FRSC104 Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement
Department of Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies: Fire Science
- I. Course Number and Title
- FRSC104 Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement
- II. Number of Credits
- 3 credits
- III. Number of Instructional Minutes
- 2250
- IV. Prerequisites
- FRSC100 (C or better) or permission of the Department of Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies; and FRSC112 (C or better)
- Corequisites
- FRSC103
- V. Other Pertinent Information
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- This course aligns with Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) associate degree core curriculum requirements.
- Students having the appropriate prerequisites are eligible to test for Professional Certification (ProBoard) in accordance with NFPA 1031 to the Fire Inspector 1 and Fire Inspector 2 Levels.
- This course may be completed through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) if the student has ProBoard and/or IFSAC Professional Certification to the Fire Inspector 2 Level, in accordance with NFPA 1031.
- Students should either complete FRSC103 prior to this course or at the same time.
- VI. Catalog Course Description
- This course provides fundamental knowledge of fire prevention and code enforcement. Topics include: history and philosophy of fire prevention, organization and operation of a fire prevention bureau, conducting fire/life safety inspections, use and application of codes and standards, plans review, fire and life safety education, and fire investigation.
- VII. Required Course Content and Direction
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Course Learning Goals
Students will:
- Define the national fire problem and role of fire prevention;
- Define laws, rules, regulations, and codes; and identify those important, relevant, and responsible to fire prevention and code enforcement organizations and associations;
- Identify and describe the standards for professional qualifications and the professional development needs for: Fire Marshal, Plans Examiner, Fire Inspector, Fire and Life Safety Educator, and Fire Investigator;
- Describe and explain fire/life safety inspection practices and procedures, including the functions, responsibilities, role, and importance of fire prevention and code enforcement systems;
- Describe the history and philosophy of fire prevention and code enforcement;
- Describe the difference between prescriptive and performance based codes, and the development and adoption processes;
- Prepare fire and life safety inspection reports, thoroughly documenting building, fire, and life safety concerns, including the occupancy classification, building size, and description of use; and calculate the occupancy loads, exit capacities, and travel distances, referencing appropriate codes; and
- Identify appropriate codes and their relationship to other requirements for the built environment.
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Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
- National Fire Problem and Role of Fire Prevention
- Definition
- Historical overview
- Data Analysis/GIS
- Current Trends of Fire Prevention
- Fire Prevention Organizations and Associations
- Public-Federal, State, and Local
- Private-International, National and Regional
- Laws, Rules, Regulations, Codes, Legal Authority and Limitations
- Definitions
- Governmental Structure: Federal, State, County, Municipality
- Statues/laws, rules/regulations, codes, and ordinances
- Applicability and interrelationship
- Limitations
- Fire Prevention Bureau Functions
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Plans Review
- Fire Inspections
- Fire and Life Safety Education
- Fire Investigations
- Tools and Equipment
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Plans Review
- Fire inspections
- Fire and Life Safety Education
- Fire Investigations
- Code and Standard Development Process
- Historical overview
- NFPA, ICC, ANSI, UL, FM development process
- Adoption process
- Prescriptive vs Performance based codes
- Definitions
- Development of performance based code concepts
- Role of each
- Roles and Responsibilities of Fire Prevention Personnel
- Data collection and analysis
- Code development and interpretation
- Enforcement
- Management
- Documentation
- For legal requirements
- Record retention
- Training, Education, and Qualifications
- Professional Qualifications
- Categories and levels
- Local
- State
- National
- Professional Development
- National fire prevention development model
- Training and education
- Certification systems
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Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
Students satisfy the course learning goals via class discussions, written exams, assignments, papers, and/or performance based tasks and projects. -
Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
See course syllabus
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Review/Approval Date -11/00; Revised 4/2012; New Core 8/2015; Revised 6/2016