Fire Prevention

The Waco Fire Department’s Prevention Section prioritizes reducing the impact of fire-related incidents in the community by managing the adopted fire code. Our mission is to promote safety and protect life and property every day.

The Fire Prevention staff is dedicated to safeguarding our community through four key strategies: Education, Engineering, Enforcement, and Economics.

Our efforts include the technical review and approval of construction plans for new developments, fire protection system plans, building construction inspections, acceptance testing for fire protection systems, and compliance inspections for existing commercial businesses.

Fire Final Inspection

The Final Fire Inspection must be conducted before the Inspection Services Certificate of Occupancy Inspection and is conducted for all new construction, alteration/addition, and new Certificates of Occupancies. Fire Final Inspection shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Must be requested by the General Contractor.
Completion of all phases of construction.
Fire lanes and fire hydrants.
Address placard.
Automatic or Manual Fire Alarm acceptance.
Kitchen Hood Suppression System acceptance.
Automatic Fire Sprinkler, Standpipe, and Fire Pump acceptance.
Knox Box with appropriate keys. A 3200 series is required for single-tenant occupancies, and a 4400 series is required for multiple-occupancy structures.
Elevator recall and shunt inspection. State elevator inspection must be conducted before the Fire Final.
Fire department access.
Emergency egress
Fire extinguisher placement. All extinguishers must have an acceptance tag.
Where applicable, a sign shall be affixed and readily visible on exit doors stating:
- * THIS DOOR TO REMAIN UNLOCKED WHEN THE BUILDING IS OCCUPIED.
- * The sign shall be in letters not less than 1 inch high on a contrasting background
All required signs must be in place. (Stair identification, emergency egress, electrical room, fire riser, fire alarm, and mechanical room, etc.).

Controlled Burn

Requirements for a Controlled Burn Permit

Burn must comply with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) rules and regulations.
Burning must take place only during daylight hours.
Fire must be attended at all times and be completely extinguished before leaving site unattended.
Site plan showing the burn location and the location and distances to any structures or right of ways must be submitted to the Fire Marshal’s Office.
Copy of liability insurance covering the activity must be submitted to the Fire Marshal’s Office. (A minimum $1 million liability policy is required for the burn.)
Fire control plan must be submitted including water sources and plan for controlling and extinguishing the fire.
Available water source and/or other extinguishing methods and fire control plan must be adequate for the size fire and must be capable of controlling any fire that may burn out of the control area.
Burn must not be located near structures, endanger adjoining property or cause a nuisance to neighbors.
After review of all requirements, a written permit will be issued to the applicant by the Fire Marshal.
Written permit must be on site during the controlled burn and all safety instruction must be followed.

Please Note: If the Fire Department is required to respond to your controlled burn there will be a charge of $250 per hour per Fire Department Unit.

The completed permit application with proof of payment from City of Waco Fiscal Management Services (at City Hall, Fourth Floor) for the permit should be taken or mailed to:

Waco Fire Marshal’s Office
1006 N. 25th Street
Waco, Texas 76707

State Requirement Information

The Outdoor Burning Rule sets the following general requirements for allowable outdoor burning. They are designed to reduce the likelihood that burning will create a nuisance, cause a hazard, or harm the environment.

