11 NCAC 05A .0512. STANDARDS AND POLICIES

(a)  The NCFSRS shall be used by the OSFM when the OSFM inspects fire departments for the purpose of determining Fire Insurance District Ratings Classifications. Each fire department shall assure the response of at least four members and one engine to all fires and fire alarms in structures.  The chief may be one of the four responding members.  Response of a fire department, as primary first alarm department, to a fire or fire alarm in a structure within its established fire insurance district with less than the minimum required engine or manpower shall be considered by the OSFM to be a Non-Response.  Any department determined by the OSFM to have two or more "Non-Response" records shall be placed by the OSFM on probation for a period of 12 months.  A fire department on probation shall submit quarterly to the OSFM inspector all fire and fire alarm in structure response records for the next 12 consecutive calendar months that show there have been no additional "non-responses" within that 12 month period.  If the fire department fails to submit the quarterly report, the insurance district for the fire department shall be designated a "Class 10" by the OSFM.

(b)  After evaluation of data collected during an NCFSRS inspection, if the results of the inspection indicate that a fire department's ratings classification must be reduced, OSFM shall notify the city or county manager or fire department chief or county fire marshal in writing of the reduction in ratings classification.  The notification shall include:

(1)           Hydrant flow tests and hauled water evaluations.

(2)           Ratings classification details.

(3)           Recommendations for improvement.

(c)  If the city or county manager or fire department chief or county fire marshal fails to acknowledge receipt with 30 days after receipt of the notification, the OSFM shall reduce the ratings classification of the fire department.

(d)  If the city or county manager or fire department chief or county fire marshal acknowledges receipt of the notification to the OSFM within 30 days after receipt of the notification and advises the OSFM that the fire department wants to retain its ratings classification, the city or county manager or fire department chief or county fire marshal shall consult with the individual who conducted the NCFSRS inspection and develop a plan to correct the deficiencies that caused the reduction in ratings classification.

(e)  Within 90 days after the consultation, the city or county manager or fire department chief or county fire marshal shall submit the plan to the OSFM which shall determine whether the plan is satisfactory to cover the deficiencies.  The OSFM shall notify the city or county manager or fire department chief or county fire marshal in writing when the OSFM approves the plan.

(f)  The fire department shall have one year after the receipt of the approval to complete the plan to correct the deficiencies that caused the reduction in ratings classification.

(g)  The sharing or borrowing of equipment between or among fire departments or between or among stations within a fire department, the falsifying of documents, or engaging in any other act of misrepresentation, for the purpose of falsely satisfying the apparatus/equipment grading score of a NCFSRS inspection is prohibited.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 58‑2-40; 58-36-10(3); 58-86-25;

Eff. October 1, 2006.