Houston Fire Department Life Safety Division

The Life Safety Bureau (LSB) is a division of the Fire Prevention Command under the direction of the Fire Marshal. The Assistant Fire Marshal is responsible for managing the daily administrative functions of the LSB, along with overseeing fire and life safety code enforcement functions.

This division is responsible for the following:
• Conducting fire and life safety inspections in all types of occupancies
• Conducting public fire safety education campaigns
• Enforcing the Fire Code and other related city ordinances
• Inspections for, and approvals of, Fire Prevention Permits and Fire Marshal’s Approvals
• Plan review and approval of fire protection and fire alarm systems
• Creation, revision, and implementation of Fire Code Standards and Operating Guidelines
• Data and information management
• Interaction with other governmental agencies

The “Houston Fire Department Standards” are important code enforcement supplements to the Fire Code, when required by the Fire Marshal, to regulate certain specific events, processes or hazards such as trench burning, pyrotechnics and liquefi ed petroleum gas storage and use. The Fire Code gives the Fire Marshal discretionary authorization to create or modify such standards as deemed necessary to meet the intent of the Fire Code.

The LSB is organized into individual teams that address fire and life safety issues in all types of occupancies. The inspection teams are divided into s General Inspection Teams and specialized inspection teams. Special teams consist of FAST, Institutions, Highrise, Haz-Mat/High Piled, Nights, Weekends, Public Education, Special Operations, Plan Checking Review and Plan Checking Field Inspections.

Inspectors are knowledgeable about the City of Houston Fire Code, (International Fire Code, 2000 edition, as Amended ), the Building Code, City ordinances and State and Federal laws. Each team concentrates on the local and State laws that pertain to their specific team." the Building Code, City ordinances and State and Federal laws. Each team concentrates on the local and State laws that pertain to their specific team.

Inspectors on all of the teams prepare, conduct and do follow-up inspections on their particular team and have particular expertise in the team's occupancy group.

All teams issue written notices and Municipal Court citations to ensure compliance with the appropriate code. After court citations are issued, they then must appear in court when required.

They also maintain either electronic or hard copy records and files, on notices of violations and citations, and other pertinent information. All records are kept for three years in accordance with the City of Houston Fire Code.

The Plan Checking Division, co-located with Building Department Inspection and Permitting offices at 3300 Main St., reviews plans on any new constructions or remodeling of over fifty per cent on old construction, to ensure that required fire protection systems, such as fire alarms, sprinkler systems, hose cabinets, stand-pipes, etc., are installed according to code. They are also an information source for fire protection systems that have been installed and now must be maintained.

There are Inspectors assigned to BPD “F. A. S. T. Team”. The F. A. S. T. Team is a combination of police, fire, health and neighborhood protection people who work to eliminate drugs, blight, etc., in business, homes and apartments.

In addition to inspections, Fire Inspectors participate in continuing educational training to maintain the required State Certification and also to maintain their skills and professionalism.