Notify the Texas Forest Service before carrying out any prescribed or controlled burns that are intended for forest management.
Burn only outside the corporate limits of a city of town, unless the incorporated city or town has an ordinance that permits burning and is consistent with Subchapter E of the Texas Clean Air Act (Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 382).
Begin or continue burning only when the wind direction and other weather conditions are such that the smoke and other pollutants will not present a hazard to any pubic road, landing strip, or navigable water (for example, a lake, river, stream, or bay) or have an adverse effect on any off-site structure containing "sensitive receptors" (for example, a residence, business, farm building, or greenhouse).
Post someone to flag traffic if at any time the burning causes or may tend to cause smoke to blow onto or across a road or highway.
Keep fires downwind of or at least 300 feet away from any neighboring structure that contains sensitive receptors. This requirement may be waived only with the prior written approval of whoever owns or rents the adjacent property and either resides or conducts business there.
Begin burning no earlier than one hour after sunrise, end it the same day and no later than one hour before sunset, and make sure that a responsible party is present while the burn is active and the fire is progressing. At the end of the burn, extinguish isolated residual fires or smoldering objects if the smoke they produce can be a nuisance or a traffic hazard. Don't start burning unless weather conditions are appropriate for smoke to dissipate (winds of at least 6 miles per hour; no temperature inversions) and for you to be able to control the fire (winds no faster than 23 miles per hour).
Don't burn any electrical insulation, treated lumber, plastics, construction or demolition materials not made of wood, heavy oils, asphaltic materials, potentially explosive materials, chemical wastes, or items that contain natural or synthetic rubber.
In addition to meeting these requirements, outdoor burning must not cause a nuisance condition or traffic hazard according to 30 TAC Sections 101.4 and 101.5. The authority to conduct burning under the Outdoor Burning Rule does not exempt or excuse any person responsible for the consequences, damages, or injuries resulting from the burning and does not exempt or excuse anyone from complying with all other applicable laws or ordinances, regulations, and orders of governmental entities having jurisdiction, even though the burning is otherwise conducted in compliance with this regulation.

Fire Code Management Guide

Printable Document(PDF, 218KB)

Sprinkler System Required

Foster homes licensed for more than five
Restaurant or nightclub with an occupant load of 100+
Throughout all building with Group R fire area except one- and two-family dwellings.
Retail store:
- Fire area over 12,000 sq ft.
- Fire area located more than three stories in height.
- Used for the display and sale of upholstered furniture or mattresses exceeding 5,000 square feet

Fire Alarm Required

Businesses, storage facilities, or stores (mercantile) with an occupant load of 500+ or 100+ above/below the exit level
Daycares serving 51 or more

Fire Apparatus Access Roads (Fire Lanes)

Approved fire apparatus access roads shall be provided for every facility, building, or portion of a building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction. The fire apparatus access road shall extend to within 150 feet of all portions of the facility and all portions of the exterior walls of the first story of the building as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility.

When fire apparatus access roads or a water supply for fire protection is required to be installed, such protection shall be installed and made serviceable prior to and during the time of construction except when approved alternative methods of protection are provided.

Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 26 feet (unless given other approval from the Authorities Having Jurisdiction), exclusive of shoulders, except for approved security gates, and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches.

Fire apparatus access roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus and shall be surfaced so as to provide all-weather driving capabilities.

The required turning radius of a fire apparatus access road shall be 28 foot inside turning radius. Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet in length shall be provided with an approved area for turning around fire apparatus.

Marking of the fire access road shall be by one of three approved methods:

Painting curbs red with contrasting white letters reading "NO PARKING FIRE LANE."
Painting a red stripe on the pavement with contrasting white letters reading "NO PARKING FIRE LANE."
With signage at the beginning and end of the designated fire access road and at 25-foot intervals. If curb markings are also used, the interval can be 50 feet.

Access During Construction

Temporary access road utilization instead of permanent access roads during construction shall require an engineer-designed access road that meets permanent access road distances. Temporary access roads shall support the imposed loads of up to 78,000 pounds in all weather conditions. Documentation of the road design shall be submitted to Waco Fire Marshal's Office (FMO) prior to construction. The General Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining access roads during construction. Approved access for firefighting shall be provided to construction or demolition sites.

Fire Hydrant Requirements

Where a portion of the facility or building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction is more than 400 feet from a hydrant on a fire apparatus access road, on-site fire hydrants and mains shall be provided. Exception: If the facility or building is fully sprinklered, the distance requirement shall be 600 feet.

Water Supply for Fire Protection During Construction

Where a water supply for fire protection is required to be installed, such protection shall be installed and made serviceable prior to and during the time of construction, except where approved alternative methods of protection are provided.

Installation of Fire Mains by Licensed Companies

Permits are required for all underground fire mains. Plans should be submitted with the permit application prior to the beginning of installation. Fire Protection water mains can only be installed by personnel licensed by the State Fire Marshal's Office to perform such work. Licensed plumbers cannot install fire mains.

A copy of the FMO stamped approved set of plans is required to be on-site and immediately available at all times. Permission and written authorization to begin installation prior to plan approval may be requested from the Fire Marshal's Office. If permission is granted, a copy of the written permission letter must be kept on-site at all times in lieu of the approved plans. It is understood that any corrections or deviations from the approved plans must be made in order to obtain final acceptance.

