Fire Prevention & Code Enforcement

Reporting Out-of-Service Fire Protection Systems

Property owners and responsible parties are required to notify the Fire Marshal’s Office any time a fire protection system—such as a fire alarm, sprinkler or suppression system—is taken out of service, whether due to maintenance, malfunction or other reasons. Prompt reporting ensures appropriate safety measures can be taken to protect occupants and property during the outage.

Use the links provided below to report an out-of-service system. The online form will guide you step by step through the reporting process. Accurate and timely information helps us ensure continued life safety and code compliance while systems are being restored.

• Report an Impaired Fire Protection System
• Report a Impaired Fire Protections System as Restored

Fire Prevention Inspections

A Fire Prevention Inspection is a proactive evaluation conducted by the Bryan Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office to ensure that commercial properties, multi-family residential buildings, and other regulated occupancies comply with adopted fire and life safety codes.

These inspections are designed to reduce the risk of fire, protect occupants, support first responder safety, and preserve property. By identifying hazards before an emergency occurs, Fire Prevention Inspections play a critical role in our community’s overall risk reduction strategy.

Inspection Frequency and Cycles

Inspection frequency is based on occupancy classification and risk level in accordance with adopted codes and local policy. Higher-risk occupancies are inspected more frequently than lower-risk occupancies. Typical inspection cycles include:

Annual Inspections

High-risk occupancies such as:

• Assembly occupancies, restaurants, bars, nightclubs (Group A)
•  Educational facilities (Group E)
• Daycare facilities (Groups I-4 & E)
• Healthcare occupancies (Groups I, and R-4)
• Hotels/Motels (Group R-1)
• High-hazard and industrial facilities (Group H) 

Biennial Inspections, Every Two Years

Moderate-risk occupancies such as:

• Large Mercantile (Group M +5,000 square feet)
• Large Business Offices (Group B +5,000 square feet)
• Moderate Hazard Manufacturing (Group F1)
• Moderate Hazard Warehouses, Storage & Repair Garages (Group S-1)
• Multi-family Residential (Group R-2)

Triennial Inspections, Every Three Years

Lower-risk occupancies such as:

• Small Business Offices (Group B)
• Small Mercantile (Group M)
• Low Hazard Factories (Group F-2)
• Low Hazard Non-combustible Storage/Parking Garages (Group S-2)

Note: Inspection cycles may be adjusted based on hazard level, compliance history, complaints, change of use or occupancy, or fire protection system impairments. The information provided above is intended as general guidance. Final occupancy classifications and inspection frequency determinations are established in accordance with the specific criteria and definitions set forth in the adopted International Code Council, ICC, codes and applicable local amendments.

Annual Inspections for State of Texas Licensing Requirements

Certain facilities are required by the State of Texas to obtain annual fire safety inspections as part of their licensing or registration process. These inspections are conducted at the request of the facility. These inspections are often required by state regulatory agencies such as the Texas Health and Human Services or the Texas Department of State Health Services as part of their licensing process.

Examples of facilities commonly subject to state-required annual inspections include:

• Daycare and child care facilities
• Foster homes and group homes
• Assisted living facilities
• Healthcare-related occupancies
• Educational and institutional facilities
• Certain residential care and treatment occupancies

Documentation and Reporting

Upon completion of the inspection, the Fire Marshal’s Office will provide documentation that complies with state reporting requirements indicating compliance status. It is the responsibility of the facility operator to submit this documentation to the appropriate state agency as part of their licensing requirements.

Inspection Fees

Annual inspections conducted specifically for State of Texas licensing purposes are subject to an inspection fee. These inspections are separate from routine fire prevention inspection cycles.

The current fee schedule is available on the Fire Marshal’s Office webpage.

Tier II Reporting

Facilities in Texas that store hazardous chemicals above certain threshold quantities are required to submit an annual Tier II Hazardous Chemical Inventory Report in accordance with the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Section 312.

Tier II reporting is typically required when a facility stores:

• Hazardous chemicals at 10,000 pounds or more, or
• Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) at or above the Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ) established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Tier II reports provide information about the types, quantities and locations of hazardous chemicals stored on site and assist local emergency responders with emergency planning and response activities. Tier II reports must be submitted annually by March 1 for the previous calendar year.

Reports are typically submitted to:

• The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
• The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
• The local fire department having jurisdiction over the facility

Facilities that are required to submit Tier II reports are also typically required to comply with the Hazardous Materials Inventory Statement (HMIS) and Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP) requirements of the International Fire Code when hazardous materials exceed the Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs). While much of the information contained in the Tier II report is similar to the information required for the HMIS and HMMP, the fire code documents include additional safety, site planning and emergency response information that must also be provided. Applicants should review the City of Bryan hazardous materials submittal requirements to ensure all applicable documentation is provided.

Submitting Tier II Reports to the Bryan Fire Department

If you need to submit a Tier II report to the Bryan Fire Department, please email the report in PDF format to: tier2@bryantx.gov.