Fire Safety Management Division

The Fire Safety Management Division has some of the most talented individuals in the fire service working in this innovative and diverse bureau. The division personnel consist of nine (9) certified Municipal Fire Safety Inspectors, a Fire Report Specialist, and a Staff Assistant (directory).  Each one is dedicated to ensuring the reduction of injuries, death and property loss attributed to fire and other unforeseen hazards.  This is achieved through fire plan review, fire inspections of all commercial buildings, code enforcement and various educational events and activities.

 

The Field Operation Bureau augments this division.  The Company Officers perform a company survey and after hours exit checks to assist the Fire Safety Management Division in achieving the departments goal, of inspecting every structure yearly.  The data collected from the Company Inspection, provide crucial pre-fire plan information that is clearly written, concise, and provide a true representative of a building current condition.

 

Services provided by this Division include:

 

  • conducting fire prevention inspections:

    • general and hazardous occupancy businesses including;

      • all commercial and residential occupancies

        • hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other medical centers

        • schools, daycare facilities and other recreational or educational centers

        • apartment and condominium buildings

        • industrial and manufacturing facilities

        • retail stores, business offices, dining and entertainment establishments

      • businesses related to or dealing with hazardous materials

      • facilities owned or operated by the City of Orlando  or State of Florida

      • fire hydrant readiness and reliability

    • permit issuance

      • commercial alarm registrations

      • State of Florida licensing request

      • special effects, pyrotechnics, fireworks, sale of sparklers site investigation, and regulations

      • hazardous material business plan & renewals, flammable liquids and tier 2 business licensing

      • special events and temporary assembly

      • rapid key entry for emergency access

      • open burning

      • tank removal/installation

      • stand by personnel for unsafe conditions

      • fire lanes

  • conducting certificate of occupancy inspections for new and existing businesses

  • investigating fire hazards complaints that require code enforcement action or referral

  • conducting fire safety demonstrations and/or lectures

  • providing fire safety code consultation and compliance as requested by various governmental agencies, members of private industry and members of the community

  • evaluate requests for variances to the City of Orlando Fire Code

  • maintain and update a computer database of all residential and commercial occupancies in the city

  • review the National Fire Protection Association Standard for proposed local amendments

  • provide in-house fire code training and technical support to Fire Department personnel

  • partner with other city departments to ensure community compliance

  • business self inspection program

General Information and Citizen Concerns
The Fire Safety Management Division performs specialized fire safety inspections of all existing commercial and residential structures  to ensure they are in compliance with all pertinent federal, state, and local codes, ordinances, regulations, and statutes.  This Bureau provides information and responds to complaints regarding a variety of subjects such as emergency planning, hazardous materials storage, fire and life safety hazards, outdoor burning, and permits.

If you have general information question or concerns please call (407) 246-2386 or (407) 246-3144. For faxed inquiries, our fax number is (407) 246-3158.
 

Public Education Related To Fire And Life Safety
The Fire Inspectors provides educational information to enhance public awareness about fire and life safety issues. A variety of community outreach programs are available to meet the needs of the City of Orlando Citizens and Visitors.

The Orlando Fire Department generally has available a limited supply of smoke detectors for low-income homeowners. For additional information on smoke detectors, home fire escape plans, or any of the above listed services, please call (407) 246-3128.
 

Life-Safety Related Code Enforcement and Development
Fire Safety Management Inspectors assigned to this division are responsible for a variety of duties including conducting site and building inspections, issuing permits, managing reports and records, notifying others of fire hazards, and enforcing fire codes.

For more information about life-safety related code enforcement and development call (407) 246-2386.

 

Permit Issuance
The Fire Safety Management Division issues permits for a variety of occupancies, processes and events. For example, Operational permits are required for state licensing inspections, special effects, hazardous material fuel storage tanks, fire lanes, to operate a place of public assembly, and to have some special events. For more specific permit information review 2008 City of Orlando Fire Prevention Code Section 24.13 Permit List.

For more information about fire department required permits, call (407) 246-2386.
 

Special Event Planning
The Fire Safety Management Division Special Events Coordinator ensures that all special events and activities requiring fire department approval are safe and conducted in accordance with applicable codes within the City of Orlando. This is achieved through inspections and evaluations of all special event applications with potential fire and other life safety issues.

The OFD Special Events Coordinator works together with event sponsors and promoters, area facility managers, the Orlando Police Department, emergency medical teams and others to ensure safe, enjoyable special events for people within the City of Orlando.  A fire inspection is required for every special event.  A fire watch is required at every pyrotechnic event. 

For information related to special event inspections call (407)246-2386.
 

Temporary Assembly Planning
The Fire Safety Management Division Temporary Assembly Permit ensures that all temporary events and activities requiring fire department approval are safe and conducted in accordance with applicable codes within the City of Orlando. This is achieved through inspections and evaluations of all temporary assembly event applications with potential fire and other life safety issues. This permit requires 14 days advance notice, plus three sets of scaled drawings of the venue.

For information related to special event inspections call (407)246-2386.
 

State of Florida Required Licensing Agency Request
The Fire Safety Management Division State of Florida Required Licensing Inspections ensures that all

business events and activities requiring fire department approval are safe and conducted in accordance with applicable codes within the City of Orlando. This is achieved through inspections and evaluations of all DCF,DBPR, Health and AHCA occupancies applications with potential fire and other life safety issues. This permit requires 14 days advance notice, plus three sets of scaled drawings of the venue.

