These instructions apply to all persons seeking to develop real property under the International Building Code in the Chaffee County Fire Prevention District. Structures built under the International Residential Code are not reviewed by Chaffee County Fire. Click here to see if your project is located in the Chaffee County Fire Protection District. Toggle "fire districts" on the menu to the left of the screen and toggle off the other maps. If your project is located in the town of Salida or the South Ark Fire Protection District, you should reach out to the Salida Fire Department for assistance with your building review. 

 

Municipal Building Reviews: 

1. Poncha Springs.  In Poncha Springs, the site plan review process and the building review process are combined into one review. This means that you will submit the information required below in one application along with your site plan. This application will be forwarded to Chaffe County Fire by the town of Poncha Springs, so do not send it to us directly. The fee for the site plan review will be added to the building review fee since the reviews are combined. 
   1. Applicable Law. The International Fire Code 2021 applies. 
      1. Required Information:  Include the information specified below to facilitate our review. 
         1. Occupancy and Use R: 
            1. If an F, S, or M occupancy is proposed, we need to know if any hazardous materials will be at issue, as defined in the 2021 IFC, that may require additional fire safety systems. 
            2. If an F, M, or S occupancy is proposed, we need to determine if any materials to be stored or displayed will be high-piled combustibles, within the definition of the 2021 IFC, which may require additional fire safety systems. 
            3. If an A occupancy is proposed, we will need a layout of seating/tables etc. 
            4. If an H occupancy is proposed, we will need to know the names and quantities of all hazardous materials at issue. 
            5. Any spray rooms or spray booths need to be identifed, and any combustible dust or combustible fibers being produced in processing need to be called out. 
            6. Any separated fire areas need to be clearly delineated showing fire walls and/or fire barriers. 
            7. A total occupant load needs to be calculated as well as a breakdown of occupant load for each occupancy type shown in the plans. 
         2. Building Services Review: 
            1. Any security gates or barriers must be identified. Note, a separate knox box may be required to provide Fire Department access through security gates or barriers. 
            2. Fuel fired appliances must be identified and spec sheet provided. 
            3. Emergency and standby power systems must be identified and spec sheet provided. 
            4. Mechanical refrigeration systems must be identified and spec sheet provided.
            5. Elevators must be identified an spec sheets provided. 
            6. Stationary storage battery systems must be identified and spec sheets provided. 
            7. Commercial kitchen hoods must be identifed and spec sheets provided. 
         3. Fire Protection Systems and Equipment Review: 
            1.  Sprinkler/Suppression Systems. If a sprinkler system is intended, that needs to be noted on the plans along with the type: NFPA 13 or 13R. The state of Colorado or a certified third party will perform acceptance testing of the sprinkler system. This is a separate review process with different timelines and fees associated, and the Chaffee Fire Protection District’s involvement is limited to confirming that the State of Colorado or a certified third party has completed their review and acceptance.
            2. Fire Alarm. If a Fire alarm system is intended, that should be noted on the plans and fire alarm plans will need to be separately submitted to the Chaffee County Fire Protection District for review and the fee paid per the fee schedule below. 
            3. Fire extinguisher locations should be shown on the plans, generally one per 75 feet of travel. 
            4. Any alternative fire extinguishing systems should be identified and spec sheets provided. 
            5. Any standpipes should be identified and spec sheets provided. 
            6. Any smoke control systems should be identified and spec sheets provided. 
            7. Any fire pumps should be identified and spec sheets provided. 
            8. Note, emergency responder radio coverage will be tested after construction of the structure. If our radios do not function inside the structure, signal boosters may be required to be installed. This is a rare occurrence in Chaffee County. 
         4. Means of Egress: 
            1. Natural paths of travel need to be drawn at right angles to the exit discharge or right of way. 
            2. In A occupancies, chairs and tables must be shown for this review to analyze aisle width. 
            3. In B & M occupancies, any aisles must be shown as well as merchandise pads. 
            4. A spec sheet for exit door hardware must be provided. Direction of door swing must be shown. 
            5. There are no local amendments to exit signage or emergency lighting requirements. 
            6. Locations for exit markings and egress illumination must be shown.  
2. Buena Vista. In Buena Vista, the site plan review process and the building review process are separated into  different reviews. This means that you will submit the information required in a separate and later stage from the site plan information; the Town of Buena Vista will guide you through that process. This application will be forwarded to Chaffe County Fire by the town of Buena Vista, so do not send it to us directly. The fee for the site plan review will generally be billed separately from the building review fee since the reviews are separated. Otherwise, the information required is the same as the above.

Unincorporated Chaffee County Building Review. 

1. Unincorporated Chaffee County.  In unincorporated Chaffee County, the site plan review process and the building review process are combined into one review. This means that you will submit the information required in one application along with your site plan. This application will be forwarded to Chaffe County Fire by the Chaffee County Building Department, so do not send it to us directly. The fee for the site plan review will be added to the building review fee since the reviews are combined. Otherwise the information required is the same as the above. 

 

Fees. 

1. A Occupancies- Any A occupancy over 10k sf shall have $0.025 per additional sf added to the cost below. 
   1. A-1  $325
   2. A-2  $325
   3. A-3  $325
   4. A-4  $300
   5. A-5  $250
2. B Occupancies- Any B occupancy over 10k sf shall have $0.025 per additional sf added to the cost below. 
   1. B  $250
3. E Occupancies- Any E occupancy over 10k sf shall have $0.025 per additional sf added to the cost below. 
   1. E  $325
4. F Occupancies - Any F occupancy over 10k sf shall have $0.025 per additional sf added to the cost below. 
   1. F-1  $350
   2. F-2 $250
5. H Occupancies - Any H occupancy over 10k sf shall have $0.025 per additional sf added to the cost below. 
   1. H-1  $375
   2. H-2  $350
   3. H-3  $350
   4. H-4  $250
   5. H-5  $250
6. I Occupancies - Any I occupancy over 10k sf shall have $0.025 per additional sf added to the review cost. 
   1. I-1  $350
   2. I-2  $375
   3. I-3  $375
   4. I-4  $350
7. M Occupancies - Any M occupancy over 10k sf shall have $0.025 per additional sf added to the review cost. 
   1. M  $250 
8. R Occupancies- Any R occupancy over 10k sf shall have $0.025 per additional sf added to the review cost. 
   1. R-1 (0-10 units)  $325
   2. R-1 (11+ units)    $375
   3. R-2 (0-10 units)  $325
   4. R-2 (11+ units)    $375
   5. R-3 (0-10 units)   $325 (note, this is only for R-3 homes built under the IBC rather than IRC, a very rare circumstance. Generally, Chaffee County Fire does not perform a building review of R-3 structures)
   6. R-4                              $250
9. S Occupancies - Any S occupancy over 10k sf shall have $0.025 per additional sf added to the review cost below. 
   1. S-1  $325
   2. S-2   $250
10. Fire Alarm System Plan Review - Fee is separate from teh building plan review fee. These fees include (1) plan review, issuance of fire alarm permit, a rough-in inspection, and acceptance test. Additional reviews or inspections shall be charged at a $50 hourly rate. 
    1. 10 or fewer devices   $150
    2. 11-20 devices                $200
    3. 21-50 devices                $250 
    4. 50+ devices                      $300 + $5 per additional devie. 
11. Commercial Kitchen Hood System Acceptance Test
    1. $100 in addition to any other plan review fees.