Permit Submittals

CONSTRUCTION PERMITS

The Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District provides the following information to assist in understanding the plan submittal and inspection policies for fire protection systems. To expedite the plan review and inspection processes, please adhere to the following guidelines. The Wheat Ridge Fire Department enforces the 2006 International Fire Code and the standards referenced in Chapter 45 of that code. In addition, the City of Wheat Ridge has specifically adopted the following:

Fire District Permit Guide

2006 Commercial Development Guide

2006 Residential Development Guide

The permit fee shall be paid at the time of application.    Fee Schedule >>

Submit at least three (3) complete sets of the fire protection submittal documents. One set of documents will be retained by Fire Department and one set will be returned to the applicant. The approved set of documents shall be available on-site at all times during construction or installation. If desired, additional sets of plans will be stamped and returned to the applicant when requested.

Inspection request should be scheduled at least two (2) days prior to the desired inspection date. See the SYSTEM INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS sheet for additional inspection information.

All installations shall be in accordance with the approved plans. Any deviations from the plans should be discussed with the Fire Marshal for your project prior to making changes. Some changes will require a re-submittal to the Fire District for review.

System installation shall not begin without a permit. Final approvals are subject to field inspections. Any approval issued by the Fire Marshal does not release the contractor or property owner from the responsibility of full compliance with all applicable codes.

Fire Alarm System Submittals:

• Installation of a new Fire Alarm system.
• Replacement of a Fire Alarm Control Panel.
• Addition of fire alarm initiating devices at the discretion of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
• Addition of fire alarm indicating devices, including horns and strobes at the discretion of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
• At the discretion of the Fire Code Official.

If a fire alarm permit is not required, provide to the Fire District:
− A Scope of Work letter.
− A signed NFPA 72 Certificate of Completion.
− A basic as-built plan showing the location of any new or relocated devices and what circuit(s) were augmented.

SPRINKLER SYSTEM PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
It is the responsibility of the sprinkler or standpipe system installer of record to assure that all applicable code requirements are adhered to. The currently adopted edition of the International Fire Code, as amended and the most current edition of NFPA Standard 13 shall be the primary, but not all inclusive, resource documents.

- Contractor’s License: Fire sprinkler contractors shall be licensed with the Building Inspection Division of the City of Wheat Ridge and the State of Colorado Division of Fire Safety.

Sprinkler System Submittals shall include the following:
- Submit three (3) complete sets of fire sprinkler system and or standpipe system plans and three (3) sets of supporting documentation including but not limited to copy of owner’s certificate, cut sheets on equipment to be installed, product information, and hydraulic calculations.

- Two (2) sets of stamped plans will be returned to the contractor. One set of stamped drawings with the notation, “THIS SET OF PLANS IS TO REMAIN AT THE JOB SITE” is required to be at the site at all times for inspections.

- Sprinkler plans shall be stamped by a minimum level NICET II designer for fire sprinkler systems.

- Plans must be of a fire sprinkler and/or standpipe system only. No combination drawings using reflected ceiling plans, mechanical, electrical etc. will be accepted.

- Plans shall be provided with a scale. It is recommended that the scale be 1/8 inch equals one foot or greater.

- Plans shall include at a minimum: sprinkler head locations, type of sprinkler heads, pipe sizes, hanger locations, sprinkler riser design, indication of remote areas and heads identified as calculated heads, indication of any non-sprinklered areas and code reference deleting sprinklers and other plan submittal requirements as specified in the most current edition of NFPA Standard 13.

- All symbols appearing on the plans shall be indicated in a complete legend located on the plans.

- Ceiling heights shall be identified on the plans.

- Ceiling construction features such as flat, sloped, smooth, metal bar joist, trust joist, etc. must be identified on the plans.

- All pertinent information regarding the proposed equipment to be installed as a part of the sprinkler system shall be specified or designated on product data sheets or cut sheets.

Sprinkler System Submittals:

• - Installation of a new Fire Sprinkler system.
• - Relocation of sprinkler heads in an existing fire sprinkler system at the discretion of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
• - Addition of 10 or more sprinkler heads to an existing fire sprinkler system.
• - Replacement of conventional sprinklers and piping with flexible piping and sprinklers.
• - Changes that modify an area considered to be the most demanding design density flow area.
• - Increase in building area or increase of the system design density.
• - At the discretion of the Fire Code Official.

