Free Public Awareness Rsources

Michigan’s Fire Departments are a key step in the Safe Delivery of Newborn program.  Many fire departments are aware of the law, although they may not have the resources they need at their fingertips.

Michigan’s Safe Delivery of Newborns law (effective January 1, 2001) provides legal protection for a parent to surrender a newborn within 72 hours of birth in a safe anonymous manner to a an Emergency Services Provider: on-duty fire, police and hospital personnel or a paramedic, EMT who responds to 9-1-1 emergency call.

The Law allows a parent with an unplanned, hidden pregnancy an alternative to infant abandonment of infanticide.

For more information and resources on Safe Delivery law and procedures, go to the Michigan Department of Human Services web-site.  For additional information call the Safe Delivery Hotline at (866)-733-7733.

Go to the site, view the video, and order up the materials for your organization today.

Beep Beep Beep

When you change your clock forward to daylight time on Sunday March 8th, remember to change the batteries on your smoke alarms too.

Smoke alarms with residential sprinkler systems can save lives. So do something a little special for your family this weekend, change your smoke alarm batteries!

Resources:

Its not too late to send out a reminder from your building or fire department. Here are some resources to help you with informaiton

• United States Fire Administration
• Energizer Program
• Videos on why we need smoke alarms

Residential Sprinklers Save Lives

There is a lot of talk about residential sprinklers and the need to save firefighters and our citizens. There are plenty of resources that are available for fire departments, but the “Built for Life” campaign is in full swing and needs your help! The program can give you easy to use tools that can help you turn the talking into action!

The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC), has introduced the Built for Life Fire Department program to encourage and recognize all the U.S.fire departments that make home fire sprinkler education a focus of their community outreach.

HFSC believes that each fire department deserves recognition for home sprinkler education efforts, and will provide free tools to help your department get started.

With the right information and tools,more fire departments can teach about sprinklers. HFSC has developed these tools that are easy to implement and are free! Michigan needs this program and you can help by enrolling your department today!

Every Built for Life Fire Department will receive:

• Side-by-Side burn demo kit
• Educational outreach materials
• Certificate of participation
• Built for Life Fire Department window decals
• Built for Life baseball caps
• And much more

Although legislation or the adoption of the 2009 IRC can help us save countless lives, the ability to educate the public now, will lead to many other success stories.

Michigan Fire Inspectors Society has begun our first ever Fire Prevention Calendar program. The calendar is filled with helpful hints/tips and activities for all ages and most importantly, how to protect yourself and family from the dangers of fire! Our goal is to have the calendars distributed to the fire departments throughout the State of Michigan, which will be given out to their community. Our success will depend greatly on the generosity of businesses and individuals from across this great State.

The money raised will help pay the cost of printing the calendars. The Michigan Fire Inspectors Society will not be selling the calendars for profit, 100% of the monies raised will go directly into the printing of the calendars.  Our goal is to send the calenders out just before the 2009 fire prevention week so they can be distributed for 2010

To be a sponsor or to make a donation, please see the attached flyer. For additional information, please contact John Hager at (734) 374-1358 or Brian Batten (Ferndale Fire Department) at (248) 336-4131.

Download a Sample Copy of the Calender

View the Request Letter

Download and complete the donation letter

The role of the fire inspector in new construction has changed over the past 10 years. Our role typically starts with site plan review were plans are evaluated for access to the site or building, proper fire flow, or other issues that are regulated by our adopted fire code.

The responsibility of construction permits (building, electrical, mechanical, etc) lies with the design professional who submits to the local building department. Some areas of the state may use the State building department or even a county building department. The authority is granted to the building department through the Stille-DeRossett-Hale single state construction code act 230 of 1972. There are also associated rules for mechanical and electrical.

It is our view that the fire inspector provides critical insight into the construction process and must work with registered code officials during the plan review and inspection phases. It is important to see this as the fire service assisting the local building department. In part the fire inspector can then understand the requirements of the building code and ensure the building is maintained in accordance with the local fire code and the State building code.
Common Questions

Where are the requirements for fire sprinkler systems?

The Forbes Mechanical Act, places the requirements for fire suppression systems under the registered mechanical inspector. This includes plan review and inspection.

My fire code regulates sprinklers, why can’t I do the plan review solely?

PA 230 specifies that no local ordinance can be more restrictive then the state construction code. Therefore local fire code ordinances do not regulate the construction of a building or the associated systems unless specifically regulated. Also bear in mind that PA 144 regulates fire suppression and alarm firms in buildings regulated under the Fire Prevention Code.

We work well with our building department and we do the inspections and plan review of systems.

This can be the case, just keep in mind that you need be registered under act 54 as a plan reviewer, mechanical inspector or electrical inspector to issue the permit. If you are not, your building department can issue the permit based on a technical recommendation from the fire department. The building code permits the building official to utilize technical resources but the permit and violations should come from the appropriate registered code official.

Did you know that the Bureau of Fire Services publishes a monthly newsletter titled, the Michigan Fire Service Connection? This free email is a great resource to stay current on the happenings across the state.

• Sign up for the Michigan Fire Service Connection

Did you know there are other resources available for you that are free and allow you to stay current.

• Sign up for Michigan Fire Service.com email list
• Stay current on Inspection practices from across the US. Sign up for the enews on inspector911.com