For information related to special event inspections call (407)246-2386.
 

Sale Of Sparklers
The Fire Safety Management Division Sale of Sparklers Permit ensures that all applicants and locations requiring fire department approval are safe and conducted in accordance with applicable codes within the City of Orlando and the Florida State Statue 791. This is achieved through inspections and evaluations of all Sale of Sparklers applications with potential fire and other life safety issues. This permit requires 14 days advance notice, plus three sets of scaled drawings of the venue.

For information related to special event inspections call (407)246-2386.
 

Special Effects/Pyrotechnics
The Fire Safety Management Division Special Effects/Pyrotechnics Permit ensures that all applicants and locations requiring fire department approval are safe and conducted in accordance with applicable codes within the City of Orlando and the National Fire Protection Associations Standards. This is achieved through inspections and evaluations of all Special Effects/Pyrotechnics applications with potential fire and other life safety issues. This permit requires 14 days advance notice, plus three sets of scaled drawings of the venue.

For information related to special event inspections call (407)246-2386.
 

Standby Fire Personnel
The Orlando Fire Department  shall require standby fire personnel or an approved fire watch when potentially hazardous conditions or a reduction in a life safety feature exits due to the type of performance, display,  exhibit, occupancy, contest, or activity, and an impairment to  a fire protection feature, or the number of persons present.

For information related to special event inspections call (407)246-2386.

 

New Construction Plan Review and Inspections
The City of Orlando Fire Protection Engineer reviews building plans for new and remodeled building construction plans for conformance with City of Orlando Municipal and State of Florida Fire Prevention requirements. The Fire Protection Engineer also represents the Orlando Fire Department on various committees relating to other City of Orlando fire codes.

For information related to new construction plan review and inspections call (407)246-2386.
 

Hazardous Material Plan Review and Inspections (Including Flammable and Combustible Liquids)

The Hazardous Materials Unit provides inspection services for the storage and use of flammable and combustible liquids and other hazardous materials and processes as required by the City of Orlando Fire Code and Administrative Rules.

For information related to new construction plan review and inspections call (407)246-2386.
 

Existing Building Inspections
The Fire Safety Management Division conducts life safety inspections at a variety of existing occupancies in response to safety complaints, permit requests for remodel projects, annual permit renewals for various activities, and as requested by other agencies.

For information regarding existing building inspections call (407)246-2386.
 

Fire Protection System Maintenance And Records Management
The Fire Safety Management Division also maintains a database of fire protection system service reports

for fire sprinkler, fire alarm, kitchen range hood suppression systems, and private hydrants. Building and business owners that have required fire protection systems send service reports to The Fire Safety Management Division for tracking purposes.

For information about fire protection system maintenance call (407) 246-2386.
 

Business License Fire Inspections
The Fire Safety Management Division Inspectors conducts a review and evaluate each business license at the time of the businesses schedule inspection for compliance with fire and life safety issues. The FSM Inspectors also communicates and coordinates with other regulatory agencies when joint reviews are necessary.

Working with business and building owners, the Inspectors explains and ensures fire and life safety code compliance, thus helping owners to avoid costly liability while providing for public safety.

For information on business license fire inspections call (407)246-2386.
 

Administration of the Lock Box Rapid Entry System for Emergency Access
The Lock Box Rapid Entry System Program is also managed by the OFD Fire Prevention Bureau. The Fire Code requires key lock boxes for quick access for fire fighters where access is unduly difficult or for rapid entry allowing less property damage to occur.

Owners of businesses and buildings located within the City of Orlando order Lock boxes through the Orlando Fire Department.

For more information about the Lock Box Rapid Entry System, call (407)246-2386.
 

Fire Investigation
The Orlando Fire Department Special Investigative Services Division is responsible for investigating fires to determine cause and origin. As commissioned Police Officers, Fire Investigators conduct criminal investigations and assist in the prosecution of arsonists.  Fire Investigators also assist the OFD Public Education Officer with the department’s Juvenile Fire-Stoppers Program.

To contact the Fire Investigators call (407)246-2386.

 

Fire Alarm Registration
The City of Orlando requires all commercial fire alarm users to notify the Orlando Fire Department yearly that a Fire Alarm System has been installed and is in use.

To contact the Fire Investigators call (407)246-2386.
 

False Fire Alarm
The City of Orlando False Fire Alarm Ordinance Chapter 41 state the activation of any Fire Alarm System which results in a response by the fire department and which is caused by the negligence or intentional misuse of the Fire Alarm System by the Owner, its employees, agents or any other activation of a Fire Alarm System not caused by heat, smoke or fire, exclusive of a Nuisance Fire Alarm.

To contact the Fire Investigators call (407)246-2386.
 

Open Burn
The City of Orlando and the Division of Forestry both regulate open burning.  This is where the smoke, gases, chemicals, and other products from burning enter the air directly, without first going through a chimney, flue, vent, or other similar path (for example, a burn barrel or outside fire pit.) A permit is required and must be approved by both agencies.

To contact the Fire Investigators call (407)246-2386.