All features of the underground fire main shall be inspected and hydro-tested before being covered. This includes but is not limited to the type and size of piping, pipe depth, type of fill, thrust block location, and size. All pipe joints and thrust blocks are to remain uncovered until hydro-tested unless permission is obtained from the FMO prior to being hydro-tested. Hydro testing will be according to NFPA 24.

The private fire main begins at the tap to the public City of Waco water main. No domestic water taps are allowed on the fire main.

Test gauges must be connected to the system being tested. All pumps must be completely disconnected from the system being tested.

Gating

The Fire Marshal shall pre-approve the installation of gates across access roadways. Where gates are installed, they shall have an approved means of emergency operation.

Electrically Operated Security Gates

All electrically operated security gates must be equipped with an emergency means of release as well as a Knox key switch.

Knox Lock Boxes

Knox lock boxes are required on all buildings with monitored fire alarm systems. The lock box can be ordered from Knox Company. Specify the City of Waco Fire Department.

Fire Alarm System Plan Submittals

Permits are required for all fire alarm submittals. One set of plans will be kept by FMO. A copy of the FMO stamped approved plans is required to be on site and immediately available at all times.

Installation Prior to Approval of Fire Alarm Systems

Permission and written authorization to begin installation prior to plan approval may be requested from the Fire Marshal’s Office. If permission is granted, then a copy of the written permission letter must be kept on site at all times in lieu of the approved plans. It is understood that any corrections or deviations from the approved plans must be made in order to obtain final acceptance.

Fire Alarm System Inspections

Fire alarm systems testing will be according to NFPA 72.

A minimum of 24 hours advanced notice is normally required for inspections.

Premises Identification

All buildings shall have approved address numbers placed in a position plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numerals or alphabet letters. Numbers shall be a minimum of 4 inches high with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inches.

Storage Tanks

Permits are required for the installation of storage tanks containing hazardous, combustible, or flammable liquids. Plans should be submitted with the permit application. Inspections are required prior to covering any tank or line from the tank. Testing of installations shall follow the manufacturer's guidelines or be conducted according to the applicable NFPA guidelines.

Fire Protection System Plan Submittals

In order to obtain the most significant insurance savings for a sprinkler system, fire sprinkler plans must first be reviewed and stamped by a third-party reviewer.

Accepted Third-Party Reviewers

Traditions Fire Consulting

Nick Kalina, CFPS
nick@traditionsfire.com
(972) 979-0631
P.O. Box 5587
Frisco, TX 75035

Greentag Engineering, LLC

www.getagreentag.com
2681 MacArthur Blvd Suite 303
Lewisville, TX 75067

MEH Fire Protection

Mark Hasenmyer, P. E.
pe@mehfpe.com
(972) 874-2662 or (469) 235-3154
1311 River Oaks Drive
Flower Mound, TX 75028

Plan submittals to the Fire Marshal's Office must include the third-party reviewer's comments and responses. FMO will keep one set of plans. A copy of the FMO stamped approved plans is required to be on-site and immediately available at all times.

Installation Prior to Approval of Fire Protection Systems

Permission and written authorization to begin installation prior to plan approval may be requested from the Fire Marshal's Office. If permission is granted, a copy of the written permission letter must be kept on-site at all times in lieu of the approved plans. It is understood that any corrections or deviations from the approved plans must be made in order to obtain final acceptance

Fire Protection System Inspections

All aboveground piping of sprinkler systems shall be inspected and hydro-tested prior to any part being covered or obstructed in any manner unless permission is obtained from the FMO prior to being covered or obstructed. Items inspected include but are not limited to pipe type and sizes, hanger locations, sprinkler head types and locations, etc. Hydro testing will be according to NFPA 13.

Installations that include multiple systems or levels may be inspected and hydro-tested separately to maintain construction scheduling. Partial visual inspections, covering and/or obstructing systems are not permitted unless special circumstances exist and prior approval from the FMO is given. A special after-hours permit and fee will be required for each approved inspection. The General Contractor requesting a partial inspection would be responsible for obtaining the permit and paying associated fees prior to inspection, not the installing contractor.