State of Maryland

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 supervise other positions.

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 primarily assigned to a specific geographic region but the work requires travel to sites that may be located throughout the State.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

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, while the Fire Safety Inspector II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

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;

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;

May learn to testify before the State Fire Prevention Commission or judicial bodies concerning complaints related to fire code violations;

Performs other related duties.

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.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: None.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute experience inspecting buildings and other places of public assembly for compliance with fire prevention and safety laws, codes and regulations on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Firefighter classifications or Firefighter specialty codes in the fire inspection field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

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

2. 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 appointment can be made. A criminal conviction record may be grounds for rejection of the candidate.

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.

4. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit C, Regulatory, Inspections and Licensure classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.