Fire Permitting

Requirements for Fire Permits

Fire Alarm plan Submittal Process and Fire Alarm Servicing

The City of Duncanville has adopted and currently enforces the 2015 International Fire Code (Option B) including the recommended amendments from the North Central Texas Council of Governments and local amendments. All alarm companies should pay special attention to the amended section 907.6.1 (Wiring). Added – Section 907.6.1.1 requires all initiating circuit conductors to be Class “A”.

The process of submitting plans for review is as follows:

A Permit Application must be submitted and shall include (4) complete sets of plans, copies of all licenses, insurance certificates, scope of work, and material sheets. Prior to submitting a permit application, your plans must have been reviewed by one of the following companies:

The review companies will charge review fees, which are not regulated by the Duncanville Fire Department, and does not include the required permit application fee.

After plans are reviewed by one of the above listed companies, the review company will submit a final copy of the plans for review/approval. A permit will be issued if plans are approved. The applicant will be notified of plan approval and advised of the permit cost, which is based on the total number of devices. Permit fees shall be paid through the Citizen Access Portal.

Work may only begin once a permit has been issued. Once work is completed and successful testing has been done, the alarm company shall contact the Fire Marshal and/or Fire Inspector at least 48 hours in advance to schedule an acceptance test.

 When conducting any fire alarm service, repair, or installation in the City of Duncanville, technicians shall have on their person a current copy of all licenses held within the State of Texas. Technicians not possessing a valid fire alarm license will be instructed to leave the job site and the information will be submitted to the State Fire Marshal Licensing Enforcement Section.

 If a fire alarm system is found to be out of compliance, indicated by a yellow tag, or out of service, indicated by a red tag, it shall be the responsibility of the technician to immediately notify the Duncanville Fire Prevention Office. An inspector will visit the facility as soon as possible to determine a course of action and bring the system into compliance. At no time shall a fire alarm system be left with a red or yellow tag without informing the owner or manager on duty in writing that the system is out of compliance or out of service and the Fire Marshal is being notified. Every attempt shall be made by the technician to repair system failures when conditions allow.

 For additional information concerning the fire alarm plan submittal process, please contact the Fire Prevention Office at (972) 780-5049.

SPRINKLER AND STANDPIPE PLAN SUBMITTAL AND REVIEW PROCESS

The City of Duncanville has adopted the the 2015 International Fire Code with the recommended NCTCOG amendments, Option B. 2013 edition NFPA 13,13R,13D ,14 editions are referenced.

The process of submitting plans for review and permitting are as follows: All submittals must include (4) complete sets of plans-including site plan (include underground supply distance from public water supply to riser), backflow information, copies of all licenses held by firm and installers, insurance certificate, scope of work, and spec sheets on materials.

Submit plans to one of our approved following third party companies for initial review:

After plans are reviewed by one of the above third-party reviewers, the Fire Marshal will receive the plans and findings, recommend changes, or stamp the plans approved for installation and permitting. Work may only begin after the permit is issued. When the installation is complete and successful pre-testing is completed, the installation company shall notify the Fire Marshal at least 48 hours in advance to schedule hydrostatic testing and final acceptance test. Alarm work is permitted separately.

FIRE DEPT. CONNECTION (INCLUDE ON SITE PLAN) – Within 100’ of a fire hydrant and on street side of building and fully visible and recognizable from the street. Remote FDC’s allowed.

  • Backflow plan review - contact Duncanville Cross Connection at (972) 780-4946
  • Underground review - contact Duncanville Asst. Public Works Director at (972) 780-5016
  • Hydrant flow information - contact Water Dept. Supervisor at (972) 780-4932

Technicians on the job site shall have on their person a current copy of all fire protection licenses held within the State of Texas while conducting installations or service. Technicians not holding a valid license will be instructed to leave the job site and issued a warning or citation and this information will be passed on to the State Fire Marshal Licensing Division as appropriate.

