Florida Fire Prevention Bureau First in Nation to Achieve Fire Prevention and Life Safety Accreditation

The Florida Division of State Fire Marshal Bureau of Fire Prevention is the first department in the nation to achieve Fire Prevention and Life Safety Department Accreditation from the International Accreditation Service (IAS). IAS accreditation verified that the department is operating with the highest legal, ethical and technical standards and provides formal recognition of the department's competence to administer an effective system of code enforcement, fire prevention and life safety programs for the benefit of the communities they serve.

"We are honored to receive this prestigious accreditation which represents the hard work and commitment by our staff in the Bureau of Fire Prevention," said Division of State Fire Marshal Director Julius Halas. "We are extremely proud of our fire prevention personnel who deliver these fire protection and life safety services to the citizens of Florida."

"As the first to achieve this IAS accreditation, the Florida Bureau of Fire Prevention demonstrated through a formal, independent verification process that it uses best practices and meets recognized standards," said IAS President Chuck Ramani.

IAS and the Center for Public Safety Excellence partnered to create the IAS accreditation program for fire prevention and life safety departments. IAS accreditation conveys formal recognition to departments of their technical competence to administer an effective system of code enforcement, fire prevention, life safety programs and other functions of the fire marshals' offices.

The accreditation is based on the IAS Accreditation Criteria for Fire Prevention Departments/Code Enforcement Agencies (AC426). The accreditation process included a review of the bureau's policies and procedures, and an onsite review by an IAS evaluation team. The IAS team evaluated the division against the performance requirements in ten primary categories including governance and administration, risk assessment, goals and objectives, finance, program activity, physical resources, human resources, training and competency, essential resources and external relations.

Pictured presenting the award to Halas (center) are Ramani (left) and Ronny Coleman, chair of the IAS Technical Advisory Council for Fire Prevention Departments. The plaque noted the division as being the first to achieve IAS Fire Prevention and Life Safety Department Accreditation.

For more information on this IAS accreditation program please email info@iasonline.org, call 866-477-4422 ext. 5275, or visit the IAS website at www.iasonline.org/fire.

Greensboro, North Carolina, First in State to Achieve Building Department Accreditation

The City of Greensboro, N.C., Development Services Division is the first jurisdiction in the state to achieve accreditation of its building department by IAS, which provides an independent assessment and verification that the department is operating at the highest legal, ethical, and technical standards.

"We are very proud that Greensboro is the first city in the state of North Carolina to earn accreditation of its building department," said Rashad Young, Greensboro City Manager. "This accreditation is a testament that the DSD is operating at a high technical level that demonstrates the expertise of our staff and our dedication to adding to the quality of life in our community."

"This is a notable, professional achievement that demonstrates the city of Greensboro’s commitment to public safety," Ramani said. "It also is a testament to the city’s initiative to provide a high level of service in an efficient and measurable manner."

The Greensboro DSD provides permitting, construction plan review, electrical, plumbing and mechanical plan review, soil erosion, and a technical review committee that offers pre-submittal meetings for customers. At the time of the IAS full onsite assessment, the Division employed 16.5 inspectors, 5.5 plan reviewers, and 2 permit technicians. In 2010, the department issued a total of 4076 permits and conducted 22,180 inspections. "Going through this accreditation process has helped us to increase department efficiency and elevate our professional reputation. Potential businesses will also be more willing to work with a nationally accredited building department,” said Greensboro Director of Engineering & Inspections Butch Simmons.

The IAS Building Department Accreditation Program is based on the IAS Accreditation Criteria for Building Departments/Code Enforcement Agencies (AC251) and the Code Council’s International Building Code. Greensboro was assessed across 12 distinct categories of accreditation criteria including basic jurisdictional information, department staff, permitting, budget, construction codes, plan reviews, professional credentials/licenses, inspections, certificates of occupancy, on-site evaluations, annual reports, and complaints/appeals. IAS conducted a pre-evaluation review in February 2010 and a full on-site evaluation in April 2010. The IAS on-site teams also visited construction sites to appraise the performance of the city’s inspection process. IAS evaluators assessed work activities in the department’s offices, reviewed documents and policies, and interviewed department customers, staff, and city officials. The department received accreditation on October 18, 2011. The IAS Certificate of Accreditation for the City of Greensboro Development Services Division may be viewed on the IAS website.

Pictured presenting the award to Greensboro Development Services Department Chief Mechanical & Plumbing Inspector Marshall Perry (center) are Ramani (left) and IAS Board of Directors Chair John Barrios.

Greensboro is the third largest city in North Carolina covering over 126 square miles and with 269,666 residents according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau. For more information about IAS or the Building Department Accreditation Program, visit www.iasonline.org or call 1-866-427-4422.