City manager orders code review after commissioner conducted fire alarm inspections; inspections to be redone and code clarifications planned

City Manager Wood told the commission July 14 that staff had reviewed city code and National Fire Alarm and Signal Code (NFPA 72) provisions after questions about fire alarm inspections performed by Commissioner Jerry Ivy.

Wood said staff initially told Commissioner Ivy he could perform visual inspections but that communication did not make clear visual checks alone did not satisfy the city’s annual inspection requirement. The city’s review found municipal code language on specialty contractor licenses and annual fire‑alarm inspection requirements is not explicit about certification requirements; NFPA 72 provides inspection/testing definitions but does not itself impose licensure requirements, leaving local authorities discretion on local licensing. Wood said the Fire Department and city legal staff reviewed the issues and recommended clearer local requirements.

Wood said Commissioner Ivy has obtained an Electronic Security Association (ESA) Certified Fire Alarm Technician certification, applied for and been approved for a specialty fire alarm contractor license, and now meets the city’s clarified standards. Wood said about 12–15 inspections completed during the interval will be rechecked; the Fire Department has roughly 1,200 systems citywide and staff reported concerns about a backlog of overdue inspections.

"The NFPA provides definitions for personnel to perform certain types of work, but does not impose any licensure or qualification requirements for inspection personnel or testing personnel," Wood said, adding the city will propose ordinance language requiring licensure and certification to make requirements abundant and clear.

Why it matters: the city must ensure fire‑alarm systems are properly inspected and tested to meet life‑safety standards. Wood said staff will bring ordinance changes to clarify contractor licensure and the certification required to perform annual inspections and that businesses with inspections performed during the unclear interval will receive follow‑up inspections.

Next steps: Wood said staff will draft ordinance amendments to require specific certification and licensure for inspection and testing personnel, return the ordinances to the commission, and coordinate a plan to bring delinquent inspections into compliance. Commissioner Ivy agreed to reperform inspections he processed during the interval.