During service work, if a fire protection system is found to be out of compliance (yellow tagged), or out of service (red tagged), it shall be the responsibility of the technician on the job site to notify the business owner in writing and the Fire Marshal immediately. At no time shall a fire protection system be left red or yellow tagged without informing the owner or manager on duty there is a problem, and the Fire Marshal is also being notified. Every attempt shall be made by the technician to make repairs when conditions allow during service work.

Important numbers:

Duncanville Fire Marshal: (972) 80-5049
Duncanville Construction Inspector (Underground): (972) 780-3872

SPRAY BOOTH FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

The City of Duncanville currently enforces the the 2015 International Fire Code. Section 2401 FIRE PROTECTION: New and existing spray booths and spray rooms shall be protected by an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system complying with Chapter 9. Protection shall also extend to exhaust plenums, exhaust ducts, and both sides of dry filters when such filters are used. The design and construction of spray booths shall comply with section 1504 of the 2009 IFC, NFPA 33, ICC Electrical Code, NFPA 72, NFPA 17, NFPA 17A, and NFPA 12.

New installations: 3 sets of plans (including copies of licenses and insurance) – 1 set can be digital - from a State of Texas licensed extinguisher company detailing the system shall be submitted to an approved Third-Party Reviewer listed below and to the Duncanville Fire Prevention office located at 1530 S. Main, Duncanville TX. A $50 plan review/permit fee is due when plans are submitted.

Fire Extinguisher system plans shall include the following required information:

  1. A basic floorplan with the location of the booth and mixing rooms and distances (min. 3 feet) from all walls.
  2. Manufactures specifications on all fire protection equipment.
  3. Drawings and specifications of piping, nozzles, manual pull stations, fuse links, cylinder locations and portable fire extinguishers.
  4. Drawings and specifications of all utility shut offs including air compressors.
  5. Owner and business name, address, and phone numbers- include emergency number.
  6. If the building is protected with a fire alarm, the extinguisher system must be tied in (additional plans required).
  7. Spray booths shall be constructed of approved noncombustible materials. Aluminum shall not be used. Duncanville Building Inspections should be contacted regarding mechanical, electrical, construction, and ventilation issues, at (972) 780-5000.

These are minimum requirements; the Duncanville Fire Marshal is authorized to require additional equipment or protection. When plans are approved work may begin on installation. When the installation is complete, and successful pre-testing is done, the Fire Prevention office shall be contacted for a “final” acceptance test (972) 780-5049. Please call 48 hours in advance for acceptance test scheduling.

Fire extinguishing systems shall be serviced at least semi-annually. A licensed fire extinguisher company must perform this work. There shall be a tag affixed to the system indicating the last date of service. Any extinguishing system receiving an unsatisfactory inspection (red or yellow tag) from the extinguisher company, shall discontinue spraying operations until corrections can be made, and the system passes a re-test. The Duncanville Fire Marshal shall be notified immediately when systems are out of service or in compliance.

Important Numbers:

Duncanville Fire Prevention: (972) 780-5049
Duncanville Building Inspections: (972) 780-5000

Must be registered with the City of Duncanville as a Fire Contractor
Contractor Registration can be completed online, NO FEE FOR FIRE CONTRACTORS.

Register as a Contractor

Submittal Documents

In rare instances, more information may need to be obtained and will be assessed on an as-needed basis.

  • Third Party Review letter for the project. Duncanville uses
  • Scope of Work letter stating what you will and won’t be doing.
  • Copy of licenses of the installers
  • Copy of insurance for your company
  • Plans for the project - Material list or FAQ sheet

Once the plans are approved, they will be emailed back to you and you will be responsible for printing out two additional copies, one for the plans box in the riser room and one for your contractor.

If you prefer to deliver plans to our office, we need the above-mentioned items with three (3) sets of 24x36 plans for review. They will be stamped and returned it to you. The address is 1530 S. Main St., Duncanville, TX 75137.