Fire Marshal's Office Now Offers Customers Virtual Appointment Scheduling Services: A "One-Stop Process"

The Fire Marshal’s Office now offers customers virtual appointments for Fire Protection Walk-Thru Plan Review, every Tuesday and Thursday. The recent launch of the Virtual Appointment Scheduling System will streamline customer service delivery and significantly improve overall efficiency.

“This latest modernization to provide a ‘One-Stop Process’ aligns with customers’ growing expectations for convenient and accessible government services,” said Matt Smolsky, Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal, Fire Marshal’s Office.

Fire Marshals can conduct virtual walk-thru plan reviews remotely using Microsoft Teams video calls with customers using smartphones and tablets, connected to WiFi or 4G wireless services.

These virtual appointments are used for fire sprinkler systems, fire alarms, and any other alternative fire extinguishing system. The complexity and scope of the project determine if a plan qualifies for virtual review.

Types of plans that qualify for virtual appointments, include:

• Fire sprinkler modifications of 50 heads or less, with no hydraulic calculations involved;
• Fire alarm modifications involving 15 devices or less, with no modification to FACP unless it is an exact model replacement;
• Fire alarm systems associated with an access control device, such as the use of magnetic/electronic locking mechanisms;
• Fire alarm monitoring of a fire sprinkler system flow and tamper switch (Highly recommend Fire Alarm Express permit);
• Range hood suppression systems;
• Underground fire lines with a copy of an approved site plan;
• Fire lane plans (FLP) that are identical to the approved site plan. (A FLP number must be established prior to booking an appointment); and
• Site specific review sheets for NFPA 13D fire sprinkler permit applications for previously approved Master Plans on File (single family dwelling models).

All submitted plans must be quality control approved through the Department of Development Services, Building Development Division’s Plan Intake, prior to scheduling a virtual appointment. Minor revisions are allowed if they meet the above criteria and identify the scope of the changes with “clouding.” The Designer of record must be present during the session. The Fire Marshal will inform the customer during the video call if the plan is approved or requires revisions.

All virtual appointments must be booked in advance. Virtual appointment times available are: 9:00 – 9:50 am; 10:00 – 10:50 am; 11:00 – 11:50 am; 1:00 – 1:50 pm; 2:00 – 2:50 pm; and 3:00 – 3:50 pm, with a maximum of 50 minutes per booking, every Tuesday and Thursday. Appointments are limited to two per week, per customer. Unfilled time slots remaining within 24 hours of the scheduled session may be claimed by any customer, regardless of the limit. Please contact FMO Administrative Staff regarding availability of unclaimed appointments. To book a virtual appointment, click here.

The Fire Marshal’s Office is excited to bring this service to the development community. We will periodically review our process and encourage feedback so we may better serve the needs of our building community partners as we move forward.

For more information, please visit https://www.pwcva.gov/department/fire-marshals-office, call (703) 792-6360 or email [email protected].