West Virginia fire code

What the fire code requires

The State Fire Commission creates the State Fire Code, and it carries the force of law across counties, municipalities, and other local areas throughout West Virginia. It adopts the 2021 edition of NFPA 1, along with state exceptions and additions, and it takes on the 2021 edition of the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code in full. NFPA stands for the National Fire Protection Association, the organization behind these safety standards.

West Virginia also adopted building codes, such as the 2018 International Building Code, for local areas that decide to enforce them. Wherever those codes point to the International Fire Code, the 2021 edition of the NFPA Life Safety Code applies instead. And when the State Fire Code conflicts with the State Building Code, the State Fire Code wins.

Buildings used mostly for farming are exempt from all of these: the fire code, the building code, and local building codes. On top of that, the fire code lays out standards and training requirements for anyone who installs or services liquefied petroleum gas systems.

Fire, rescue, and ambulance buildings that start construction after July 1, 2023 need full protection from approved automatic sprinklers. The exception: buildings smaller than 5,000 square feet that store only equipment and have no sleeping areas.

West Virginia fire marshal

Enforcing the fire rules and granting licenses to fire protection workers falls to the State Fire Marshal. You'll find the Office of the State Fire Marshal on the 2nd Floor at 1207 Quarrier St., Charleston, WV 25301.

Building codes are a different story. Enforcement happens at the local level and is optional, meaning your town or county makes the call. Any local area that takes on the State Building Code has to file its ordinance with the State Fire Marshal within 30 days. From there, it enforces the code on its own, and older local building codes become null and void. Local officials must also satisfy the certification and continuing education standards laid out in Title 87, Series 7.

Wondering which rules your town enforces? Call to sort out which ones cover your building.

West Virginia fire sprinkler license

Fire protection work in West Virginia has required a license from the State Fire Marshal since January 1, 2009. Homeowners working on their own single family home don't need one. Anyone holding an installer license also doesn't need the technician license.

What you need depends on the license:

• Fire protection layout technician: a NICET Level III certification, NFPA CWBSP, or another exam the State Fire Marshal has approved. NICET is a national credential in this field.
• Journeyman sprinkler fitter: at least 2,000 hours on the job.
• Portable fire extinguisher technician: an NFPA 10 credential.

Applications go through the State Fire Marshal's online license portal, or at the Regulatory and Licensing office in Charleston. A license runs 1 or 3 years, and once it lapses, you'll need to file a new application. Here's what the fees look like:

Checking a worker's license

Anyone licensed has to carry a copy of that license at every job where they perform fire protection work. Asking to see it is a simple way to protect yourself. Local governments also can't demand extra licenses from workers already licensed by the State Fire Marshal.

The State Fire Marshal and deputies may enter premises and hand out citations for unlicensed work. Keep going after a citation and a first offense can cost you anywhere from $200 up to $1,000. A third offense or later carries $1,000 to $5,000.

Looking for licensed sprinkler, extinguisher, or suppression work? Call now to reach a contractor who works in West Virginia.