The General Inspections Section responds to a broad range of requests for fire and life safety services.  Guidance is provided on interpretation and application of the fire code for new and existing businesses. Fire Prevention Specialists respond to requests for general fire inspections, citizen concerns regarding possible unsafe conditions or fire code violations, and interact with other City departments to help citizens with code related issues.

 Many of the Fire Prevention Specialists are trained in hazardous materials incident response and provide assistance to both fire crews and property owners at emergency scenes.

 Fire Inspections

The Phoenix Fire Department strives to provide fire safety for the public by conducting inspections of commercial and multi-family buildings.  We respond to all requests for inspections by businesses and to citizens concerns about a particular facility.

Please click here for information on how to schedule a general fire inspection

Please click here for information on how to schedule a new construction permit inspection

Please click here for information on how to schedule a hazardous material inspection                                        

Fire Permits

Many events and operations that occur in the city are required to obtain a permit from the Fire Prevention Division (click here for a list).  Permits are issued after an inspection of the event or facility is completed and no fire code violations exist.  If you have questions about Hazardous Material permits please click here.

Emergency Access

As people and companies grow more concerned with security, Fire Prevention has had to look at the challenges that fire crews face when trying to gain access to a gated property.  In the last few years, emergency access has been brought to light as a safety concern at times of emergencies.  When fire crews and even police encounter locked gates and doors, valuable time is lost in trying to gain access.  The Phoenix Fire Department had been at the forefront in standardizing locks and signs that are used to allow both fire and police to protect our customers.  For more information, please click here.

State Licensed Inspections

The Phoenix Fire Department works with the state to provide annual and bi-annual fire safety inspections of state licensed day cares, group homes, shelters, and elderly care facilities.  These facilities sometimes care for those who are at a higher risk of injury in the event of an emergency, so we strive to ensure that these facilities are safe for those who call them home. Please click here for information on how to schedule an inspection

Emergency Drills and Plans

Fire Prevention offers assistance to building owners / managers as well as businesses that ask for help in developing or improving their emergency evacuation plans.  Fire Prevention Specialist meet with the businesses to discuss the aspects of a quality emergency plan.  This includes assigning certain duties to some employees to ensure that a smooth evacuation occurs in the event of an emergency.  Fire Prevention Specialist will also ensure there are updated evacuation plans posted to allow the public to find the nearest exit in the event of an emergency.  In addition, Fire Prevention Specialist can witness fire drills in order to give feed back to the business on areas that may need improvement.  To speak or meet with a Fire Prevention Specialist please call 602-262-6771 Monday-Friday 8AM to 5PM.

Swimming Pool Safety

Last year the Phoenix Fire Department responded to 91 drownings and near drownings.  Most of these tragic incidences could have been prevented.  In 1990 the City of Phoenix adopted a swimming pool barrier ordinance into the building code.  The ordinance requires that all swimming pools built after May 4,1990 are required to have an interior barrier.  Barriers shall be*

1.      Non-climbable fence or wall that is no less than 5 feet in height.

2.      All gates must be self-closing and self-latching and open outward from the pool.

3.      All latches must be no less than 4 ½ feet above the ground.

4.      Any opening in the fence or wall shall be no more than 4 inches wide.  This prevents children from squeezing through. 

If the home or swimming pool was built before May 4, 1990, and all the occupants of the dwelling are at least six years of age or older, it shall have an exterior barrier in place.  Exterior barriers shall be:

1.      A minimum 5 feet high from grade with self-closing, self-latching gates “completely around the property”.

2.      All latches must be at least 4 ½ feet above the ground.

3.      Any openings in the fence or wall shall be no more than 4 inches wide.  This prevents children from squeezing through.

  *This is not a complete list of all swimming pool requirements.  This is only to be used as a guide.  For the complete swimming pool ordinance, please call the City of Phoenix Building Department at 602-262-7811.

It is the responsibility of Fire Prevention to secure temporary barriers to mitigate an immediate hazard.  Responding to calls from our citizens, Fire Prevention Specialist respond to these pools to secure the pool barrier in order to prevent a drowning.  The Fire Prevention Specialist use a “Pool Abatement Team Vehicle”, which carries all the necessary fence repair and building equipment, to temporary secure the pool fence or gate.  After the pool has a temporary fence or is secure, the Neighborhood Services Department or the Development Services Department will follow up to ensure that permanent repairs are made.   For questions please call our pool safety hot line at 602-495-5555, or click here.  For CPR information please click here.

Certificate of Fitness

All fire protection companies doing work in the City of Phoenix are required to have a valid Certificate of Fitness card or license from the Phoenix Fire Department.  To obtain a card or license the companies are tested on the fire protection systems they install or service.  The companies are required to have a separate card or license for all the systems they install or service (i.e. fire alarms, sprinklers, hoods, and fire extinguishers).  This helps to ensure that the company doing the work is knowledgeable on the Fire Code and all other requirements.  We recommend you ask the company for their Certificate of Fitness card or license before any work is done.  You may also call 602-262-6771 to inquire about the status of a company.