661—5.3 (17A,100) Building plan approval. Plans for the proposed construction of certain new buildings or additions, alterations or changes to existing buildings require the approval of the fire marshal. Plans for initial construction or alterations, changes, additions, renovations or remodeling of the following shall be submitted to the fire marshal for approval, unless the plans have been submitted to a local fire or building department for approval based upon compliance with the rules of the fire marshal or a local fire ordinance recognized in rule 661—201.4(100):
	  ● 	 Any educational building or facility serving kindergarten through twelfth grade,
	  ● 	 Any college or university building or facility,
	  ● 	 Any child care facility intended to serve seven or more children at one time,
	  ● 	 Any correctional facility, or
	  ● 	 Any gaming facility.
Plans for initial construction or alterations, changes, additions, renovations or remodeling of the following shall be submitted to the department of inspections and appeals and are not required to be submitted to the fire marshal:
	  ● 	 Adult day services, or
	  ● 	 Assisted living facilities.
Plans for initial construction or alterations, changes, additions, renovations or remodeling of any building or facility subject to the provisions of 661—Chapter 205 shall be submitted to the fire marshal.
	 5.3(1) An initial evaluation or review by the fire marshal may be obtained on preliminary plans by submitting the plan that shows the building outline with rooms, corridors and exits indicated. The fire marshal informally responds to such preliminary plan.
	 5.3(2) Building plan submittals.
	  a.   	 Working plans and specifications. When approval of building construction projects is required by this chapter or when requested by the submitter for other building construction projects covered by this chapter, one complete set of the final working plans and specifications shall be submitted to the fire marshal’s office. The submittal shall comply with Iowa Code chapters 542B and 544A. The submittal is examined and submitter is notified of the findings. If the working plans and specifications comply with this chapter, an approval letter shall be sent to the submitter.
	  b.   	 Shop drawings. Shop drawings, equipment specifications and supporting documentation for fire alarm and sprinkler systems may be submitted for review and approval. If the system is being installed as part of a project which has been designed by an engineer or architect, the submittal shall be approved by the responsible architect or engineer prior to submittal to the fire marshal. The submittal is examined and submitter is notified of the findings. If the submittal complies with the applicable standards, all copies are stamped approved and one copy is retained and the other copies, if any, are returned to the submitter. If only one copy of shop drawings, equipment specifications and supporting documentation is received, a letter shall be sent to the submitter in lieu of returning approved shop drawings.
	  c.   	 Changes. No changes shall be made to the approved final working plans and specifications or shop drawings unless the changes are submitted to and approved by the fire marshal’s office.
Exception:  Submittal of working plans and specifications or shop drawings is not required when the plans and specifications or shop drawings have been reviewed for compliance with this chapter by the chief, or an employee authorized by the chief, of a fire department organized under Iowa Code chapter 400.
Note:  Building, planning and design services are required to be in conformance with Iowa Code chapters 542B and 544A.
	 5.3(3) If the blueprints and specifications are not acceptable, the fire marshal’s office specialist notifies the submitter of the deficiencies and requests that the submitter either forward changes or request a review of the blueprints and specifications with the specialist.
	 5.3(4) If, after such review, the submitter disputes the specialist’s findings, the submitter may request that the disputed questions be referred to the national fire protection association or other similar generally recognized authority, at the submitter’s expense, and the specialist submits the blueprints and specifications to the national fire protection association or other similar generally recognized authority for their analysis.
	 5.3(5) If the submitter disputes the findings of the national fire protection association, the submitter may appeal to the fire marshal under the procedures of 661—Chapter 10.
	 5.3(6) For any construction project requiring approval of the state fire marshal, construction shall not begin until such approval has been received.
Note:  It is recommended that approval of the fire marshal be obtained prior to the release of bid documents.