Fire Code

The City of Georgetown adopted the 2003 International Fire Code Effective December 14, 2004.

Fire Inspections.

Fire inspectors must review the following plans:

• Site/Civil
• Building
• Fire Alarm System
• Fire Sprinkler System/ Standpipe System
• Kitchen Hood Extinguishment Systems
• Above and Underground Fuel Tank Systems
• LPG Systems
• Any unique fire system for special purpose or hazard

Site/Civil and Building Plans – General Submittal Requirements

A separate submittal to Fire Prevention is not required. Submittals made through the Planning or Building process will include the Fire Prevention submittal. The following items are necessary for a complete fire prevention review.

Applicable Code: 2003 International Fire Code, the Unified Development Code and other recognized standards and publications.

A. Address / Name of building or business
B. Key map showing location of site
C. Symbol / legend key and scale
D. Seal of registered professional engineer
E. North arrow
F. Dimensions of vertical clearance of all overhead obstructions (overhangs, canopies and the like). 13′6″ minimum clearance.
G. Existing and proposed traffic patterns of driveways, and or proposed fire lanes identifying and labeling all physical barriers to vehicular access including but not limited to gates, bollards, landscaping and the alike.
H. All driveway and/or fire lane dimensions, percent grades, turning radii and design specifications including load capacity. 20 feet of unobstructed fire lane clearance is required. Dead-end fire access roadway maximum is 150 feet. A 25 foot inside turning radius and a 50 foot outside turning radius is required for all turns within a fire apparatus roadway. Fire apparatus access roads shall not exceed 10% in grade. All weather-driving surface during and after construction shall be provided.
I. Dimensions of all existing and proposed buildings, parking lots and vehicular use areas, landscape islands, peninsulas and medians, amenities, walls, fences, sidewalks, and any other land improvements. All roadways, driveways, overpasses, bridges, culverts and decorative/ pervious pavers, and grass-crete shall be labeled and identified with support loads clearly indicated.
J. Indicate all existing and proposed water mains and fire hydrants. Water mains should be dual fed. Fire hydrant placement should be 300 feet in commercial and multi-family 500 ft in residential.
K. Location of all proposed and existing structures, landscaping, fire hydrants, (both private and public) shall be clearly identified. 3 feet clear space around the circumference of the hydrant.
L. Information for each structure on site shall include but not limited to:

1. Proposed use
2. Number of stories
3. Construction Type (I-V)
4. Proposed height of structures
5. Finished floor elevations
6. Square footage of each story
7. Total square footage

This list has been compiled for the review of civil, site and building plan reviews. This list is not intended to be the sole source of information. Each set of plans will be reviewed according to the uniqueness of each structure on a case-by-case basis. The Fire Prevention Division is not responsible for anything that may or may not be on any set of plans, and reserve the right to enforce life and fire safety codes upon site inspection after all reviews have been completed.

Site Inspections

All occupancies must have all required systems fire inspections prior to obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy. Supplemental inspections and acceptance tests must be completed and passed prior to the Certificate of Occupancy.

Contact 512 930-2550 to request a Certificate of Occupancy Inspection.

Required Systems Inspection Requirements
Sprinkler Systems

1. Hydrostatic test on all piping prior to ceiling cover-up
2. Visual inspection of all piping prior to ceiling cover-up.
3. Fire pump acceptance test
4. Flow or trip test
5. Main drain test
6. 24 hour, 40 psi air test for dry pipe systems

Contact Georgetown Utility Systems, 512 930-8147 for inspections of all underground fire service piping.
Fire Alarm Systems

1. Fire alarm acceptance test
2. Anything the fire alarm is responsible for, and or connected to, such as but not limited to, elevators, kitchen hoods, fire sprinkler system, fire pumps, etc.

Hood Systems

An acceptance test is required for any fire suppression hood system including, but not limited to, kitchens, paint booths etc.

Knox Box

Knox Box rapid entry system is designed to allow the fire department to gain access to occupancy with causing damage to the occupancy, during an emergency or a false alarm. Georgetown Fire Prevention requires a Knox Box. Lists of requirements are as follows:

• If the occupancy has a fire alarm or a sprinkler system
• If the occupancy has 5000 sq ft or greater of floor space
• If building has more than one tenant
• If the fire official deems an extraordinary hazard
• If the occupancy has sprinkler and/or standpipe systems, Knox FDC caps and plugs are also required

For more information on the fire code, please contact Fire Prevention at 512 930-8453 or 512 930-2542.