Fire Code & Fire Safety Documents
COVID Updates - Services During Pandemic and Re-Opening
Update as of June 19, 2020 - The Governor has approved further re-opening in King County. Please review information from the county about what is allowed and how to re-open safely. The Seattle Fire Department's Fire Marshal's Office has adjusted our services to continue serving our customers while following safe worksite guidelines.
Calculating Occupancy Loads for Safe Start
Please see the information from SDCI that may be a helpful reference as you calculate reduced occupancy loads under the Safe Start guidelines.
For more specific approvals on occupant load, please contact the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, the City agency responsible for determining occupancy and occupant loads.
Seattle Fire and Building Codes
The 2015 Seattle Fire Code was adopted by City Council on September 26, 2016. Use of the new code became mandatory on January 1, 2017. Since that time, two sets of amendments have been approved for errata and creation of citation authority.
The Seattle Fire Code is developed in cooperation with the Fire Code Advisory Board (FCAB), a volunteer advisory board that represents the interests of the public, organized labor and local business, industry and technical trades.
We develop new editions of the Seattle Fire Code every three years. Work on the 2018 Seattle Fire Code will continue until adoption in 2020.
Bound paper volumes of the 2015 Seattle Fire Code are available for $87. If you want to purchase a copy, visit:
Seattle Fire Department
Fire Prevention Division
220 3rd Avenue South, 2nd Floor
Seattle, WA 98104-1450
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Or visit:
Public Resource Center (PRC)
700 5th Avenue, 20th Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The PDF download version can be purchased from the International Code Council (ICC). Please also print and use these free replacement pages showing amendments to the 2015 Seattle Fire Code for errata and creation of citation authority.
Free review of the 2015 Seattle Fire Code is available online from the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection.
Seattle Building Codes are available on the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) code pages.
The Seattle Fire Code provides authority for the Fire Code Official to adopt policies, procedures, rules and regulations to clarify the application of the fire code.
Administrative Rules are reviewed and approved by FCAB prior to public notice in the Daily Journal of Commerce and are then filed with the Seattle City Clerk.
| Administrative Rule 1.01.17 - Fee Waiver Policies for Compliance Re-Inspection Fees Charged by the Fire Marshal's Office |
| Administrative Rule 9.01.18 - Certificates of Competency for Installing, Inspecting, Testing and Maintaining Fire Protection Systems |
| Administrative Rule 9.01.20 - DRAFT Certificates of Competency for Installing, Inspecting, Testing and Maintaining Fire Protection Systems |
|
Administrative Rule 9.02.19 - Inspection, Testing, Maintenance and Reporting Requirements for Fire Protection Systems and Emergency Responder Radio Amplification Systems |
| Administrative Rule 9.03.20 - Automatic Sprinkler and Standpipe Systems |
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Administrative Rule 9.04.20 - Impaired Fire Protection Systems and Emergency Responder Radio Amplification Systems |
| Administrative Rule 9.05.18 - Alarm Signal Verification |
| Administrative Rule 9.06.14 - Sprinkler Systems and Fire Alarms for Elevator Machinery Rooms, Hoist Ways and Pits |
| Administrative Rule 9.07.17 - Partial / Phased Occupancy, Occupancy During Construction and Temporary Certificates of Occupancy |
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Administrative Rule 9.09.18 - Visible Alarm Notification Devices |
| Administrative Rule 11.01.18 - Fire Escape Stair Structural Examination, Testing and Repair Requirements |
| Administrative Rule 26.01.14 - Cutting, Welding and Other Hot Work on Marine Vessels |
| Administrative Rule 26.02.14 - Designated Marine Hot Work Facilities and Shipyards |
| Administrative Rule 27.01.14 - Marine Terminals |
| Administrative Rule 27.02.04 - Storage and Use of Hazardous Materials, Including Flammable and Combustible Liquids, in Freight Containers Outside of Buildings |
| Administrative Rule 34.02.07 - Decommissioning Residential Heating Oil Tanks |
| Administrative Rule 53.01.15 - Marijuana Growing and Oil Extraction Processes |
CAMs help explain the requirements of the Seattle Fire Code.
| CAM Number | Client Assistance Memo (CAM) | |
|---|---|---|
| 5001 | Obtaining a Permit | View |
| 5002 | Electronic File Standards: Shop Drawings for Fire Protection Systems | View |
| 5022 | Recreational and Cooking Fire Regulations | View |
| 5032 | Fire Inspections for Nightlife and Entertainment Venues | View |
| 5033 | Ceremonial Fireworks | |
| 5034 | Public Safety Plans and Crowd Managers | View |
| 5042 | Fire Code Regulations for Holiday Decorations | View |
| 5051 | Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans | View |
| 5052 | Fire Emergency Guide | View |
| 5062 | Nightclub Fire Safety Requirements | View |
| 5072 | Fire Emergency Plans for Marinas, Piers, Wharves and Floats | View |
| 5120 | Liquid Oxygen in Home Healthcare | View |
| 5121 | Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirements in Existing Residential Occupancies | View |
| 5122 | Wired Emergency Communication Systems | View |
| 5123 |
Emergency Responder/Public Safety Radio Enhancement Systems |
View |
| 5124 | Solar Photovoltaic Power Systems | View |
| 5961 | Fire Extinguishers | View |
| 5962 | Decommissioning of Residential Heating Oil Tanks | View |
| 5963 | High Rise Emergency Evacuation Drills | View |
| 5965 | Key Boxes for Emergency Access | View |
| 5966 | The Engineering Inspection Process | |
| 5969 | Building Safety and Inspections | |
| 5970 | Preventable or "false" Alarms | |
| 5971 | Testing of Fire Protection Systems and Emergency Responder Radio Amplification Systems Seattle Fire Report of Impaired System Form | |
| 5972 | Requesting a Review by the Seattle Fire Code Appeals Board | |
| 5973 | Fire Escape Confidence Testing | View |
| 5974 | Emergency Lighting: Testing and Inspection | View |
| 5981 | High-Rise Building Inspection Program | View |
| 5982 | High Rise Fire Emergency Planning Requirements | View |
| 5983 | High-Piled Combustible Storage | View |
| 5987 | Smoke Detector Installation | View |
| 5991 | Fire Watch | View |
NFPA Amendments
The 2015 Seattle Fire Code references the 2014 editions of NFPA 130 and NFPA 502 and no amendments were made to those documents. For historical review we are providing the Seattle amended versions of the 2010 edition of NFPA 130 and the 2011 edition of NFPA 502 that are referenced in the 2012 Seattle Fire Code.
The City of Seattle amendments to the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) code as referenced in the 2012 Seattle Fire Code:
- NFPA 130-10 - Standard for Fixed Guide-way Transit and Passenger Rail Systems
- NFPA 502-11 - Standard for Road Tunnels, Bridges, and other Limited Access Highways
Fire Prevention Alerts
FDC placard requirements for high - rise buildings