FAQs

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Questions Answered
What can you tell me about Fire Code Inspections? Every Connecticut town and city is required to have a certified Fire Marshal who enforces the Connecticut Fire Safety Code, and all applicable standards and regulations as they apply to commercial buildings in their community. The Fire Safety Code applies to all occupancies, both new and existing, with the exception of one and two-family homes. One and two-family homes are governed by the Connecticut State Building Code, which is enforced locally by the town or city’s Building Official. The Fire Safety Code covers items, such as exiting of buildings, fire separations, interior finishes, sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, and many other items most people do not even recognize when entering a facility that is open to the public, or take for granted if they are noticed. These details of a building are so vital to the safety of the occupants of commercial buildings; the Connecticut General Statutes has its own chapter stating penalties for violations to the Connecticut Fire Safety Code, which can range from imposed fines to imprisonment.
What can you tell me about the Fire Code Inspection Process? Although an inspection can range from hours to days in duration, once the on-site inspection is complete, the Fire Marshal or Deputy Fire Marshal must complete a detailed report describing the conditions found and actions taken. When a violation is found during an inspection, the Fire Marshal or his designee must issue what is known as an “Abatement of Hazards” notice. This notice is to legally inform the owner, occupant, and/or management of a facility that a violation was found during an inspection. The notice further will inform the receiver that they have thirty (30) days (unless otherwise noted on the inspection report) from the day the notice is received to correct all violations contained in the inspection report that accompanies every Abatement notice. The inspection report takes as long, if not longer, than the actual inspection, to generate. The personnel conducting the inspection must return to the Fire Marshal’s Office and research the Connecticut Fire Safety Code, and all the applicable standards, to ensure the violation is properly cited.
What can you tell me about Hazardous Materials? There are many different types of facilities that use hazardous materials. Whether they are used in a process, or are manufactured locally, hazardous materials are everywhere! The Fire Marshal’s Office inspects all facilities that use hazardous materials. The purpose for the inspection is to check the manner in which the materials are being stored, the process in which they are being used, and to provide pre-incident planning information to the Fire Department’s first responders in the event of an emergency.
What can you tell me about the Transportation of Hazardous Materials? As you travel throughout the State, you see various types and sized vehicles transporting materials that we use in our day-to-day operations. Those materials can range from bulk transportation of flour or baking goods, to the large tankers that haul gasoline or diesel fuel to your local gas station. Each vehicle that transports hazardous materials is required to be inspected at least once a year by the Fire Marshal in the town or city in which the vehicle is registered. These inspections are conducted to ensure the product in which the vehicle is transporting is stored in a safe manner, and to reduce the opportunity for an accidental release of hazardous materials.
What can you tell me about Underground Storage Tank Removal Inspections? Although underground storage tank removal inspections are not mandated by the Connecticut General Statutes, the staff of the Fire Marshal’s Office in Bethany inspects the removal of all underground storage tanks, in both commercial and residential settings. The homeowner or business owner, or the company in which they employ to remove the tank from their property, must submit an application for removal of an underground storage tank to the Fire Marshal’s Office. Once the application is received, this generates an inspection by the Fire Marshal’s Office staff. The inspection includes witnessing the actual removal of the underground tank, inspection of the tank excavation for contaminated soil, and the procurement of a soil sample by the removal contractor for analytical testing. The entire process is documented by digital photographs taken during the removal. The photographs include pictures of the tank, the tank excavation, and general photograph indicating the location of the tank on the property.

Questions Answered

What can you tell me about Fire Code Inspections?

Every Connecticut town and city is required to have a certified Fire Marshal who enforces the Connecticut Fire Safety Code, and all applicable standards and regulations as they apply to commercial buildings in their community. The Fire Safety Code applies to all occupancies, both new and existing, with the exception of one and two-family homes. One and two-family homes are governed by the Connecticut State Building Code, which is enforced locally by the town or city’s Building Official. The Fire Safety Code covers items, such as exiting of buildings, fire separations, interior finishes, sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, and many other items most people do not even recognize when entering a facility that is open to the public, or take for granted if they are noticed. These details of a building are so vital to the safety of the occupants of commercial buildings; the Connecticut General Statutes has its own chapter stating penalties for violations to the Connecticut Fire Safety Code, which can range from imposed fines to imprisonment.

What can you tell me about the Fire Code Inspection Process?

Although an inspection can range from hours to days in duration, once the on-site inspection is complete, the Fire Marshal or Deputy Fire Marshal must complete a detailed report describing the conditions found and actions taken. When a violation is found during an inspection, the Fire Marshal or his designee must issue what is known as an “Abatement of Hazards” notice. This notice is to legally inform the owner, occupant, and/or management of a facility that a violation was found during an inspection. The notice further will inform the receiver that they have thirty (30) days (unless otherwise noted on the inspection report) from the day the notice is received to correct all violations contained in the inspection report that accompanies every Abatement notice. The inspection report takes as long, if not longer, than the actual inspection, to generate. The personnel conducting the inspection must return to the Fire Marshal’s Office and research the Connecticut Fire Safety Code, and all the applicable standards, to ensure the violation is properly cited.

What can you tell me about Hazardous Materials?

There are many different types of facilities that use hazardous materials. Whether they are used in a process, or are manufactured locally, hazardous materials are everywhere! The Fire Marshal’s Office inspects all facilities that use hazardous materials. The purpose for the inspection is to check the manner in which the materials are being stored, the process in which they are being used, and to provide pre-incident planning information to the Fire Department’s first responders in the event of an emergency.

What can you tell me about the Transportation of Hazardous Materials?

As you travel throughout the State, you see various types and sized vehicles transporting materials that we use in our day-to-day operations. Those materials can range from bulk transportation of flour or baking goods, to the large tankers that haul gasoline or diesel fuel to your local gas station. Each vehicle that transports hazardous materials is required to be inspected at least once a year by the Fire Marshal in the town or city in which the vehicle is registered. These inspections are conducted to ensure the product in which the vehicle is transporting is stored in a safe manner, and to reduce the opportunity for an accidental release of hazardous materials.

What can you tell me about Underground Storage Tank Removal Inspections?

Although underground storage tank removal inspections are not mandated by the Connecticut General Statutes, the staff of the Fire Marshal’s Office in Bethany inspects the removal of all underground storage tanks, in both commercial and residential settings. The homeowner or business owner, or the company in which they employ to remove the tank from their property, must submit an application for removal of an underground storage tank to the Fire Marshal’s Office. Once the application is received, this generates an inspection by the Fire Marshal’s Office staff. The inspection includes witnessing the actual removal of the underground tank, inspection of the tank excavation for contaminated soil, and the procurement of a soil sample by the removal contractor for analytical testing. The entire process is documented by digital photographs taken during the removal. The photographs include pictures of the tank, the tank excavation, and general photograph indicating the location of the tank on the property.

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Stephen Sousa
Fire Marshal
Phone: 203-393-2100 x1119
Fax: 203-393-8907

Timothy Willis
Deputy Fire Marshal

Vacancy
Fire Inspector

David Marcarelli
Fire Investigator