FIRE & BUILDING CODE INSPECTOR 1* - 08182026-80103

Location: Chattanooga, TN – Department of Commerce & Insurance, Hamilton County

Salary: $3,631.00 monthly ($43,572.00 annually) – Full-Time

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree.
• Substitution with an Associate’s Degree: Graduation from an accredited college, university, or technical institute with an associate’s degree in fire-protection engineering technology, fire science, engineering technology, and/or construction technology may substitute for the required bachelor’s degree.
• Substitution with Experience: Qualifying full-time experience in one or a combination of the following areas may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis (up to four years):
  • Fire prevention or suppression
  • Engineering or architecture
  • Reviewing architectural or engineering plans for compliance with fire and building safety codes
  • Construction project management
  • Arson investigation of commercial or residential building structures
  • Fire or building inspections or design for buildings under construction
  • Skilled work in drafting, carpentry, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, inspection, or other related building maintenance or construction trades
• Graduation from an accredited college, university, or technical institute with an associate’s degree and one year of full-time experience in any of the fields listed above may also qualify.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator license. For the past five years, the candidate’s driver record must not include:

• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Reckless driving
• License suspension for moving violations
• More than four moving violations

About the Role

This is an entry-level position in the Fire and Building Code Inspector series. Under close supervision, the incumbent is responsible for fire and building codes inspection work of average difficulty. The role involves inspecting building structures for fire hazards and code violations.

This position is part of a flexible staffing structure. After successful completion of a mandatory one-year training period, the employee will be reclassified to the next level in the series. Inadequate or marginal performance during the training period may result in demotion or termination.

Responsibilities

• Train to inspect and verify the installation and testing of fire protection and detection systems, as well as major building components (e.g., foundations, floors, walls, roofs, mechanical, and electrical systems) for compliance with state laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Learn to conduct annual fire and building code compliance inspections and investigate complaints to identify violations.
• Learn to inspect blasting sites for compliance with laws, including evaluating materials, storage, signage, and vibrations.
• Learn to perform follow-up inspections for fire code compliance and testify under oath about inspection details when required.
• Learn to interpret codes for external customers, explain violations, and recommend necessary changes.
• Learn to review architectural and engineering plans for compliance and investigate complaints to determine potential violations.
• Learn to obtain required fire safety certifications and conduct meetings on fire safety and prevention.
• Learn to calculate building area and occupant load, monitor blasting vibrations, communicate with stakeholders, and gather corrective action plans.

Skills and Competencies

Knowledges: Customer and personal service, design, mechanical skills, mathematics, systems analysis, time management, coordination, reading comprehension.

Abilities: Written comprehension, speech clarity, problem sensitivity, speech recognition.

Competencies: Tech savvy, effective communication, decision quality, self-development, interpersonal savvy.

Tools & Equipment: Personal computer, smartphone, electronic devices, telephone, fax/copy machine, printer/scanner, calculator, camera, flashlight, decibel reader, tape measure, engineer and architect rules, pitch level, ground fault circuit interrupter, fire safety equipment, personal protective equipment.