Inspections are typically done, or administered, by the LAFC depending on the resource available to a municipality. While municipalities are required to carry out inspection, it is not automatically the Local Assistant’s responsibility to perform this task. The council does have the option of authorizing other persons in addition to the Local Assistant to exercise some of the powers of a Local Assistant and carry out a regular system of inspections.
However the majority of municipalities, the Local Assistant carries out fire safety inspections, due to the powers that are automatically extended to the LAFC under the Fire Services Act.
If the inspections are outsourced to a contractor, the contractor does not have to be appointed as LAFC to perform such inspections. The Fire Commissioner recommends the LAFC use a “letter of introduction” which spells out the role of the contractor when performing these inspections. Fire department personnel can perform inspections without being a LAFC.
The Fire Commissioner recommends the use of a recognized fire safety personnel, such as a ASTTBC certified technician, to perform the inspection and maintenance of fire safety equipment. If the technical resource is not available in your community, you can reference their standard on their website:
Although the powers to write a provincial fire order can technically be delegated to a contractor, the Fire Commissioner recommends only the LAFC writes the order to maintain the Provincial authority.
If the LAFC is writing an order based on a contractor’s findings from an inspection, the LAFC should also personally inspect the building prior to writing the order. See section on Issuing Orders.