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Fire safety is an important aspect of any construction project. Without the right protections in place, buildings and their inhabitants could be at increased risk of damage, injury, and death in the event of a fire.

Code officials are responsible for ensuring building plans align with applicable fire safety codes and that finished construction projects comply with the Ohio Fire Code (OFC).

While the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal manages the OFC, local fire departments must enforce the code through plan reviews and on-site inspections. They are also responsible for issuing and managing licenses for these activities within their jurisdiction.

Because licensing isn’t managed at the state level, understanding requirements to obtain a license can be confusing. Here’s what you need to know.

Fire Code Officials, Inspectors, and Plans Examiners

There is no statewide licensure program for these professions in Ohio, which means that job duties and requirements for licensure may vary from one county or city to another. Generally, code officials, inspectors, and plans examiners are responsible for a variety of tasks.

Code Officials

Code officials typically oversee a local department responsible for code enforcement, including supervising inspectors and plans examiners.

Code Inspectors

These professionals perform on-site inspections of established structures or construction in progress. They assess the building and fire protection systems, such as fire alarms, sprinkler systems, emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and other safety systems, to ensure compliance with the OFC.

Plans Examiners

Before and during construction, plans examiners review building plans to make sure they align with applicable fire safety codes. They may issue reports and enforce compliance.

Testing Requirements

To obtain your license, you may be required to take one or more exams administered by the National Certification Program for Construction Code Inspectors (NCPCCI) as proof of your knowledge and skill.

These tests could include the 3B Fire Protection General Exam, the 3C Fire Protection Plan Review Exam, and the 1B Building Inspector General Exam.

Both the 3B and 3C tests include questions based on the International Building Code, the NFPA 13 – Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and the NFPA 72 – National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. Topics for both tests include building structure and fire protection systems. The 1B exam covers topics like:

• Fire safety inspections
• Footing and foundation inspections
• Life safety inspections
• Structural inspections

These tests are all open-book and include 50 questions each. You will have two hours to complete each exam, and you must answer at least 70% of the questions correctly to pass.

Testing Like a Pro

If you want the best chance to pass NCPCCI exams on the first try, you need an exam prep program created with working professionals in mind.

Look for courses that offer 24/7 online availability for self-paced learning. The best programs are developed by industry experts and educators to include information that helps you pass tests and excel in your career.

If you’re ready to obtain your code official, code inspector, or plans reviewer license in Ohio, contact RocketCert today to learn more about targeted exam prep courses.