Maryland   Department of State Police

Fire Safety Inspector I

GRADE 9 ($28,702 - $44,812)

I.  NATURE OF WORK: A Fire Safety Inspector I is the entry level of work performing inspections for compliance with fire safety and prevention laws, codes and regulations. Employees in this classification do not have supervisory responsibility.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from the Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal, a Deputy State Fire Marshal or a Fire Protection Engineer. Employees in this classification are assigned primarily to a specific geographic region but the work requires travel to sites that may be located anywhere within the State,

The Fire Safety Inspector I and Fire Safety Inspector II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The Fire Safety Inspector I performs duties under close supervision. The Fire Safety Inspector II performs the full range of duties under general supervision.

II. EXAMPLES OF WORK: (Examples are illustrative only) Attends various specialized schools, seminars and workshops at local, State and national levels in order to develop and maintain the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for fire safety, prevention and inspection as mandated in Chapter 3, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1031;

  • Learns to identify the size and locations of building components which may impact upon the safety of the building and the use of fire safety equipment;
  • Learns to identify violations of State and local fire prevention codes;
  • Learns to inspect buildings for fire code compliance during and after construction;
  • Learns to prepare inspection reports and other correspondence;
  • Learns to review fire code regulations to identify occupancy types and safety requirements;
  • May learn to testify before the State Fire Prevention Commission or judicial bodies concerning complaints related to fire code violations;
  • Performs other related duties.

III. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

  • Ability to learn federal and State laws, codes and regulations pertaining to fire prevention and safety;
  • Ability to learn construction and building fire prevention codes;
  • Ability to learn to understand blueprints and engineering drawings;
  • Ability to learn to understand and apply State fire prevention laws, codes and regulations to specific inspection requirements;
  • Ability to learn fire prevention and safety inspection methods and techniques;
  • Ability to learn and explain relevant laws, codes and regulations to property owners, local government officials and the general public;
  • Ability to exercise diplomacy, fairness and good judgment;
  • Ability to learn to prepare reports and other documents.

IV. MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

  • Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
  • Experience: None
  • Note: Experience inspecting buildings and other places of public assembly for compliance with fire prevention and safety laws, codes and regulations may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

V. LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATES: Candidates appointed to positions in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operators license valid in the State of Maryland.

VI. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLASSIFICATION:

1. Employees are assigned duties in a given service area of the State.

2. In accordance with Department of State Police Article, ss 15 (b), (4), candidates for positions in this classification will be subject to an initial drug screening, a physical examination and a complete criminal background investigation before permanent appoint3nent can be made. A criminal conviction record may be grounds for rejection of the candidate.

3. In accordance with Article 38A, ss (d) (3), employees in this classification must successfully meet the standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1031) for Fire Safety Inspector I prior to completion of the probationary period.