Fire Marshal's Fire Plans Examiner Duties
- Review construction plans for commercial and public accessible buildings and multi-family dwellings to make sure construction materials and methods meet the minimum fire and life safety requirements of the 2018 NC Fire Code, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, and amendments to the fire code as adopted by Guilford County Code of Ordinances.
- Issue certificates of occupancy.
Prices are listed below for specific types of review. See our complete list of Fees at Fire Prevention Fee Schedule.
On August 22, 2022 Guilford County Fire Marshal's Office in conjunction with Guilford County Planning and Permitting transitioned to a new online planning, permitting and inspections system designed to improve the user experience by streamlining the process of applying for permits, checking plan review status, scheduling inspections, applying for certain trade and environmental health permits, and making payments.
Also, you can now schedule Foster Home, Group Home and Daycare inspections through the same program.
How do I apply for a permit? - You can apply for a permit by going through the Citizen Access Portal.
How do I request an inspection for a Group Home, Foster Home, or Daycare? - You can request a inspection by going through the Citizen Access Portal.
For more information you can go to the Guilford County Enterprise Permitting and Licensing (EPL) Transition Information web page.
Guilford County Fire Marshal
c/o Fire Plans Examiner, Greensboro, NC 27409. Phone: 336-641-7565 Fax: 336-641-6538 GCFMO@guilford-es.com
For questions about TRC/Site Reviews, contact:
Guilford County Planning and Zoning at: Phone: 336-641-3334 Fax: 336-641-3255
Learn more about related requirements for your project by visiting Development Services.
- Requirements conform to the 2018 NC Fire Code, as adopted and amended by the Guilford County, and any applicable NFPA standards.
- Guidelines do not replace or supersede any codes and/or ordinances adopted by the Guilford County or any determinations by the Plan Reviewer/Fire Marshal.
- All fire alarm plan submittals must be sealed by a professional engineer (PE). Contact the Plan Reviewer/Fire Marshal for additional guidance.
- All plan submittals and calculations must be accompanied by the appropriate plan review fees.
- Plans are reviewed in the order they were submitted.
- Plan reviews will be completed as soon as possible. Plan revisions, changes, or incomplete submittal packages may delay your final plan approval.
- Any deviation from the approved plans requires a plan resubmittal prior to inspection. Failure to submit revised plans prior to the inspection may result in a delay for inspection and sign-off.
- Building construction plans are not reviewed until the civil plans have been approved.
- Plan approvals give final authorization for construction and are subject to field inspection and verification.
- Plan approvals do not release the contractor or property owner from responsibility of full compliance with all applicable codes and ordinances relating to the construction project.
- NICETT Level 3 or 4 plans are required to be submitted with hydraulic calculations.
- Provide cut sheets on heads and pipe scheduling.
- Owner's information certificate
- If adding, relocating or moving more than 20 heads requires plans submittal.
- Set of professional engineered (PE) signed and sealed plans are required to be submitted.
- If PE signed fire alarm plans are included in the electrical plans for building plan submittal, shop drawings will suffice.
- Battery calculation need to be included in the plans.
- If adding less than five devices, no plan is required, but a field acceptance testing is required.
- If replacing a fire alarm control panel, cut sheets and a review with acceptance test is required.
- When using 2 communication pathways for an alarm system the secondary method has to be a alternative method (can not be a standard copper telecommunication line)
- Plans showing tank, flow points, nozzles used and the heights are required to be submitted.
- Plans need to show appliances, pipe sizes, and pull station location.
- Acknowledge class K extinguisher and interconnection with fire alarm system, if it is present.
- Plans showing booth dimensions, nozzles and protection areas are required to be submitted.
- Duct and plenum compliance with NFPA 17.
- Show location of manual pull station.
- Building plans for spray booths are also required to be submitted.
- Plans showing site plan with tank location are required to be submitted.
- Cut sheets on tank with UL listing and secondary containment are required to be submitted.
- Tank installation will be reviewed in accordance with NFPA 30 and 2018 NCIFC Chapter 23 and 57.
- Guilford County Fire Marshal's Office is a 100% witness agency. This mean that all tests and inspections have to be witness by a representative of GCFMO. A documented test not witness will not be accepted.
- It is recommended that systems be tested by the installer prior to contact for a final inspection or test of a system to reduce overall cost to the customer.
- Flushing of underground systems and hydrants shall be done with no less that a 4" line. If the system is less that 4" in size then the flush shall be of an equal size to the system. If the system is larger than 4" then the system will have to be flushed with a quantity of the greatest demand or 4" line which ever is greatest.
- Fire alarm test will include all devices affected by the install to include communication verification, notification devices, & detection devices.
- Inspection and testing can be scheduled by call 336-641-7565