This document discusses preincident planning and code enforcement for fire officers. It outlines the six steps of preincident planning according to NFPA 1620: evaluating physical elements, occupant considerations, fire protection systems, special hazards, emergency operations, and unusual characteristics. Code enforcement inspections must be systematically planned, conducted, and documented based on construction, occupancy type, and use group. The chapter aims to describe how fire officers can prepare for and conduct inspections and write reports, and identify general and group-specific inspection requirements.

1. Chapter 13 — Preincident Planning and Code Enforcement
Fire Officer: Principles and
Practice
Third Edition

2. Chapter Overview
‣Preincident planning and code enforcement require the fire officer
to perform within the education, enforcement, and engineering
areas of fire prevention. NFPA 1620 outlines a six-step method of
developing a preincident plan: (1) evaluate physical elements and
site considerations, (2) evaluate occupant considerations, (3)
evaluate fire protection systems and water supply, (4) evaluate
special hazards, (5) evaluate emergency operation considerations,
and (6) evaluate special or unusual characteristics of common
occupancy.
‣The state, commonwealth, or province determines the range and
scope of local community fire code enforcement. Code
enforcement inspections must be systematically planned, carried
out, and documented, taking into account construction, occupancy
type, and use group-specific concerns.

3. ‣Discuss the fire officer’s role in community fire safety. (pp 242–
243)
‣Discuss the purpose of preincident planning and list the relevant
factors to consider (NFPA 4.5) (NFPA 4.6). (pp 243–247)
‣Discuss the types of fire codes and their use. (pp 247–249)
‣Discuss the purpose and function of built-in fire protection systems
(NFPA 4.5.2). (pp 249–252)
‣Discuss the purpose and process of a fire code compliance
inspection. (p 252)
‣Discuss the classification of buildings by occupancy (NFPA 4.5.1)
(NFPA 4.5.2). (pp 252–256)
Learning Objective
After studying this chapter, you will be able to:

4. ‣Describe how to prepare for an inspection (NFPA 4.5) (NFPA
4.5.1). (pp 258–259)
‣Describe how to conduct an inspection (NFPA 4.5). (pp 259–260)
‣Discuss the creation and use of the written inspection/correction
report (NFPA 4.6). (p 260)
‣Identify general inspection requirements (NFPA 4.5) (NFPA 4.5.1).
(pp 260–261)
‣Identify groups and their specific concerns (NFPA 4.5) (NFPA
4.5.1) (NFPA 4.5.2). (pp 261–264)
Learning Objective Cont.
After studying this chapter, you will be able to:

5. Section Slide
Section I: Introduction 6-7
Section II: The Fire Officer’s Role in Community
Fire Safety 8-9
Section III: Preincident Planning 10-26
Section IV: Understanding Fire Codes 27-34
Section V: Understanding Built-in Fire Protection
Systems
35-44
Section VI: Understanding Fire Code Compliance
Inspections
45-46
Section VII: Classifying by Building or
Occupancy
47-63
Chapter Content

6. Section Slide
Section VIII: Preparing for an Inspection 64-65
Section IX: Conducting the Inspection 66-69
Section X: Writing the Inspection/Correction
Report
70-71
Section XI: General Inspection Requirements 72-75
Section XII: Selected Use Group-Specific
Concerns
76-87
Chapter Content Cont.