By Einar Jensen, Risk Reduction Coordinator
Evergreen Fire/Rescue
Are you thinking of remodeling your business? Will the work impact any of your building’s
systems such as the fire alarm system or electrical system?
If so, you should reach out to Evergreen Fire/Rescue’s Fire Inspectors to determine if a permit is
needed and whether the county needs to be involved.
It’s a mistake to start work before determining if a permit is needed. In some cases, that work
may need to be stopped or even reversed if it violates fire or building codes. That’s an expense
nobody needs.
Our fire inspectors often find removed smoke alarms, covered sprinkler heads, and blocked
notification devices (horns and strobes). They also find new walls or other barriers that would
prevent a sprinkler head from spraying part of a space. Fixing those changes often costs far
more than the permit that would have identified such mistakes on paper before they occurred
in the building.
Other building alterations that may require permits include moving or adding walls, removing
exit doors, or creating holes in walls, ceilings, or floors for conduits or ductwork.
Contact your county’s building department for any proposed changes to electrical, mechanical,
or plumbing systems.
Permits might sound like red tape, but the permitting process verifies that work is performed
according to industry standards and maintains safety for employees, customers, or responders.
When in doubt, you are welcome to contact EFR’s Fire Inspectors for guidance:
fireprevention@evergreenfirerescue.com.
