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1. What codes and standards does my project have to be in compliance with?

A very good question, and the starting point for all projects. The answer depends on the city and/or county in which your project is located. North Metro Fire Rescue District serves all of the City of Northglenn, the City and County of Broomfield and portions of unincorporated Adams, Boulder, Jefferson and Weld Counties. Each entity may adopt different building and fire codes and may adopt local amendments to those codes. Furthermore, adopted codes and amendments tend to change every few years as newer codes are developed.

It is best to confirm the design codes of record for a project with a member of the Fire Prevention Division before assuming the use of a particular code or standard.

2. I’ve heard that thumb-turn style door locks are illegal. Is this true? If so, what kinds of locks can I have in order to be in compliance with the code but also provide protection from theft?

Thumb-turn style locks are only allowed on exit doors if thumb-turn lever is large enough to allow operation without using fingers (which is to say that pinching or grasping is not required to operate the mechanism) and the thumb-turn lever rotates no more than approximately 90 degrees.

There are several types of door-locking hardware that can be installed on exit doors that will provide an increased level of security while at the same time meeting the exiting requirements of the building and fire code. It is recommended that you contact the Fire Prevention Division before changing any existing approved hardware or before installing additional locking hardware to any exit doors. The Fire Prevention Division will be happy to assist you in determining an appropriate configuration for your specific situation.

3. How far from the road and from existing buildings can my building be?

This question really is a question for the city and/or county in which the project will be located. The fire code does not regulate setback distances for buildings. Setbacks may be regulated by the locally adopted building code and standards commonly enforced by the local community development, planning department or building department.

4. Are duct smoke detectors required for my building? If so, do they need to be connected to the building’s alarm system?

The requirement for the installation of duct smoke detectors is a mechanical code requirement and a fire code requirement. Generally, the mechanical code requires that duct detectors be installed on the supply and return sides of HVAC units if the aggregate (cumulative) capacity of the system exceeds a capacity of 2,000 cubic feet per minute (cfm). Duct detectors, if present, are required by the fire code to be connected to the building’s alarm system.

In buildings that are not required to be equipped with an alarm system, the fire code requires that the activation of a duct smoke detector activate a visible and audible signal in an approved location. Smoke detector trouble conditions shall activate a visible or audible signal in an approved location and shall be specifically identified as air duct detector trouble.

5. I’m constructing a new building. Does my building need to be equipped with sprinklers?

Always a good question to ask up front to avoid surprises later down the road in the development process. Unfortunately, there is no clear cut answer. Whether or not your building will require an automatic fire sprinkler system depends on the city or county in which it is located, the size of the building, the number of stories, construction type, the occupancy classification, and use(s) or operation(s) to take place within the building, the configuration of fire department vehicular access to and around the building, and the water supply available for firefighting purposes.

6. I’m moving my offices into a currently empty tenant space within a two-story office building? Does my space need a fire alarm system?

Most likely you will not be required by the fire code to provide a fire alarm system for your space. However, more information about the building and your space is needed in order for the fire district to give a correct answer. What is your occupancy load? What is your occupancy classification? What will you be doing in your space? Does the rest of the building have a fire alarm system? Is the building provided with an automatic sprinkler system? Does the owner, property manager or the owner’s insurance company require that all tenants furnish a fire alarm system that interfaces with the building’s master fire alarm control panel?

Questions like these, and maybe some others, will need to be answered before the fire district can determine alarm system requirements for your new space.

7. What can really happen to me if I refuse to comply with the fire code?

As much as practically possible, the fire district tries to work with individuals to achieve voluntary compliance in a reasonable time frame. However, for serious violations that pose a distinct threat to life safety as determined solely by the fire district, a business may be evacuated and ordered closed, or an operation may be ordered to cease until the violation is corrected. In some cases, a summons may be issued. Fire Prevention personnel also have the ability to call upon local law enforcement for immediate assistance.

8. Why does the fire district require that the exterior horn/strobe on my sprinklered building sound on all alarms as opposed to just water flow?

The fire district requires that the exterior horn/strobe activates on all alarms, not just water flow, and that it activates until all alarms have been reset. Having the exterior horn/strobe activate on all alarms helps responding personnel quickly identify and locate the facility experiencing the alarm and can expedite any necessary emergency actions.

9. My project is unique and cannot be effectively built using the prescriptive requirements set forth within the code. What can I do?

If your project does not fit within the confines of prescriptive code requirements, you may wish to consider a performance-based design or alternate method approach. Read more about this approach on the Performance-Based Design Approach page.

10. I have been a fire protection contractor for over 20 years. Why do I have to change the way I’ve been doing things just for your jurisdiction?

The Fire Prevention Division of North Metro Fire Rescue District prides itself on being progressive and technically adept. To that end, please understand that fire safety engineers and inspectors are not singling out your work or you as an individual. Rather, they are just trying to do the best job that they can to ensure that the system is being designed and installed in compliance with the codes and standards under which the project was approved. It may be that there have been some significant changes to the standards of design for the fire protection or building system of which you may not be aware.

11. What are impact fees and will they apply to my project?

Impact fees are monies assessed to a new development by the Fire District pursuant to C.R.S. 29-20-1045 to help pay for the Fire District’s capital infrastructure needed to serve that development. As of January 1, 2018, the Fire District assesses such fees for projects located in unincorporated portions of Adams County under an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Adams County Commissioners. If it is determined that an impact fee applies to your project, the fee structure for impact fees is as follows:

Single-family Homes/Residential Units = $557.00 per unit

2+ Residential Units = $436.00 per unit

Commercial/Office/Institutional Development = $0.38 per square foot of development

Industrial Development = $0.05 per square foot of development

All plans for projects located within unincorporated Adams County submitted to the Fire District for review must be accompanied by a completed Adams County Impact Fee form. If it determined by the Fire District that an impact fee applies to your project, the impact fee must be paid directly to the Fire District after the development permit is issued by Adams County, and before any building permits can be issued. The Fire District will promptly notify Adams County when the impact fee has been paid, after which time, building permits may be released pending approval by the Adams County Building Division. Impact fees are separate, and in addition to, any permit and plan review fees authorized to be charged by the Fire District under the fire code adopted by Adams County.