Fire inspector

A fire inspector

Description

Fire inspectors conduct inspections of buildings and properties to ensure they are compliant with fire prevention and safety regulations, and enforce the regulations in facilities which are not compliant. They also perform educational activities, educating the public on fire safety and prevention methods, policies, and disaster response.

Fire inspectors typically do the following duties:

  • Inspect buildings and structures to identify potential fire hazards.
  • Ensure buildings are equipped with fire control equipment, including fire extinguishers.
  • Locate fire code violations.
  • Recommend actions to bring properties into compliance.
  • Conduct inspections onsite.
  • Check for accumulations of combustible material, electrical wiring problems, and inadequate or non-functional fire exits.
  • Test fire protection systems.
  • Ensure buildings are in accordance with appropriate laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, and standards.
  • Write and file reports.
  • Inspect properties that store, handle, and use hazardous materials to ensure compliance with laws, codes, and regulations.
  • Keep abreast of current fire safety codes and firefighting procedures.
  • Conduct practice fire drills.
  • Evaluate evacuation procedures.
  • Determine causes of fire.
  • Present and explain fire code requirements and fire prevention information to engineers and construction workers.
  • Collect and prepare evidence and present it in court.
  • Issue and update permits.
  • Serve condemnation notices when fire code violations are not corrected.
  • Install fire alarm and sprinkler systems.
  • Replace defective fire detection equipment.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to fire inspector:

fire prevention officer
fire investigator

Working conditions

Fire inspectors work in a variety of settings, including office buildings, factories, and other commercial and industrial establishments. They also work in residential settings, such as apartments and single-family homes.

Many fire inspectors are employed by local government agencies, such as fire departments, and work a standard 40-hour week. Some fire inspectors, however, work for private companies that provide fire protection services, and their work hours may vary depending on the needs of the client.

Fire inspectors typically work indoors in well-lit and ventilated areas. However, they may be exposed to hazardous materials, such as asbestos, and to dangerous conditions, such as fire, when they inspect buildings.

Minimum qualifications

Because fire inspectors typically have previous work experience as a firefighter, many have completed a postsecondary educational program for emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Some employers prefer candidates with a 2- or 4-year degree in fire science, engineering, or chemistry. For those candidates interested in becoming forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists, a high school diploma or equivalent typically is required.

Training requirements vary by depending on the location, but programs usually include instruction in a classroom setting in addition to on-the-job training.

Classroom training often takes place at a fire or police academy over the course of several months. A variety of topics are covered, including guidelines for conducting an inspection or investigation, legal codes, courtroom procedures, protocols for handling hazardous and explosive materials, and the proper use of equipment, such as a fire extinguisher and water hose.

In most agencies, after inspectors and investigators have finished their classroom training, they also receive on-the-job training, during which they work with a more experienced officer.

Fire inspectors and investigators usually must pass a background check, which may include a drug test. Most employers also require inspectors and investigators to have a valid driver’s license.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Fire inspector is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Fire inspector career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to fire inspector.

fire protection technician
fire safety tester
aviation data communications manager
construction safety inspector
forestry inspector

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of fire inspector. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of fire inspector with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

emergency response coordinator
chief fire officer
fire commissioner
firefighter instructor
fire prevention and protection engineer

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of fire inspector.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of fire inspector.

  • Communicate health and safety measures: Inform about applicable rules, guidelines and measures to avoid accidents and hazards in the workplace.
  • Perform risk analysis: Identify and assess factors that may jeopardise the success of a project or threaten the organisation’s functioning. Implement procedures to avoid or minimise their impact.
  • Conduct fire safety inspections: Conduct inspections in buildings and on sites to assess their fire prevention and safety equipment, evacuation strategies, and related strategies, and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
  • Manage security equipment: Oversee and conduct inventory of security tools and equipment.
  • Provide advice on breaches of regulation: Advise on preventive and corrective actions; correct any breaches of or non-compliance with legal regulations.
  • Plan health and safety procedures: Set up procedures for maintaining and improving health and safety in the workplace.
  • Manage emergency evacuation plans: Monitor quick and safe emergency evacuation plans.
  • Educate public on fire safety: Develop and execute educational and promotional plans to educate the public on fire prevention knowledge and methods, fire safety such as the ability to identify hazards and the use of fire safety equipment, and to raise awareness on fire prevention issues.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of fire inspector. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Environmental policy: Local, national and international policies dealing with the promotion of environmental sustainability and the development of projects which reduce negative environmental impact and improve the state of the environment.
  • Health, safety and hygiene legislation: The set of health, safety and hygiene standards and items of legislation applicable in a specific sector.
  • Hydraulics: The power transmission systems that use the force of flowing liquids to transmit power.
  • Handling of dangerous goods: Know the handling procedures for a variety of potentially dangerous materials, such as explosives, flammable or toxic gases, flammable solids/liquids, infectious substances, radioactive substances, etc.
  • First response: The procedures of pre-hospital care for medical emergencies, such as first aid, resuscitation techniques, legal and ethical issues, patient assessment, trauma emergencies.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of fire inspector. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Maintain safety systems: Perform activities for the maintenance of fire fighting and related safety systems.
  • Show responsibility: Accept responsibility and be accountable for professional decisions of yourself or others as part of a job or one’s role.
  • Give instructions to staff: Give instructions to subordinates by employing various communication techniques. Adjust communication style to the target audience in order to convey instructions as intended.
  • Advise on safety improvements: Provide relevant recommendations following the conclusion of an investigation; ensure that recommendations are duly considered and where appropriate acted upon.
  • Maintain logbooks: Maintain the required logbooks according to practice and in established formats.
  • Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
  • Manage health and safety standards: Oversee all personnel and processes to comply with health, safety and hygiene standards. Communicate and support alignment of these requirements with the company’s health and safety programmes.
  • Write work-related reports: Compose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligible way so they are comprehensible to a non-expert audience.
  • Test safety strategies: Test policies and strategies related to risk and safety management and procedures, such as testing evacuation plans, safety equipment, and carrying out drills.
  • Estimate damage: Estimate damage in case of accidents or natural disasters.
  • Conduct public presentations: Speak in public and interact with those present. Prepare notices, plans, charts, and other information to support the presentation.

ISCO group and title

3112 – Civil engineering technicians


References
  1. Fire inspector – ESCO
  2. Fire Inspectors : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  3. Fire Inspector Job Description – DiversityJobs
  4. Fire Inspector Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More – Climb the Ladder
  5. Featured image: By Amn Areca T. Wilson – http://www.defenseimagery.mil/imageRetrieve.action?guid=0141a2f988f1b22d00727637dfce2e83b2629d63&t=2, Public Domain
Last updated on February 8, 2023