Fire Sprinkler Final Inspection:

- No acceptance testing will be conducted by the Division of Fire Prevention prior to the completion of construction within the building or unit(s).

- Re-inspection fees will be charged for re-inspections needed due to incomplete sprinkler systems, failure of hydrostatic tests, and conditions that should be corrected prior to inspection such as painted heads, missing heads, mud caps in place.

- A minimum of twenty-four hours notice is required for all sprinkler system and standpipe system inspections. Available days and inspection times will be noted on the approved plans.

- No work is to be concealed until rough inspections are conducted and necessary corrections have been completed and re-inspected.

Fire Alarm Submittals shall include the following:

- Submit three (3) sets of fire alarm system plans and three (3) sets of cut/sheet product information.

- Two (2) sets of stamped plans shall be returned to the designer/installer. One set of stamped plans with the notation, “THIS SET OF PLANS IS TO REMAIN AT THE JOB SITE” is required to be at the site at all times for inspections.

- A minimum level NICET II designer for fire alarm systems must stamp the plans.

- Plans need to be clear and understandable. Plans must be of the fire alarm design only. NO combination drawings using reflected ceiling plans, mechanical, etc. will be accepted.

- Plans shall be provided with a scale. It is recommended that the scale be 1/8 inch equals one foot or greater.

- Plans shall include one line and riser diagrams for all devices, notification circuits, auxiliary circuits, initiating circuits, circuit designation and central station connect.

- Fire alarm panels shall be provided on a dedicated circuit. The circuit breaker for the fire alarm panel shall be red and identified as “Fire Alarm Panel”. A circuit breaker lock shall be placed on fire alarm circuit.

- All symbols appearing on the plans shall be indicated in a complete legend located on the plans.

- Ceiling heights must be identified on the plans.

- Ceiling construction features such as flat, sloped, smooth, metal bar joist, trust joist, etc. must be identified on the plans.

- All pertinent information regarding the proposed equipment and devices to be installed as a part of the alarm system shall be specified or designated on product data sheets or cut sheets.

- All detectors, pull stations, control valves, extinguishing systems, etc. shall be identified with the corresponding address number noted on the panel and/or graphic map.

Fire Alarm Final Inspection:

Audibility tests shall be conducted by the installer/designer prior to final inspection and a copy of the test results shall be provided to the Division of Fire Prevention at the time of the final inspection.
Rough wiring and location inspections will need to be conducted by the Fire District and the Electrical Inspector for the City of Wheat Ridge. Any necessary corrections shall be completed and re-inspected prior to the concealment of work.

Prior to calling for final acceptance test:

- Make sure all paperwork and permits are on-site and available to the inspector.

- Have readily available all appropriate tools and equipment necessary to fully test all devices and circuits.

- Have sufficient personnel available to perform system testing. Any required communications (i.e. radios) shall be provided by the permit holder.

- Notify all appropriate building personnel and occupants of the time period during which fire alarm testing will be conducted. Post signage at entry points if necessary.

- All detection and notification devices must be pre-tested prior to requesting a final inspection.

- The fire alarm communicator must be connected to two (2) active phone lines and the detection system on-line with the monitoring station.

- A Knox Box brand key box shall be on order or installed at the time of final inspection.

- The permit holder is responsible for the proper installation and operation of the permitted system. Failure of a final acceptance test requires will require a re-inspection. Consult with the appropriate fire district to determine what re-inspection fees may be assessed.

See the SPRINKLER SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS document for additional information.

Kitchen Hood / Other Suppression System Submittals (clean agents, carbon dioxide):

• - Suppression system submittals shall include a design manual or summary sheet of nozzle applications for the specific pre-engineered system to be installed. Also include the flow point calculations, dimensions of the appliances, nozzle specifications for each appliance, duct, or plenum protected, and the number of flow points protected by each bottle.
• - The plans, calculations, specifications, and other required information shall be reviewed and signed by a design professional certified by the system manufacturer, a Professional Engineer, or other approved certification or equivalent training.
• - Drawings need to be clear and understandable and should be of the suppression system only.