Fire officials oppose possible changes in inspections process

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Fire departments across North Carolina will be bringing concerns to the Raleigh Tuesday.

The North Carolina Building Code Council is holding a public meeting, and officials are considering making major tweaks to the building code.

Deputy Fire Marshal Jonathan Leonard, with the Charlotte Fire Department, said he will be fighting three amendments to the code.

"We have been meeting with the building code officials because none of us support this. This just really doesn't make a lot of sense," Leonard said.

The first amendment involves every new building under construction.

Leonard said that fire inspectors would lose their power to building officials, who have little to no experience in checking life-saving equipment.

“To me, a significant cost to the community, especially smaller jurisdictions,” Leonard said.

Fire inspectors would step in a year later to complete annual inspection, and that’s a timeline Leonard said could increase costs and delay construction.

Channel 9 has reached out to Mecklenburg County to see how this change could impact their staff and operations.

Leonard also said that he plans to speak against a proposal that would no longer allow fire inspectors to check safety equipment in large event tents.

Oftentimes, those tents are found with violations. He's also concerned about a similar plan involving barns that are used as event venues within the county.

"So there is a whole gambit of stuff that goes on,” Leonard said. “Almost behind the scenes where it creates a good win-win situation for the future of that building."

The public hearing is Tuesday, but board officials won't vote until June. If an item passed, the new rules would take effect in January 2018.

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