Inspection Requests:
- Contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at (830) 519-4270.
- Requests must be made at least twenty four (24) hours in advance.
- Inspections are conducted Monday – Friday from 8:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M.
- The Fire Marshal’s Office will contact you with a date and time. Every effort will be made to grant you the time and date requested.
*An inspection is not scheduled until you are contacted by the Fire Marshal’s Office*
- The following information is needed to process your inspection request:
- A representative from the requesting company must be present at the time of inspection.
- A permit shall be posted in a permanent location until the completion of the project.
- An approved set of stamped or signed plans shall be available on-site at all times for the Inspector.
- Name and phone number or person making the request.
- Name of Company.
- Name and physical address of project.
- Requested date and time of inspection.
- Type of inspection.
- Fire Permit Number
*Contractor shop drawings are not considered approved plans*
Required Inspections:
Inspections shall include, but not limited, to the following:
- Fire Sprinkler Underground (Fire Main):
- Above Ground Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems:
- Automatic Fire Alarm Systems:
- Kitchen Hood:
- Final Fire Inspection:
- Tenant Finish Out Inspection:
- Aboveground Storage Tanks (AST) Inspection:
- Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Inspection:
- Must be requested by the Installing Contractor.
- Visual – All underground piping and joints must be exposed, with the labeling of the pipe legible from grade. All thrust blocks uncovered and exposed to grade. Exception: With the Fire Marshal’s approval, underground line may be center loaded within three (3) feet either side of pipe joints and thrust blocks.
- Hydrostatic Test – Minimum two hundred (200) psi for two (2) hours. No pressure drop allowed. Testing will be from the gate valve to the riser flange.
- Flush – Must be witnessed by the Fire Marshal’s Office. Flushing must be completed prior to stacking the riser to the overhead piping.
- Embedment – Please refer to the Gonzales Engineering Standards Manual. http://www.cityofgonzales.org/images/Pdf%20Documents/Gonzales%20Engineering%20Standards%20Manual.pdf
- Must be requested by the Installing Contractor.
- Hydrostatic Test:
- Minimum two hundred (200) psi for two (2) hours. No pressure drop allowed.
- All ceiling grid or framing must be in place, sprinkler heads installed and drop cuts to length prior to inspection.
- The system must be left uncovered and visible from the floor.
- A hydrostatic test is required for all new installations and for tenant finish-outs/alterations with twenty (20) or more sprinkler heads added or relocated.
- Must obtain fire sprinkler inspection prior to ceiling cover-up inspection from Community Development.
- Visuals:
- Please reference Final Fire Inspection Requirements.
- The Fire Alarm System test will be conducted with the Fire Final Inspection.
- The system must be pre-tested prior scheduling the acceptance test.
- All initiating devices and all signaling devices will be tested and inspected.
- All systems are required to be monitored by a UL listed Central Station.
- Construction and final cleanup must be completed prior to scheduling the acceptance test.
- Visual sprinkler inspections are conducted on tenant finish-outs/alterations with nineteen (19) or fewer heads added and/or relocated.
- City pressure required on system.
- All ceiling grid or framing must be in place, sprinkler heads installed and drops cut to length prior to inspection.
- The system must be left uncovered and visible from the floor.
- Must obtain fire sprinkler inspection prior to ceiling cover-up inspection from Community Development.
- New systems are conducted with the Fire Final Inspection.
- Air Test, Utility Shunt, Manual Pull, Exhaust and Make-Up Air.
- Fire Alarm notification
- K-Class extinguisher placed within thirty (30) feet of cooking appliance.
- Existing system inspections made upon request.
- Must be requested by the General Contractor.
- Conducted on all new construction, alteration/addition and new Certificate of Occupancies.
- The Fire Final Inspection must be conducted prior to Community Development Certificate of Occupancy Inspection.
- The inspection consist of, but not limited, to the following:
- Completion of all phases of construction.
- Fire lanes and fire hydrants
- Address Visible from roadway.
- Automatic Fire Alarm acceptance.
- Kitchen Hood Suppression System acceptance.
- Automatic Fire Sprinkler, Standpipe, and Fire Pump acceptance.
- Knox Box with appropriate keys.
- Elevator re-calls and shunts inspection. State elevator inspection must be conducted prior to Fire final.
- Fire Department access.
- Emergency egress and exit signs.
- Fire extinguisher placement. All extinguishers must be tagged.
- Where applicable, a sign shall be affixed and readily visible on exit doors stating: THIS DOOR TO REMAIN UNLOCKED WHEN BUILDING IS OCCUPIED. This sign shall be in letters not less than one (1) inch high on contrasting background.
