Regular fire inspections of all commercial properties and/or businesses are to be conducted as outlined below, or as amended by the Fire Prevention Bureau Division Head, or by the Fire Chief.

The following commercial properties and/or businesses should have one routine fire inspection per year:

1. Structures containing fire-protection systems and equipment which includes automatic fire sprinkler systems, standpipes, fire-extinguishing systems for spray booths and commercial cooking hoods and automatic or manual fire alarm systems.
   Exceptions: Schools, colleges, dwelling units and occupancies in a mall less than 5000 square feet.
2. Occupancies classified as Places of Assembly.
3. Occupancies that involve the manufacturing, processing, generation or storage of materials that constitute a high fire, explosion or health hazard.
4. Day care centers, nurseries, assisted living, health-care centers and nursing homes.
5. Inspections that require a special permit which includes Beer and Liquor license, temporary membrane structures, tents and canopies.
6. Common areas of all schools, grades K-12, and colleges.
7. Common areas and occupancies in a mall greater than 5000 square feet.

All other commercial properties and/or businesses shall have a routine fire inspection every two years.  School and college classrooms and accessory areas shall be inspected every two years.  Occupancies in malls less than 5000 square feet shall be inspected every two years. Dwelling units shall be inspected subject to the provisions under Marion Code of Ordinances, Chapter 165, Housing Code.

Commercial structures that are classified as a rental storage building will not be inspected unless the occupancy use changes.

The Fire Prevention Bureau Division Head will issue the regular fire inspections to each shift containing fire inspectors and to the bureau at the beginning of each quarter.  The regular fire inspection and re-inspections should be completed within that quarter with the exceptions due to extenuating circumstances as determined by the Division Head.  Any new preplans or preplans that need to be updated will be assigned to the shifts at the beginning of each quarter.   The shift inspectors will be assigned inspections involving only certain occupancies that will accommodate other duties, time and their level of expertise.

Each Inspector should notify the property or business owner of their intent to inspect the business. Inspector shall notify them at least five working days before the inspection date.  Such notification shall be in the form of a telephone conversation, written communication or personal contact.

Exception: Businesses that require a Beer and Liquor license shall be notified in the form of a letter at least thirty days before the inspection.

The fire codes that have been adopted by the City of Marion establishes the requirements and acceptability criteria for commercial property or businesses

The inspector shall submit the violation(s) in writing to the property or business owner or agent.  The owner or agent must correct the violation by the date agreed upon by the owner or agent and inspector.  At the time of the inspection, the inspector will give the property or business owner the re-inspection fee schedule.  Re-inspections will be conducted, approximately every two weeks until all of the violations have been corrected.

Any violation deemed as a life safety hazard, the inspector shall notify the Fire Prevention Bureau Division Head.  The severity of the violation will be evaluated by the division head and a notice to immediately correct the violation will be served to the business owner or agent.  The time and date of the re-inspection will be left at the discretion of the division head.

Once all of the violations have been corrected, the inspector shall submit the form to the Fire Prevention Bureau Division Head.  The number of re-inspections and fees are subject to the provisions outlined under Resolution # 14839.

During any number of re-inspections, if at any time the inspector feels that he or she is at an impasse with the commercial property or business owner or agent, the inspector should notify the Fire Prevention Bureau Division Head.  The Fire Prevention Bureau will continue to conduct the re-inspections until compliance has been met.    If  compliance has not been met by the seventh re-inspection, the commercial property or business owner is then subject to the provisions under Marion City of Ordinances, Chapter  4, Municipal Infractions or by other legal methods.  Any violation that is deemed to be a life safety hazard may proceed to a municipal infraction at any time prior to the seventh re-inspection.

Fire Inspection forms shall be shall be placed in the property or business file and retained for a minimum of five years.

Plans for new construction, remodeling or additions of any commercial structures, businesses or multi-family dwellings shall be submitted to the Fire Department for approval.  Plans submitted shall include: