Fire Marshal

Mission Statement

The mission of the Stafford Fire Marshal's Office is to reduce the loss of life and property from fire and hazardous materials incidents citywide through education, engineering, inspections, permitting, information programs, plans review, and the adoption of regulations designed to minimize injury and reduce risk to the general public and to emergency responders.

Effective May 3, 2018: The City of Stafford has adopted the 2015 International Fire Code. 

All types of inspections MUST submit an electronic request inspection form, view Procedures to Request Fire Marshal Inspection Form. 

Once plans have been approved and a Construction Permit has been issued for a FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM - UNDERGROUND, ALL underground fire lines must be inspected prior to cover up and will require a visual inspection with the Stafford Fire Marshal’s Office. If the piping and joints are covered prior to inspection, you will be required to uncover the piping, regardless of cover, for a re-inspection. NO EXCEPTIONS. A failed inspection will result in a $400.00 re-inspection fee which will be paid in full prior to rescheduling.

Once plans have been approved and a Construction Permit has been issued for a FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM – ABOVEGROUND, once the fire protection company has conducted their required aboveground tests and has completed and signed the contractor’s material and test certificate, thereafter will schedule with the Stafford Fire Marshal’s Office for a visual inspection of all overhead pipe-size prior to drywall and ceiling cover. If the walls and or ceilings are covered up prior to inspection, you will be required to uncover, regardless of the type of cover, and schedule for a re-inspection. NO EXCEPTIONS. A failed inspection will result in a $400.00 re-inspection fee which will be paid in full prior to rescheduling.

Both of these will require an inspection with our office using the online inspection request form: View Procedures to Request Fire Marshal Inspection Form.

On completion of the installation, the licensed RME type G, D, or U (as applicable) shall complete and sign the applicable contractor's material and test certificate.

• SF041 Contractors Material and Test Certification for Aboveground Piping
• SF042 Contractors Material and Test Certification for Underground Piping

The certificate shall be: (1) the original copy kept at the site after completion of the installation; (2) the second copy retained by the installing fire protection company. The certificates must be retained for the life of the system, and (3) a third copy to be sent to the local AHJ within 10 days after completion of the installation (Delivered by mail and or pre-arranged for in-person drop off at the Fire Marshal’s Office.)

Stafford FMO shall have received a signed Contractors material and test certificate in addition to the fire protection company shall have submitted their work on Building Reports with Compliance Center prior to scheduling a Sprinkler and Fire Alarm Final.

We have adopted a web-based solution called ComplianceCenterTM from BuildingReports® based on its ability for the paperless compliance oversight, ease of communication, and “no-fee” structure for all stakeholders (ComplianceCenter is a free public service for Building Owners, Service Companies, and Fire Code Officials).

This notice is to clarify that all fire and life safety test and inspection records are required to be filed via ComplianceCenter as per Item 107.3 of the adopted IFC Code 2015 edition:

“Records shall be made available for inspection by the fire code official, and a copy of the records shall be provided to the fire code official upon request. The fire code official is authorized to prescribe the form and format of such recordkeeping. The fire code official is authorized to require that certain required records be filed with the fire code official.”

If your customer's buildings have any of the following fire protection systems in place, the test and inspection compliance records for these systems are to be filed using the above method:

• Fire Alarm System(s)
• Fire Sprinkler System(s)
• Fire Pump(s)
• Backflow Prevention
• Kitchen Range Hood Cleaning
• Kitchen Range Hood Suppression System(s)
• Clean Agent Suppression System(s)
• Fire Extinguisher(s)