Frequently Asked Questions

The assigned Fire Inspector visits an existing business facility and conducts a thorough inspection. Any violations found are recorded on a Fire Inspection Report, along with the applicable codes and the corrective action required to come into compliance. The Fire Inspector will discuss the report in detail with the occupant to ensure that the information is clearly understood.

We strive to inspect businesses annually.

You can contact the Seabrook Fire Marshal’s Office via email or by calling (281) 291-5787.

The Fire Code is a set of fire safety requirements developed to protect a specific type of operation, protect the occupants of a building from fire, and reduce the potential for a fire to start. These requirements are developed based on information gathered from around the country, where past fires have occurred. A significant amount of investigation and research is conducted to determine the actual cause of fire before an item becomes a part of the Fire Code. Once a city has adopted the Fire Code, it becomes the City Ordinance that regulates fire safety. Failure to comply with the Fire Code can result in citations and fines.

The Fire Code used by the City of Seabrook is part of a series of Codes that are designed to do two specific things:

1. to protect the lives of the people who enter, work, visit, or otherwise occupy a building, and
2. to ensure that all aspects of the construction of a building, fire protection systems, and the operations or functions performed within a building are done in a fire-safe manner.

There are two general reasons for conducting fire/safety inspections.

1. To ensure that any building in which the general public enters for business, entertainment, social, religious, or other purposes is maintained in a fire-safe status.
2. Fire safety inspections provide the owner/occupant of the building with an indication of fire/safety hazards so they may correct the hazards to reduce their liability and potential for loss due to a fire.

If a violation is found that is a maintenance-related problem, the Fire Inspector will provide a date (generally 30 days) to correct the violation. If the violation can be corrected during the inspection, it will be noted on the inspection form that the correction has already taken place.

If a violation is found that will require the alteration or installation of new equipment or safety features, the Fire Inspector will indicate this on the report and provide a date to submit a written proposal to the Fire Marshal’s Office that will include an anticipated date by which you can make the necessary corrections. Each written request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on the type of repair or installation needed. If the request is within a reasonable time limit, and a reasonable level of safety can be maintained, an extension to comply will generally be granted.

Once a Fire Inspector notifies you of a fire code violation, they will issue an inspection report requiring that the conditions be corrected immediately. A reinspection will be scheduled to verify compliance according to the Fire Inspector's schedule. This is typically 30 days.

Initially, the Fire Inspector will issue a Notice of Violation. The Notice will indicate a date by which the violation must be corrected. The Fire Marshal’s Office will make every effort to work with the building owner/occupant to bring the building into compliance without taking further legal action. However, if the building owner/occupant continues to resist efforts to correct a fire hazard, the owner or occupant may receive a citation.

A re-inspection becomes necessary when a violation is found that cannot be corrected at the time of the inspection. The reason for the re-inspection is to produce documentation showing that the violation has been corrected and that the building is in compliance with all applicable codes and laws.

Yes. Contact our office at (281) 291-5787 to request a courtesy inspection. We'll schedule a convenient time to stop by and talk about any concerns you may have.

The requirements for installing a fire alarm system are based on several factors found in current buildings (as well as those under construction). These factors include the type of building classification, the number of people that can be in the building (based on the maximum number of people), and the size of the building.

A fire alarm system is considered a life safety system. It is designed to operate automatically when either a manual pull station is activated or a smoke detector detects smoke. Upon activation, it will notify the building occupants by flashing lights and a loud sound to evacuate the building.

A fire alarm system is also one of the two most important fire protection systems that can be installed in a building to protect the contents, inventory, stock, merchandise, tools, and equipment, as well as the lives of those who work in and visit the building.

The requirements for installing a fire sprinkler system are based on several factors found in current buildings (as well as those under construction). These factors include the building classification, building size, and building contents.

A fire sprinkler system is considered a life safety system. It is designed to operate automatically when a certain amount of heat at the ceiling level activates a sprinkler head, causing water to flow. This water flow will either completely extinguish a fire or prevent it from spreading until the fire department arrives. National Fire Protection Association statistics indicate that in almost all cases, only one or two sprinkler heads activate when a fire actually occurs.

A fire sprinkler system is also one of the two most important fire protection systems that can be installed in a building to protect the contents, inventory, stock, merchandise, tools, and equipment, as well as the lives of those people who work or reside in the building and those who visit it.

No. There are no provisions in the International Fire Codes that allow a building to exist in an unsafe condition.

The occupant load for a building is the number of people who can be in a specific area of the building. It uses the actual square foot of a room or area multiplied by a factor indicated in the Fire Code for that type of room use. The total occupant load for a building is calculated by summing all the room/area occupant loads.

Certain types of rooms are exempt from the calculation, such as bathrooms, because they are usually occupied by someone from one of the other rooms.

The occupant load indicator in the Fire Code varies by room use; for example, an office area does not require as much room as a room used for manufacturing equipment. The seating area of a church with fixed pews differs from that of a restaurant.

You must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy or a change-of-occupancy permit. To get this certificate, you must call the City of Seabrook Permit Office at (281) 291-5669 and schedule an inspection for a Certificate of Occupancy.

An inspection is required because buildings are built based on the contents or operations to be performed within them. When the occupancy changes, the Fire Inspector must verify that the building's fire protection-related construction features are consistent with the new occupancy and its contents and operations. Please note that at the time, additional fire protection systems or fire-resistant construction may be required based on your operations. If the building meets the fire code requirements for your occupancy, the Certificate of Occupancy will be issued. If the building doesn't meet the specific Fire Code requirements, the Inspector will provide you with information on how to proceed and who to contact.

Various permits are required. A Permit allows the applicant to install or modify a specific fire protection system, storage tank, or other system outlined in the fire code. A comprehensive list of issued permits can be obtained by contacting the City of Seabrook Permit Office at (281) 291-5669.

Fees are currently assessed for permit issuance based on the type of application. Contact the City of Seabrook Permit Office at (281) 291-5669 for permit fees.

You can contact the City of Seabrook Permit Office at (281) 291-5669 to request an application, or visit the link below for online applications.

You may contact the City of Seabrook Permit Office at (281) 291-5669, or if specifically requiring a fire inspection only, you may contact the Seabrook Fire Marshal’s Office at (281) 291-5787

We are located at the Seabrook Volunteer Fire Department, 1850 E. Meyer Avenue, Seabrook, Texas 77586.