North Carolina
Chief 101
Fire Department
Ratings and Inspections
Chief 101 Class
 This class consists of several programs
that together will satisfy the 9S inspection
criteria as specified by the North Carolina
Administrative Code. The primary
objective of the course is to inform
current and future chief officers of the
various aspects and complexities
surrounding the operations and
organization of North Carolina fire
departments.
Program Objectives
 Understand the basis of the procedures
that govern a ratings and response
inspection.
 Describe the various aspects of the
response rating system as adopted in
North Carolina.
 Recognize various sources of information
that will assist departments in preparing
for an inspection.
Ratings and Certification
 Consequences of noncompliance:
– Insurance Premiums
– Pension Funds
– Fireman Relief Fund
– State and Federal Fireman’s Death
Benefits
– Grants
Status of N.C. Fire Districts
2009
2014
Fire Departments……………………..1280……..1249
Fire Districts…………………………..1547……..1539
Municipal Districts………………….368……....373
Rural District……………………....1179….….1166
Non-Profit Corporations……………….911……. 1048
Municipal Departments………………..367……....373
County Departments………………...…...2……........2
Fire Protection Definitions
 Fire Insurance District
(G.S. 153A-233)
– An area outside corporate limits with
boundaries approved by the County
Board of Commissioners for fire
insurance purposes.
Fire Protection Definitions
 Rural Fire Protection District
(G.S. 69-25)
– An area outside corporate limits with
boundaries designated by petition of
35% of the resident free-holders in
which a fire tax not to exceed $0.15
per $100.00 valuation has been
authorized by the resident qualified
voters within the district.
Fire Protection Definitions
 Fire Service District
(G.S. 153A-300)
– An area outside corporate limits with
boundaries approved by the County
Board of Commissioners in which a fire
tax is levied without referendum for fire
protection services. Such district or
districts may include territory within
corporate limits if approved by
resolution of the municipal governing
body.
Fire Insurance Districts
 Fire Insurance Districts must be properly
established and documented.
– For N.C. 9S Inspection purposes, only
properly established Fire Insurance
Districts can receive certification.
– Any Fire Insurance District not properly
established must have corrections
completed before inspection results
can be issued.
Fire Department
Ownership
 Who actually “owns” the fire department?
–
Is it part of a municipal government?
–
Is it a non-profit organization?
–
Who/What is the governing body of the
fire department?
Fire Department
Ownership
 Who pays the fire department bills?
 Who carries the worker’s compensation
insurance on the fire department
personnel?
 Who signs the annual certification roster
for the department?
 Is there a contract to provide fire
protection services?
Fire Department
Ownership
 What is the organization’s legal name?
 If it is a non-profit, what is the name of
the organization as it appears in its
Charter/Articles of Incorporation?
 Is it the same name as on any contracts
and legal documents of the organization?
 Who is the legal ‘head’ of the fire
department?
Fire Department
Ownership
 Does the organization’s legal name:
– Match the name on the apparatus
titles?
– Match the name displayed on the
apparatus and vehicles owned by the
organization?
9S / 9E Rating
Requirements
Department
of
 Sample of Fire State
of the
North
Secretary of State
Carolina
Department
Charter in N.C. To all whom these presents shall come, Greetings:
Thad Eure,
I,
Secretary of State of the State
ofNorth Carolina, do hereby certify the following and
hereto attached ( 3 sheets to be a true copy of
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF
CASTALIA COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, INC.
(Which changed its name to: Castalia volunteer Fire Department, Inc.)
and the probates thereon, the original of which was
filed in this office on the 18th day of September 19 86 ,
after having been found to conform to law.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed my official seal.
18th
Done in Office , at Raleigh, this
day
of September in the year of our Lord 19 86 .
Secretary of State
By
Deputy Secretary of State
9S / 9E Inspections Charter
 Review your charter regularly with focus
on:
– Article 1, which establishes the legal
name of the organization.
– Article 3, which establishes the
purpose for which the corporation is
organized and what you are expected
to provide and do.
– Maintaining the appropriate language
used to describe the workings of the
organization.
9S / 9E Inspections Contract
 Contract with County and/or Municipality:
– Needed by a non-profit organization to
provide service to a fire insurance district.
– Required signatures: One of the following
combinations depending on organization.
