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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIndustry Bulletin 2025-008 New Construction Appointments BILLY P. ALCORN FIRE CHIEF Justin H. Beal, Acting Fire Marshal Prevention and Investigations Division (559) 621-4181  FAX (559) 498-4323 Fresno Fire Department  911 H Street  Fresno, CA 93721-3082 “To protect and put service above all else.” FIRE INDUSTRY BULLETIN 2025-008 SCOPE This industry bulletin covers the anticipated time calculations needed for various new construction, and five year fire sprinkler system inspection appointments and the procedures for canceling appointments without incurring a re-inspection fee. PURPOSE The purpose of this bulletin is to provide direction to permit applicants, installing applicants and other stakeholders regarding scheduling various new construction and five year fire sprinkler test appointments. This bulletin also clarifies when re-inspection fees may be applied when applicants are not ready for their scheduled inspection. BACKGROUND As the Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) Fire Prevention Division (FPD) strives to provide more efficient services, it was determined in May 2015 that transitioning from hourly appointments to AM/PM appointments would allow for a higher number of new construction and five year fire sprinkler system inspections to be performed on a daily basis. REQUIREMENTS Beginning in May 2015, applicants requesting a new construction inspection were given the choice of an AM or PM inspection appointment time. AM appointments take place between 0800 - 1200 hours. PM appointments take place between 1300 - 1700 hours. When scheduling an appointment, the applicant must provide the following information: applicable FFD permit number, type and nature of the inspection, the official City address of the inspection, the number of units the applicant estimates is needed to complete the inspection, and the name and contact number of the person meeting the inspector at the site. Industry Bulletin 2025-008 November 18, 2025 Page 2 Inspection appointments are assigned a unit time equivalent. Each unit is approximately equivalent to 30 minutes of inspection time. This time frame does not imply that the inspector will be at that location for the exact time stated, it is provided as a reference to ensure the applicant is scheduling enough time to complete the inspection. To better guide applicants on the number of units they need to request when scheduling an inspection appointment, the following guidelines shall be followed: TYPE OF INSPECTION Minimum No. of Inspectors Minimum No. Units COMMERCIAL FIRE SPRINKLER Pre-pipe Inspection 1 1 Underground Flush 1 1 Underground Pressure Test 1 1 Under 20 Head TI 1 1 Overhead Pressure Hangers/Bracing 1 2 Fire Pump Acceptance Test 1 4 Final 1 1 Whole System Flush 1 3 New Standpipes 2* 8 Hydrant Replacement 1 1 TRACT INSPECTIONS Combustible Clearance (includes up to 2 hydrants) 1 1 Occupancy Clearance 1 1 Additional Hydrants 1 1 RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLERS Underground Flush (5 houses per unit)** 1 1 Overhead Pressure Hangers/Bracing (2 houses per unit)** 1 1 Whole House Flush 1 3 Final (3 houses per unit)** 1 1 **All addresses must be in the same tract FIRE ALARM SYSTEM INSPECTIONS Fire Alarm System Testing (Final) 2 12 ERRCS 2 12 Fire Sprinkler Monitoring 1 2 Panel Change Out 1 3 FIVE YEAR TEST Up to 2 risers and/or 2+ FDC's 1 1 3-5 risers and/or 2+ FDC'S 1 2 5-10 risers and/or 2+ FDC'S 1 3 10+ risers and/or 2+ FDC'S 1 4 Industry Bulletin 2025-008 November 18, 2025 Page 3 Dry Pipe 1 Add 1 Fire Pump 1 Add 1 Standpipes 2* Add 4 3+ Floors 1 Add 2 MISCELLANEOUS Above Ground Tanks 1 2 Photoluminescent Markings (1 unit per stairwell) 1 1 *If 2 inspectors are assigned, make units an even number. Always round up.* For reference, each unit is equal to approximately 30 minutes of inspection time. Each inspector is assigned a maximum of 6 units per block of time (AM or PM). When scheduling an appointment, the applicant is committing to be ready for the inspection at the beginning of the block of time (either 0800 hours or 1300 hours respectively). If the applicant determines they will not be ready at the beginning of the block of time, it is their obligation to notify the Department by 1200 hrs. (noon) at least one (1) business day prior to the scheduled appointment in accordance with FFD Policy §401.001, Appointment Cancellation. If an applicant does not call or email the Department within this timeframe or is not ready for a scheduled inspection when an inspector arrives at the location, a re- inspection fee may be charged in accordance with FFD Policy 401.003, Re-inspection Fees and the currently adopted Master Fee Schedule. On the day of the appointment, the inspector will call the listed contact person 15-20 minutes before their arrival on site. Once the inspector arrives on site, they will wait up to 10 minutes for the applicant to arrive. If the applicant does not arrive within that time frame, the inspector will leave the site and the current re-inspection fee policy will apply. If an applicant is not ready for the inspection when the inspector arrives on site but believes they will be ready before the end of their assigned block, the inspector will go to their next appointment and attempt to come back to complete the inspection at a later time within the scheduled block, if time permits. If the inspector is able to return and the applicant is still not ready for an inspection, the current re-inspection fee policy will apply. If the applicant fails to give the correct number of units needed to complete the inspection, the inspector will stay on site for a reasonable amount of time based on what was scheduled. If the applicant is unable to complete the inspection within the allotted time, the inspector will leave for their next appointment. When this happens, the applicant will be required to schedule an additional appointment to complete the required inspection. If the inspector is not able to make it to an inspection at all during the scheduled block of time due to other constraints, the inspector will call the applicant and let them know that their inspection will be moved to another block or the next day. The inspector will go to the site and complete the inspection before beginning other inspections scheduled for that block of time. Industry Bulletin 2025-008 November 18, 2025 Page 4 As per Department policy, all re-inspection fees shall be paid before another appointment is scheduled. This policy is effective May 15, 2015 (updated November 17, 2025) until revoked. REFERENCES Fresno Fire Department Policy No. 401.001 – Appointment Cancellation Fresno Fire Department Policy No. 401.003 – Re-Inspection Fee Payment National Fire Protection Association Standard 1730 (2016 ed.)