Fire Prevention Bureau responsibilities include all plan reviews, issuance of permits for fire protection and detection systems, new construction inspections, false alarm billing, annual fire inspections, code development and interpretation.

Fire and Life Safety Plan Review:

The fire and life safety plan review checks the plans to determine compliance with the International Fire and Building Codes as well as all local codes, ordinances, standards and regulations. The Fire Prevention Bureau conduct fire and life safety plan reviews to verify the compliance of: fire protection and detection systems, fire resistant building materials, and proper exiting.

Fire Inspections:

Fire Prevention Bureau personnel are responsible for conducting annual or semi-annual fire and life safety inspections for all existing commercial, industrial and multi-family occupancies in the Village of Hoffman Estates and the Fire Protection District.

Fire inspections are conducted to discover and correct any condition liable to cause a fire or life safety hazard. Frequency of inspection is determined based on the associated hazards that a site may pose, and may include materials and manner of storage, maintenance of exits, accessibility of fire service personnel, maintenance of fire protection and detection systems, and general housekeeping.

Fire Investigations:

Fire Prevention Bureau personnel are members of the fire investigation division. All members are Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal Certified in accordance with NFPA 1033: Standard for Professional Qualification for Fire Investigator. Fire investigations are conducted in accordance with Department guidelines and NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations.

Codes and Standards Reference:

• Hoffman Estates Municipal Code
• International Building & Fire Codes – 2021 edition
• International Mechanical Code – 2021 edition
• Illinois Accessibility Code – 2018 edition
• Life Safety Code - 2015 edition
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) National Fire Codes/Standards

Local ordinance amendments can be found in chapter 11 of the Hoffman Estates Municipal Code.