Introduction
It is the mission of the Ipswich Fire Prevention Officer to identify and mitigate threats to life, health and property in the Town of Ipswich. This is achieved through:
- Plan Review and Permitting
- Enforcement
- Education
- Contributions to the IFD’s Operational Readiness.
The FPO works under the general supervision of the Fire Chief and Deputy Chief, but many duties are performed independently and without supervision.
Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 148 gives the head of any Fire Department broad authority to enforce any state law pertaining to fire prevention and life safety, as well as to enforce the rules and regulations set forth by the State Fire Marshal and the State Board of Fire Prevention Regulations in 527 CMR, the State Fire Code. The Head of a Fire Department is also empowered by MGL 148 to delegate this authority to another member of the Department.
Any order of the Fire Marshal, Fire Chief or other AHJ can be appealed to the Fire Prevention Regulations Appeals Board, which can affirm, reverse or modify the AHJ’s decision. Any order pertaining to automatic sprinklers can be appealed to the Automatic Sprinkler Appeals Board.
Permitting and Plan Review
MGL and 527 CMR assign the Fire Department the sole responsibility of permitting:
- Fuel Storage
- Propane Storage
- Oil Burner Installation
- Fuel Tank Installation and Removal (above ground and underground)
- Hot Work
- Pyrotechnic Displays
- Fire Alarm Systems
- Sprinkler Systems
In addition, the Fire Department is among the Town departments required to sign off on permits for:
- Residential and Commercial Construction
- Photovoltaic Systems
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
- Temporary Structures
Initial sign-off on many of these permits requires review of plans submitted by the applicant. The FPO must be able to read plans for construction, fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, photovoltaic systems and BESS.
Inspections
Most, if not all, of the above mentioned permits require inspection by the FPO to confirm that the work is in full compliance with all applicable statutes and standards. The FPO will conduct Fire Safety Inspections for Occupancy Permits and Certificates of Inspection (COI’s). COI’s are conducted annually for any Place of Assembly, including:
- Churches
- Restaurants and Bars
- Social Clubs
- Banquet Halls
- Theaters and Auditoriums
Multi-Family Dwellings (three units or more) require Periodic Inspections every five years.
These Annual and Periodic Inspections are arranged and managed by the Building Department.
Nursing Homes are inspected quarterly, as required by the State.
Enforcement
When violations of MGL or 527 CMR are discovered, the Fire Prevention Officer will take any and all steps to bring the property into compliance. Most often, informing the property owner of the violation and the necessary steps toward compliance are sufficient. In some cases, the FPO will have to escalate their efforts, up to and including issuing Non-Criminal Violation Tickets.