Fire Code Consulting

Noven Consulting provides fire code consulting for building owners and facility managers. An engagement may start with an inspection finding, a question about an existing fire protection arrangement, or a proposed change to how a building is used or operated.

We review available records, identify conditions requiring investigation and prepare findings and recommendations. This gives the owner and project team a basis for coordinating design work, specialist testing or discussions with the fire authority.

Fire code assessment and recommendations

The scope can include review of existing records and reported conditions, a fire code assessment, written recommendations and coordination with the relevant officials. Where upgrades are needed, the review can help identify dependencies and the further design information required.

Useful starting records include:

• The inspection report or written notice and any response deadline.
• Existing drawings and information about the building's use.
• Fire safety plans and available system inspection or maintenance records.
• Details of proposed operational changes or alterations.

Coordination with maintenance and testing

A consulting review does not itself carry out repairs, routine system maintenance or verification testing. Those tasks require their own scope and the appropriate service providers. If the issue concerns how systems interact, integrated fire and life safety systems testing may be relevant. A review of proposed system documents can be scoped through fire protection system review.

Fire code questions can arise in existing buildings and on construction sites; the Province's BC Fire Code information explains that broad coverage. Which requirements apply to a particular building needs project-specific review.

Responses to inspection notices

Send the complete notice, relevant background and the authority's contact information. We can review the requested action, confirm what assistance is within our scope and identify information needed before a response is prepared. The response is coordinated with the authority’s stated requirements and deadlines.

For construction-stage planning, see construction fire safety plans. To discuss an existing building issue, request a proposal with the records available to you.