Fire Inspections

This means that the building owner is responsible for ensuring that all fire safety measures are adhered to in accordance with the BCFC and that all inspections and inspection logs are completed, ensuring a proper record for the safety of all occupants within the building/property.

A fire department's inspection frequency for businesses within the municipality depends on the availability of fire prevention staff. These inspections may occur once a year or every other year and that inspection is good for that moment in time only. The building/business owner or property manager must ensure that the building is safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

WCES offers the following services:

Training Programs for Building Owners/Property Managers/Staff

WCES can develop a training program which will provide the building owner/property manager/staff with the knowledge and resources to observe and correct any fire hazards noted within their building and ensure the installed fire safety equipment is in proper working order.

Building and Property Analysis

During new construction, renovations, or within existing structures, building owners and property managers are faced with a number of fire hazard/risk challenges, such as avoiding loss of life and injury, reducing fire loss, and maintaining the continuity of business operations. WCES can conduct a fire safety evaluation process and assist with the mitigation of any fire safety issues.

The probability of where a fire may occur, what fuels may be involved, the likely ignition sources and the potential fire growth can be analyzed. WCES has the expertise to determine the potential fire hazards, their location and environment, and develop a fire safety program that can mitigate the probability of fire ignition. With this knowledge, approaches can be created to define the proper use of various materials and their placement and control their surroundings to lower the risk of fire and keep the building/business at an acceptable fire safety level.

The building/property fire safety analysis is a guide by which fire safety objectives can be identified by building owners and property managers based on concerns about staff or occupants and the business/property. The analysis created by WCES will provide your decision-makers with the tools necessary to make clear, well-informed decisions about how to achieve your defined level of fire safety in a cost-effective manner.

Plan Review and Inspections

WCES is ready to assist municipalities and/or fire prevention personnel with plan reviews and on-site inspections of all fire suppression systems, fire alarm and detection systems and any integrated building management systems related to fire safety equipment for compliance with the British Columbia Fire Code regulations. WCES can accompany municipal fire inspectors as the owner's representative to interpret the fire inspector’s reports and develop solutions and management code compliance programs for the owner/building manager.

Fire Prevention Program Administration

WCES can provide fire prevention program management for fire departments unable to support a fire prevention staff. Partial or complete administration of fire inspection programs, including fire inspections, is also available.

In-Service Training

WCES can design and provide training programs for firefighters and fire prevention personnel in any field related to fire prevention as required by NFPA 1031-2003 Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Inspector and Plan Examiner.