Every year, in the United States, hundreds of people are killed or injured by fire, toxic fumes, faulty fire protection systems and false alarms.  And millions of dollars in property is destroyed. 

The Fire Prevention Division is committed to ensuring that these tragedies are kept to an absolute minimum, in Plantation.

The Prevention Division is comprised of a Fire Marshal, a Plans Examiner and both paid and volunteer fire inspectors.  The division is responsible for completing State mandated, annual fire inspections for compliance with adopted fire codes, as well as reinspections, plans review and overseeing allpublic and fire education programs.

The division, interacting with the building department, reviews all construction plans for compliance of codes and inspects all construction projects with respect to life safety codes and concerns.

Our inspectors completed nearly 11,000 inspections, for the 2004-2005 fiscal year, and our plans examiner reviewed more than 4,500 sets of plans.

Automatic Sprinkler Systems:
The Plantation Fire Department joins with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and the American Fire Sprinkler Association in encouraging all businesses, within the City Of Plantation, to install sprinkler systems in their buildings. (AFSA Logo)

It is a proven fact that sprinklers not only reduce the amount of damage caused by fire, but directly save lives as well.

Home Fire Sprinklers:
You’ve seen them in public buildings, schools, businesses and hospitals. But in your home?  Yes!  Fire sprinklers can be as effective in protecting your home, property and loved ones as they are in protecting businesses.

Now, home fire sprinkler installations are affordably priced and do not require major renovations of your home.  For more information, about this invaluable protection, click on www.homefiresprinkler.org.

Helpful Hints to Avoid False Alarms
Many residents and businesses are protecting their homes and property from burglary and fire damage through the use of alarm and sprinkler systems.

Unfortunately, the lack of alarm system education and system misuse are creating an inordinate number of false alarms.  False alarms place a tremendous burden on our Public Safety Departments, put lives at risk and cost a great deal of money.

Each year, the Fire Department responds to almost 1,000 false alarms.  More than half are system malfunctions. 

Until informed otherwise, fire trucks respond to all false alarms as if they were real fires; using their lights and siren, causing disruptions in traffic and dangerous conditions on the roadway.  Also, when a fire truck responds to a false alarm that vehicle and crew are not available to handle real emergencies. And, the average cost for the Fire Department to respond to a single false alarm is over $300. The annual cost for the City is about $300,000.

The City of Plantation is asking its residents and businesses to help reduce the false alarm problem by following the helpful hints listed below.
Together, we will provide for a better and safer community.

Commercial & Multi-Family Complexes
1. Have your fire alarm system serviced once a year by a State of Florida Licensed Fire Alarm Technician.
2. Have all detectors cleaned and re-sensitized every two (2) years.
3. Provide U.L. rated pull station covers.
4. Have duct detectors send a supervisory message rather than sound the general fire alarm throughout the building.
5. Keep an alarm service record book and plans of the system.
6. Do not reset the fire alarm system. Let the Fire Department do this operation.
7. Cover smoke detectors when doing any building repairs or major cleaning.
8. Put your fire alarm in test mode when doing repairs.
9. Clean out air conditioning ducts, etc.

Single Family Fire Alarm System
1. Have your fire alarm system serviced annually.
2. Have smoke detectors cleaned and re-sensitized annually.
3. Do not place smoke detectors close to cooking and showering areas.
4. Change the battery annually.
5. Cover smoke detectors during construction, building repairs and major cleaning.

KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry System:
The Plantation Fire Department uses the KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry System as a method of providing firefighters with safe and secure access to your facility in the event of an emergency.

The KNOX-BOX® System is a secure, rapid entry program specifically developed for use by fire departments. With one master key, firefighters can gain access to your property, without having to force doors or windows. 
More than 7,500 departments nationwide use Knox key boxes and vaults, Haz-Mat cabinets, key switches, and padlocks.

The Plantation Fire Department also uses the Sentralok™ master key security system, which requires the dispatcher to release the master key via a radio signal.  A record of all master key releases is kept by the Fire Department.

You can order your 4400 Series box by clicking on the link below or contacting the Fire Prevention Bureau at 954-797-2150.
http://www.knoxbox.com

Plan Review - Pre-Submittal Process:

Attention, architects, builders, developers, and homeowners !

Nothing is more frustrating than submitting construction or renovation plans only to have them rejected for minor oversights and small code infractions.

If you’re looking for a smooth process for you project, The Fire Prevention Division has the solution.  We will review your plans, FREE OF CHARGE, and help save you the time and expense of re-drawing and re-submitting those plans.

By allowing our staff to review your plans, “before they are submitted” we can offer our insight and possibly eliminate many of the common oversights.

We may also, depending on the situation, be able to provide you with more cost-effective ways of achieving the same goals. 

Preventing false alarms