The Fire Prevention Bureau is staffed by three officers, 1 Captain and 2 Lieutenants. These officers are responsible for fire safety inspections for all businesses in the town of Smithfield. This also includes all school buildings. The bureau also performs all plan and review functions for all new residential and commercial buildings to be constructed, working closely with the Building Official's Office. Simply click on the subject you wish to enter.
All existing homes being sold must undergo and pass a smoke detector and CO detector inspection. This is the responsibility of the seller. This inspection offered by the Smithfield Fire Department tests the smoke detectors in your home for proper number, placement and operation. We also check the CO detector(s) for proper location.
Guidelines for smoke detectors:
There must be at least one smoke detector on each level of your home, including the basement.
Each detector must be located adjacent to sleeping areas. If a level has no bedrooms, locate in central hallway or near stairway.
In basements, the detector shall be located at the bottom of the stairway.
Proper operation of the smoke detectors depends on the year your home was built:
Before 1976: Single-station battery operated smoke detectors are allowed. These are the simple ones sold at Benny's, Home Depot, etc.
Between 1976 and 1992, detectors must be hard-wired (connected to the AC power in the house) and interconnected, so that when one sounds, they all sound.
After 1992, detectors must be hard-wired (connected to the AC power in the house), interconnected to each other, and detectors must also have battery back-up inside each unit. This is so that the detectors will still operate if the power fails.
In all homes built after February of 2004, a smoke detector must be located in each bedroom. This bedroom detector must be interconnected to the other detectors in the home.
Guidlines for CO Detectors:
One CO detectors should be located on each habitable level of the home.
Each CO detector should be located in the bedroom area of each level. If the bedroom areas are divided by a kitchen, then two (2) detectors will be needed.
Plug-in CO detectors are allowable, but must be restrained or otherwise secured to the wall.
The cost of the inspection is $30, payable at the time of the inspection. Checks should be made out to "Smithfield Fire Department". If the first inspection fails, all re-inspections are $30 each.
Please call 949-0832, Ext.111 to schedule an appointment. Initial inspections are usually done on Tuesdays, but re-inspections are done any day.
Smoke/CO Detector certificates are valid for 30 days following date of issue. If certification is required after that, a new inspection will have to be done.
Please call 949-0832 if you have any questions, or require an inspection.
The Smithfield Fire Department reviews all plans for new residential construction prior to the Building Official granting a building permit. All plans must be submitted to us first. Simply drop off two (2) sets of plans and fill out our information plan review sheet. Turn around time for these reviews is about 10-14 days.
All fire alarm, smoke detection and CO detection devices should be indicated on the plans at the time of submission. If there is a question of where they belong, we will be happy to answer them.
Smoke Detectors:
There must be at least one smoke detector on each level of your home, including the basement.
Each detector must be located adjacent to sleeping areas. If a level has no bedrooms, locate in central hallway or near stairway.
In basements, the detector shall be located at the bottom of the stairway.
Each bedroom shall be equipped with a smoke detector.
All detectors must be hard-wired (connected to the AC power in the house). The detector circuit shall be powered from a lighting circuit on a habitable level of the building.
All detectors shall be interconnected to each other
All detectors shall have battery back-up inside each unit. This is so that the detectors will still operate if the power fails.
CO Detectors:
One CO detector will be required on every habitable level.
One CO detector should be located outside the bedroom area(s); be ceiling mounted, no more than ten feet (10') away from that area.
Bedrooms that are separated by a kitchen or other large space shall have a ceiling mounted CO detector outside each bedroom area.
In addition, if a bedroom has either a portable or permanent heating or decorative unit that supports any type of combustion, the bedroom shall have a ceiling mounted CO detector within the room at least fifteen feet (15') away from the heater. (If fifteen feet (15') is not possible, then the detector shall be installed as remotely as possible within the room.)
If a bedroom(s) is directly off the kitchen, then a CO detector will be required inside the bedroom(s).
Habitable levels without a bedroom(s) shall require one CO detector on that level at least fifteen feet (15') away from any cooking or heating appliance.
CO detectors shall be properly mounted and hard-wired with battery back-up. Detectors shall be wired to a habitable lighting circuit.
Combination smoke and Co detector units are allowed.
All units shall be approved or listed by Underwriter Laboratory, Factory Mutual or some other nationally recognized laboratory.
All detectors shall be installed and tested as per manufacturer's recommendations.
A rough and final inspection shall be conducted of all dwelling units.
NOTE: Every individual apartment unit shall meet the above requirements.
The cost of the review is $75, payable at the time you pick your plans up. Checks should be made out to "Smithfield Fire Department". Please call 949-0832, Ext. 111 if you have any questions, or wish to make an appointment for consultation.
The Smithfield Fire Department reviews all plans for new commercial construction prior to the Building Official granting a building permit. All plans must be submitted to us first. Simply drop off three (3) sets of plans and fill out our information plan review sheet. Turn around time for these reviews is about 15-30 days.
Please download the Site Plan Review Information sheet. This will tell you what is required prior to submission of plans.
Downloads require Adobe 5.0 or higher.
Click here to download the Adobe reader
