FIRE & BUILDING CODE INSPECTOR 1* - 10202026-82088

Full-time position with the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance in Nashville, Davidson County. Opening 10/20/2026; closes 10/26/2026.

About the role

Under close supervision, performs fire and building codes inspection work of average difficulty. This is the entry-level class in the Fire and Building Code Inspector series; incumbents inspect building structures for fire hazards and code violations. The class is flexibly staffed with Fire and Building Code Inspector 2. An appointee will be reclassified to the next higher class after successful completion of a mandatory one-year training period; inadequate or marginal performance during training will result in automatic 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 (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 determine violations.
• Learn to inspect blasting sites for compliance with laws; evaluate materials, storage, signage, and vibrations.
• Learn to perform fire code compliance follow-up inspections and may testify under oath about inspection details.
• 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.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.

Substitution of a Specific Associate's Degree for the Required Bachelor'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 be substituted for the required bachelor's degree.

Substitution of Experience for Education: 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 to a maximum of four years:

• Fire prevention or suppression
• Engineering or architecture
• Reviewing architectural or engineering plans to determine 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
• Any skilled work in drafting, carpentry, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, inspection
• Other related building maintenance or construction trades (experience equivalent to one year of full-time work in one or a combination of the above fields may substitute for one year of the required education)

Alternative Combination: Graduation from an accredited college, university, or technical institute with an associate's degree and experience equivalent to one year of full-time work in one or a combination of the fields listed above.

Special qualifications

• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator license.

Competencies

Core Competencies: Tech Savvy, Communicates Effectively, Decision Quality, Self Development, Interpersonal Savvy.

Knowledges: Customer and Personal Service, Design, Mechanical, Mathematics, Systems Analysis, Time Management, Coordination, Reading Comprehension.

Abilities: Written Comprehension, Speech Clarity, Problem Sensitivity, Speech Recognition.

Tools & equipment

• Personal computer, smart phone, 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

Driver standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Include your driver's license information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application. Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.

Pay

Salary: $3,667.00 per month ($44,004.00 annually).