Plan Checks
Dear Customer:

The West Covina Fire Department's goal is to assist the customer through the effective and efficient handling of your project, within our scope of work, from its inception. In an effort to assist you, the following describes some of our service parameters.

All projects that require permits and/or plan checks are required to be completed prior to the start of work on the site. Plan checks are all treated equally and in order of submission to our department. Our department has a goal of a two-week turnaround for the plan check process, 95% of the time, a leader in the industry. Complex plans or special issues may take longer.

However, if your project has extenuating circumstances that need plan check services sooner we offer an expediting process. Since we adhere to a first submitted-first reviewed procedure, the expediting process is through an outside agency. We will gladly furnish you this information upon request. The current providers of this service have approximately a three-day turnaround, which is followed by a maximum two-day turnaround by our department for review.

All necessary documentation is required with the submittal of plans. This includes, but is not limited to, a scope of work, pertinent building data, and any manufacturer's equipment installation information. Incomplete plans will be returned to the customer for re-submittal. Re-submittal plans have the same time for a turnaround so it helps all parties to get them correct from initiation.

Since the Fire Prevention Division is a two-person division, please request your inspections five to seven days in advance. Inspections needed sooner will be handled on a cancellation, first come-first served basis only. We are proud to meet the demand of the customers with a cost-effective division for the citizenry of West Covina, and you may rest assured that we will work diligently on your project.

If you have need of any further assistance, please contact us at (626) 338-8800.

Sincerely,

Rick Genovese
Fire Marshal

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Typical Plan Notations:
To be on plans submitted to the West Covina Fire Department

Each comment must be tailored for the occupancy type of building, or area, and use of hazardous materials. Included are both the set of codes for State occupancies and all others. For buildings dealing with hazardous materials and flammable/combustible liquids, there are specific state adoptions for commodity, separations, etc. as identified by CCR, Title 24, Part 2 (CBC, Section 101.17.14) and the matrix in each codebook.

1. The West Covina Fire Department will be contacted a minimum of 7 - 10 days in advance to schedule inspections.
   
   
2. An approved, stamped, set of drawings approved by the Fire Department will be available on-site for the Fire Inspector.
   
   
3. Construction safety will comply with CFC, Article 87. (WCMC, Chapter 10 and Article 87)
   
   
   1. The construction barrier will not obstruct minimum aisle requirements in the mall common area. CFC, Section 3504, Section 1208 and Article 87.
   
   
4. Portable fire extinguishers will be provided with a minimum rating of 2A10BC. Placement, size, and type will conform to Fire code standard 10-1.
   
   
5. An approved number or address will be provided in a position that will be plainly visible from the street, or road fronting the property. Numbers are required to be a minimum of 6 inches in height (commercial property) or 3 inches in height (residential property). WCMC, Chapter 10 and UFC, Section 901.4.4
   
   
6. Complete plans and specifications for fire alarm systems; fire-extinguishing systems, including automatic sprinklers standpipe systems; clean agent systems and other special types of automatic fire-extinguishing systems; and other fire protection systems and appurtenances thereto will be submitted to the Fire Department for review and approval prior to system installation. A minimum of 3 sets of drawings will be submitted. WCMC, Chapter 10 and CFC, Section 1001.3. (CFC, Section 1001.3)
   
   
7. All penetrations into, or through, fire resistive construction will be firestopped in accordance with CBC, Chapter 7 requirements. WCMC, Section 1111. (CFC, Chapter 7)
   
   
8. All missing structural fireproofing material will be replaced. WCMC, Chapter 10 and UFC, Section 1111. (CFC, Chapter 7)
   
   
9. A knox box is required for this building and will be obtained from Fire Administration. WCMC, Chapter 10 and UFC, Section 902.3
   
   
10. All gated access to the property that is required will have a card reader installed to open the gate automatically, for emergency personnel, with a master card. This includes vehicle and pedestrian gating. WCMC, Chapter 10
    
    
11. The applicable codes for this project are 2001 ed. CCR, Title 24 CBC (part 1 & 2), CFC (Part 9), CMC (Part 4), CPC (Part 5), and CEC (Part 3), and West Covina Municipal Codes (and CCR, Title 19)

These notations must be selected and used as required by the drawing.


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