is that they are intended to be conducted from the floor level. Generally, this means there should be no special equipment needed for these inspections, such as ladders or lifts. However, to ensure FFD staff can meet the ethical and legal requirements for completing an inspection, permit applicants must have properly maintained and serviced equipment like ladders, lifts, etc. (in good condition) available as conditions warrant (i.e., high ceiling buildings, etc.). This equipment may be used so an FFD staff member can verify installations or components which cannot be visually verified from the floor level. Examples of installations or components which may require additional (physically closer) scrutiny, may include, fire sprinkler hanger screws, seismic sway brace attachments and fasteners, candela ratings on fire alarm notification appliances, support of wiring or cabling, etc. Conditions where work is considered “not available for inspection” and not in compliance with CFC requirements include any of the conditions noted above, and similar conditions that are not specifically articulated in this policy. Additionally, the provision of unsafe equipment (i.e., ladders, lifts, etc.) that are made available at a construction site for FFD staff use, but which are deemed by the affected FFD staff member to be deficient, is also considered a sufficient condition to discontinue an inspection, and to institute an associated reinspection fee. When, in the opinion of the Fire Marshal (or designee), any work is considered not in compliance with the intent of the CFC or is “not available for inspection”, the inspection may be discontinued, and a reinspection fee assessed for the inspection. It is the permit applicant’s obligation to make the work available for inspection in accordance with the minimum requirements noted in the CFC. It is also the permit applicant’s obligation to coordinate construction schedules, trades, etc. as necessary to ensure work remains available for inspection in accordance with the minimum requirements noted in the CFC. Construction schedules, opening dates, etc. are determined without FFD input, and as such are the obligation of the permit applicant to provide sufficient time for the work to remain available for inspection based on FFD’s current inspection schedule. All permit applicants should routinely inquire as to FFD’s current inspection schedule as a project progresses. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. Effective Date: October 2023 Author: Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer Current Revision Date: 10/18/2023 Section 406.003 Next Revision (1) Date: 10/18/2026 Page 4 of 4 CROSS-REFERENCES California Fire Code, Latest edition Fresno Fire Department Industry Bulletin 2023-002 2021 International Code Council, IFC Code and Commentary, Volume I