Inspections
Fire and Life Safety Inspections
The inspection process is a very critical part of fire prevention that the fire rescue department utilizes to reduce the risk associated with fire and life safety.Through inspections the Fire Marshal's Office can encourage compliance of regulations during all phases of construction and occupancy.
The process begins by:
- Plans are initially brought to the Camden County Planning and Development Department for review
- During weekly meetings, several departments review the plans and either approve, deny, or request changes to the submitted plans
- Contractors are then required to keep a set of approved plans on the building site during construction
Pre-construction meetings are recommended to allow for developers and county staff an opportunity to discuss all aspects of the development in order to minimize delays and corrections. These meetings can be scheduled through the Planning and Development Department at 912-729-5603.
A building and fire and life safety inspection is required on all new construction prior to occupancy. All 80% and 100% completion inspections must be scheduled prior to reaching the respective completion points. Based on the occupancy classification of existing buildings, annual or semi-annual inspections may be required to maintain compliance. These inspections must also be scheduled through the Office of the Fire Marshal.
Fire & Life Safety Self-Inspection Program
All commercial and industrial occupancies within Camden County are divided into high-, medium-, and low-risk categories. These gauge the potential for an emergency incident to occur, including any event that may cause panic or injury to the occupants.
In order to more efficiently maintain compliance within these properties, the Camden County Fire Marshal’s Office has instituted the Self-Inspection Program for all pre-designated low-risk occupancies. This program involves the business owner or manager completing a self-inspection checklist and submitting it to the Fire Marshal’s Office. The items checked include the main causes of fire and/or injury in several areas and correlates with the main areas a fire inspector would focus on. This program will benefit the businesses by educating their employees on safety issues while limiting the interruptions a formal fire inspection could cause a small business.
If you have been advised your business is eligible to participate in this program, please click on the link below to access the Self-Inspection Checklist. If you would like your business to be considered, please contact the Fire Marshal's Office.