- All required signs must be in place. (stair identification, emergency egress, electrical room, fire riser, fire alarm, mechanical room etc.).
- Smoke evacuation and exhaust acceptance, where applicable.
- Must be requested by the General Contractor.
- Automatic Fire Sprinkler visual or hydrostatic test. Reference Automatic Fire Sprinkler Inspection requirements.
- Fire Final:
- Fire Alarm Acceptance.
- Final Sprinkler Acceptance.
- Fire Extinguishers.
- Exit Signs.
- Fire Marshal permit approved and issued prior to any work performed. This shall include the construction notification and acceptance by TCEQ.
- Must be requested by the Installing Contractor.
- Final acceptance will be conducted during the Fire Final Inspection.
- Vaulted aboveground tanks in accordance with U.L. 2085 are any U.L. listed Standard 142 steel aboveground tank for flammable or combustible liquid all portions of which shall be enclosed in a secondary containment and encased with approved material to obtain a two (2) hour fire resistance rating.
- All permanent tanks must be in compliance with the City of Gonzales Fire Code Ordinance, International Fire Code, U.L. 2085, NFPA 30, and approved by the Fire Marshal.
- Documentation must be provided showing proper testing from the manufacturer.
- Field tightness testing will be required on tanks and connections after installation and before being placed in service.
- Horizontal shop fabricated tanks shall be tested either hydrostatically or with air pressure at not less than three (3) psig and not more than five (5) psig and vertical tanks at not less than one point five (1.5) psig and not more than two point five (2.5) psig for a minimum of one (1) hour.
- Aboveground piping must be protected from external corrosion.
- Labeling of all tanks shall be in accordance with NFPA 704. The tank must display the name of the product, the tank capacity in gallons, a DOT placard and an NFPA 704 placard.
- Warning signs shall be posted in the dispensing area and shall incorporate the following or equivalent wording and have red colored lettering on a white background
- Warning signs and NFPA 704 hazard signs shall have lettering at least three (3) inches in height and of weather-resistive material.
- Vehicle impact protection required. Guard posts shall be a minimum of four (4) inch diameter and a minimum of twenty four (24) inches in height concrete filled steel piping placed at four (4) foot spacing around the pad perimeter.
- An extinguisher with a minimum 40B:C rating is required at each tank or fuel dispensing location.
- Ground areas around tanks shall be kept free of weeds, trash, or other unnecessary combustible material to a minimum of ten (10) feet.
WARNING
It is unlawful and dangerous
To dispense gasoline into
Unapproved containers.
NO SMOKING, WELDING OR OPEN FLAMES WITHIN 50 FEET.
STOP MOTOR
- Must be requested by the Installing Contractor.
- Fire Marshal permit approved and issued prior to any work performed. This shall include the construction notification and acceptance by TCEQ.
- The system shall not be covered or product dispensed into the tank or lines until it has been inspected and approved by the Fire Marshal’s Office.
- Installation inspections shall include but not limited to the following:
- Visual inspection of tanks and anchor system.
- Tanks and lines must be hydrostatically (or pneumatically where allowed by code) tested upon installation as may be appropriate.
- Tanks will be pneumatically tested at five (5) psi for a minimum of sixty (60) minutes. Lines will be tested at one point one (1.1) times the normal working pressure or hydrostatically tested at one point five (1.5) times the normal working pressure (fifty (50) psi for one (1) hour is acceptable). At no time shall the test pressure be less than five (5) psig the highest point of the system, and in no case shall the test pressure be maintained for less than ten (10) minutes. A soap bubble test of all fitting will be conducted at this time.
- Secondary containment piping shall be tested pneumatically at five (5) psi for a minimum of sixty (60) minutes. A soap bubble test of all fittings will also be conducted at this time.
- Final Acceptance Inspection:
- Part of the Fire Final Inspection.
- Emergency Shut Off or Electrical Disconnect. Installed not less than twenty (20) feet but not more than one hundred (100) feet from the fuel dispensing devices that they serve.
- Vehicle impact protection.
- Fire Extinguishers. A minimum fire extinguisher with a 40B:C rating is required at each fuel dispensing location.
- Warning signs shall be posted in the dispensing area and shall incorporate the following or equivalent wording and have red colored lettering on a white background. Warning sign lettering shall be three (3) inches in height and be of weather resistant material.
For Attended Locations:
WARNING
It is unlawful and dangerous
To dispense gasoline into
Unapproved containers.
NO SMOKING, STOP MOTOR
For Unattended Locations:
Include the above requirements with the following additional warnings.
In case of fire or spill:
Use Emergency Stop Button