Industry Bulletin 2018-003 2018 Add-on Piggyback Inspections
KERRI L. DONIS, CFO, EFO, MSOL
FIRE CHIEF
Theodore F. Semonious, Deputy Fire Chief/Fire Marshal
Prevention and Technical Services Division
(559) 621-4181 FAX (559) 498-4323
Fresno Fire Department 911 H Street Fresno, CA 93721-3082
FIRE INDUSTRY BULLETIN 2018-003
SCOPE
Add-on or “piggyback” new construction inspections.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this industry bulletin is to notify applicable stakeholders regarding “Add-
on” or “piggyback” inspections.
INFORMATION
The Fresno Fire Department strives to provide excellent customer service through the
fire protection system field inspection process. Field installation inspections help ensure
that fire protection systems designed to protect the public, responding firefighters, and
other emergency responders, perform as designed during an emergency.
Because of the high demand for field inspection service, support staff members
schedule as many new construction field inspections as possible into each duty day.
Department inspectors regularly leave early in their duty shift with the materials
necessary (including new construction drawings, materials specification sheets, etc.) to
complete the scheduled field inspections, often leaving one field inspection and heading
directly to the next. This process ensures efficient service is delivered to the consumers
who have scheduled their inspections, sometimes weeks in advance.
Regardless of the type of installation being inspected, staff members are only required
to complete the field inspection that has been scheduled, as every inspection requires
staff to be alert to potential problems with the installation.
In some cases, contractors have requested Department staff to inspect other,
unscheduled fire protection related installations. “Add-on” or “piggyback” inspections,
(where a different contractor requests an inspection for a different fire protection system
to occur at the same time as a scheduled inspection) are not permitted. Department
members have been directed to complete only the applicable scheduled inspection.
Contractors who request an “add-on” or “piggyback” inspection will be directed to
“To protect and put service above all else.”
FIRE INDUSTRY BULLETIN 2018-003
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contact the Department and schedule the requested inspection through the normal field
inspection scheduling inspection.
By adhering to this process, the Department ensures that each scheduled inspection is
completed in a fair and consistent manner, and results in equitable outcomes for all
contractors. It also ensures that staff members have all of the required materials to
complete the scheduled inspection, and that installations are not “field judged” to
comply.
NOTE
This notice is effective until revoked.