Fire Protection Engineering Information

Fire Sprinklers Save Lives!

Fire Department Information

Download a FREE copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF files. Click on the button below.

City of Madison Home Page

Overview

Under the direction of Fire Marshal Ruckriegel, the primary function of the Fire Protection Engineering Unit is providing fire safety for property, the public and our firefighters.  The services provided include code consultation, plans review, onsite inspection, issuing approvals, and granting permission for occupancy.  The Fire Protection Engineering Unit is involved in fire code enforcement activities in both new construction and existing buildings.

[Return to Top]

Fire Protection Engineering Unit Members

[Return to Top]

New Construction

All great projects are a result of careful planning and the fire department is enthusiastic about our role in helping to establish a fire-safe Madison.  Part of our goal to make this happen includes reviewing fire protection system plans and specifications for compliance with the International Fire Code (IFC), the adopted National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),  codes and standards, Department of Commerce Administrative Codes and the Madison General Ordinance (pdf file).  Some examples of the fire protection systems that are reviewed include: automatic fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems and special hazard extinguishing systems.  Fire department access to premises and the location of fire hydrants are also important items that are evaluated during the planning phase of construction.  In addition, developers, architects, professional engineers and contractors utilize the code consultation services provided by the Fire Protection Engineering Unit.

The MFD is an appointed agent of Commerce for the approval of fire protection systems.  As an appointed agent, MFD performs plan approval and inspection of fire alarm systems, automatic fire sprinkler systems and alternate fire suppression systems in accordance with the agreement and the state standards.  Following is a list of conditions from the appointed agent agreement:

• A MFD Fire Alarm/Fire Suppression System Work Permit is required for the installation or alteration of a fire protection system that is located within the City of Madison, including state owned projects, prior to installation or alteration of the system. 
  
• Plans for all state owned buildings must be examined and approved by the state.
  
  • Fire protection system plans for state owned hospitals and nursing homes must be submitted to the Department of Health and Family Services for approval.
  • Fire protection system plans for all other state owned buildings must be submitted to Commerce for approval.
  • State approved plans must be on the project site during construction.
  • The MFD work permit fee for state owned buildings is 50% of the fee listed in the plan review fee schedule table.
    
• MFD will continue to perform the onsite inspection and approval of fire protection system installations in all public buildings and places of employment, including state owned buildings that are located within the City of Madison.
  
• All fire protection system plan submittals must include the information listed in the state standards.  Incomplete plan submittals will be placed in hold status, without further action by the MFD until they are made whole by the submitter.  A copy of the Plan Submittal Check List that lists the items that are required in order to have a complete plan submittal package, and a copy of the latest MFD Fire Protection System Work Permit Application form are attached for your use.
  
• Fire protection system plan submittals will be handled in one of the following ways:

1. Complete submittals of construction documents will be examined and conditionally approved, in the order they are received.
2. Incomplete submittals will be placed on hold, pending submittal of missing items.
3. Substandard construction documents that fail to demonstrate substantial code compliance will be rejected, pending the submittal of revised specifications, or complete working plans, or calculations.

• Site Plans Review:  The Fire Protection Engineering Unit also performs plans review of preliminary site plans during the planning and development stage of proposed projects.  A site plan review focuses on fire apparatus access and fire hydrant locations for the project. The following worksheet, Fire Access and Hydrant Worksheet (pdf file), has been prepared to assist design professionals in preparing their site plans for submittal. The worksheet is based upon the requirements of s. Comm 62.0509, Wisconsin Commercial Building Code; IFC ch. 5, Fire Service Features; MGO 34.19, Fire Apparatus Access Roads; and MGO 34.20, Fire Protection Water Supply.

• All new public buildings and places of employment must be provided with approved fire apparatus access as required by Wisconsin Commercial Building Code, s. Comm 62.0509.  The City of Madison Fire Prevention Code s. MGO 34.19, also has regulations for fire access.  The City of Madison Fire Department (MFD) expects the design professional will produce construction documents that propose fire lanes in accordance with the applicable codes. 

   Where a proposed new construction project cannot provide fire apparatus access in compliance with the codes, an alternative design scheme must be developed to provide for an equivalency with the codes; this alternative design scheme must be acceptable to the MFD.  The Equivalency Guide for Code Deficient Fire Apparatus Access has been implemented to assist design professionals in preparing an alternate design scheme and to describe the administrative process to obtain MFD approval. 

Please help us to better serve you by ensuring that your permit application, plan submittal packages and fees are complete, and that your projects are ready for inspection at the appointed time.  Your continued assistance and cooperation is appreciated, thank you.

MFD new construction program contact information:

[Return to Top]

Life Safety Inspections

Where there's a potential for a high loss of life such as in a healthcare facility where there are non-ambulatory patients, flammable liquids, compressed gases, toxic materials and cryogen's an inspector specialized in identifying these types of hazards is available to assist the managers and building engineers in reducing potential fire safety problems.  The inspector is also a valuable resource for ensuring the safety of all state owned buildings and the employees and visitors of those facilities.  At least one fire prevention inspection is conducted in each existing healthcare facility and state owned building that is located within the City of Madison every year.

[Return to Top]

University of Wisconsin-Madison Inspections

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is in the nation's forefront for research & development. Projects that utilize extremely hazardous material are used everyday in their laboratories.  Fire prevention inspections are an important function to ensure the safety of the students, employees, faculty and citizens of Madison.  At least one fire prevention inspection is conducted in each existing building on university campus every year.

[Return to Top]

Fire Protection System Plans

Fire Protection Systems includes the following:

• Alternate Fire Suppression Systems

• Atrium Fire Protection Systems

• Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems

• Fire Alarm Systems

• Private Fire Service Mains and Fire Hydrant Systems

• Standpipe and Hose Systems  

• Kitchen Hood Suppression Systems

There are specific submittal requirements for each type of fire protection system.  The requirements vary depending on the type of fire protection system proposed for installation.  The Plan Submittal Checklist for Fire Protection System Plans has been provided to assist you in preparing your complete fire protection system plan submittal.  The Plan Submittal Checklist is subdivided by the type of fire protection system using the corresponding NFPA standard.  The submitter must know what type of fire protection system is being installed to determine what must be submitted for examination and approval.

MFD follows the 20 or less sprinkler threshold rules as specified in s. Comm 61.34, Wis. Adm. Code, regarding sprinkler construction documents.  Plans are not required, however, a work permit from MFD is required for remodel projects in existing buildings involving the alteration or addition of 20 or less sprinklers in existing buildings.

To view the full Plan Submittal Checklist for Fire Protection Systems and/or the Fire Protection System Work Permit Application, click on the links below.  The documents below are pdf files and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.  To download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader, click on the button below.

PLAN SUBMITTAL CHECKLIST FOR FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM PLANS

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM WORK PERMIT APPLICATION

[Return to Top]