Fire Safety
Fire Safety Inspections
In addition to administering and enforcing the state building codes in Washington County, another responsibility of the Department of Code Enforcement is to provide annual and periodic fire safety inspections for all commercial buildings in the county as required by the Fire Code of New York State and Washington County law.
The department regularly provides this free service to over 1,100 commercial buildings located within Washington County.
Annual Building Inspections
Some of these buildings must be inspected on an annual basis such as:
Other types of buildings may be inspected on a less frequent basis depending on conditions such as:
Regular inspections help provide a measure of safety to our residents and consumers by ensuring that the minimum requirements of the code are met and maintained in these buildings. Code requirements include, but are not limited to:
The department also maintains regular contact with the various fire companies in the county by sharing inspection reports and communicating vital information regarding the buildings in their respective districts. Occasionally, a code officer may also be required to respond to a fire call at the request of a fire chief. These requests are for such calls as structure fires, explosions, chimney fires and fires involving heating equipment.
In addition to administering and enforcing the state building codes in Washington County, another responsibility of the Department of Code Enforcement is to provide annual and periodic fire safety inspections for all commercial buildings in the county as required by the Fire Code of New York State and Washington County law.
The department regularly provides this free service to over 1,100 commercial buildings located within Washington County.
Annual Building Inspections
Some of these buildings must be inspected on an annual basis such as:
- Churches
- Restaurants
- Taverns
- Schools
Other types of buildings may be inspected on a less frequent basis depending on conditions such as:
- Apartment houses
- Business offices
- Manufacturing facilities
- Stores
Regular inspections help provide a measure of safety to our residents and consumers by ensuring that the minimum requirements of the code are met and maintained in these buildings. Code requirements include, but are not limited to:
- Keeping clear paths of exit from buildings
- Maintaining easily accessible fire extinguishers
- Properly installed and located smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Working exit signs and emergency lighting
The department also maintains regular contact with the various fire companies in the county by sharing inspection reports and communicating vital information regarding the buildings in their respective districts. Occasionally, a code officer may also be required to respond to a fire call at the request of a fire chief. These requests are for such calls as structure fires, explosions, chimney fires and fires involving heating equipment.