Raleigh County, WV (WOAY) – Beckley Fire Prevention is preventing future tragedies and ensuring all local businesses meet modern code and usage requirements.
Captain Chris Graham says that means enforcing the Certificate of Occupancy requirements.
Beckley Fire Prevention works closely with the Code Enforcement office, collaborating on the life safety purposes of a building.
Code enforcement examines the structural components of a building, ensuring the plumbing is functioning properly and the electrical system is up to code.
“We make sure fire extinguishers are in place, exit signs are lit up, and the backup batteries are working,” said Graham. “If it needs emergency lighting, and they’re in working order. We check the fire alarm system, sprinkler systems, things like that in the building.”
According to Graham, saving one life is well worth it. A certificate of occupancy is state law and has always been part of the city ordinance.
“We issue a certificate of occupancy, which means the owner of the building has met the minimum code requirements for both agencies,” the fire marshal said. “It’s signed by the chief code enforcement officer and our fire chief as a certificate of occupancy, that the building is now safe for people to be in.”
Call the code enforcement office at 304-256-1738 to schedule a free occupancy inspection. Graham says the majority of people comply, but they will start issuing summons to municipal court for violations.
“We’ve not always been able to enforce it. So sometimes people may not get one because they didn’t know, or it slipped their mind in the process of opening a business, which can happen,” said the fire marshal. “We’re not out to target anyone or cause anyone any grief. That’s why we’re doing this. It’s just to let them know this is something you need.”
They want to ensure the buildings in our area are safe.
“It is a safety measure that protects them. As a building owner, if you have that certificate of occupancy and there is a problem (fire, etc.), one of the first things people investigating do is come to our office to see the certificate of occupancy and permits,” Graham said.
“We want to see what kind of work was done in the building. It gives the home and business owner a level of protection.”
All businesses receive an annual inspection from the fire marshal.
“That won’t be fixed or can’t be fixed,” said Graham. “We want to make sure they realize this is coming and there are consequences to not meeting the minimum standards, the codes.”