• County Manager or the Chairman of the
County Board of Commissioners plus
Clerk to the Board.
• City or Town Manager / Administrator or
Mayor plus the Town / City Clerk.
– President of the Board.
– Secretary of the Fire Department
9S / 9E Inspections Contract
9S / 9E Inspections Verification
9S / 9E Inspections Verification
 Verification by city/town:
– Needed by a municipal fire
department stating that the
department is in fact an entity of the
municipality.
– See example on following slide for
wording and signatures.
9S / 9E Inspections Verification
WHEREAS, The Volunteer Fire Department of the Town of ______________ is a
part of the town’s municipal government and serves as an agency of the town; and
WHEREAS, The Volunteer Fire Department of the Town of ______________ has
requested confirmation of this Agency relationship; and
WHEREAS, This Agency’s relationship is longstanding and generally
acknowledged.
NOW THEREFORE, Be it resolved, that the Town of _______________ does hereby
confirm this Agency’s relationship and does verify by this Resolution that relationship.
Adopted this __________ day of ________________________, 19___.
ATTEST:
______________________________
Clerk
________________________________
Mayor
9S / 9E Inspections Designation
 Designation of Insurance District:
– Needed for rural fire insurance
districts.
– See example on following slide for
language.
9S / 9E Inspections Designation
Taken from the minutes of the _______________ County Board of
Commissioners on ___________________, ____.
The _______________ presented a written description and map of the
________________ Fire District which are set out in full in the minutes. He
indicated that the Commissioners needed to approve the description and map
prior to certification and map had been approved by the NC Department of
Insurance. Commissioner _________________ made the motion to approve
the map and description of the ________________ Fire District which was
seconded by Commissioner ________________ and passed by unanimous
vote.
___________________________
_____________________________
County
Clerk to the Board
(Affix County Seal Here)
9S / 9E Inspections - Map
 GIS map or DOT map with written
description.
– Written descriptions no longer needed
if approved GIS mapping is provided.
9S / 9E Inspections - Map
 Example of GIS Map
9S / 9E Inspections Personnel
 Current NCSFA Certification Roster of
Members meeting these requirements.
– 20 firefighters for main station:
• 18 firefighters.
• 2 traffic control.
– For each sub-station 8 additional
firefighters are required.
– See example of official NCSFA form.
9S / 9E Inspections Personnel
 Junior Members and / or those members
less than 18 years of age:
– Will NOT be credited as part of the 20
/ 8 member roster.
– Will NOT be credited towards
minimum 12 / 4 member average
response requirement.
North Carolina State Firemen’s Association
P.O. Box 188
Farmville, NC 27878
800-253-4733
 Sample of
NCSFA
Roster
Signature
Page.
2003
ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF FIREMEN
North Carolina General Statute 58-86-25 requires that all certified fire departments submit a
complete roster of its eligible firemen annually. This certified list determines eligibility for
the $50,000 line-of-duty death benefit as well as eligibility for Pension Fund credit. Failure
to accurately and promptly report this information is violation of G.S. 58-86-25 and will
automatically result in a loss or reduction of benefits.
REPORT BY FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF
As Fire Department Chief, I have determined that the attached roster is a valid and accurate list
of all eligible firemen, within the definition contained in North Carolina General Statute 58-8625.
Name of Fire Department __________________________________________________
Fire Department Mailing Address ____________________________________________
City_______________________________ State_____________ Zip Code___________
Name of Fire Chief__________________________________________________
(Please print or type)
Signature of Fire Chief_______________________________________________
Date______________________Daytime Telephone _(_____)______________________
County__________________________
CERTIFICATION BY GOVERNING BODY
Pursuant to G.S. 58-86-25, the governing body of a fire department operated by (i) a county is
the county board of commissioners, (ii) a city is the city council, (iii) a sanitary district is the
sanitary district board, (iv) a corporation, whether profit or nonprofit, is the corporation's board
of directors and (v) any other entity is that group designated by the board. Therefore, in our
capacity as the governing body of the above-named fire department, we certify and find that the
 Sample of
NCSFA
Roster.
9S / 9E Inspections –
Service Test
 Service Test on Engine.
– Must be signed.
– See example on following slide.
Fire Department_______________________________________________________________
Date of Test: ____/_____/_____
Apparatus M anufacturer:__________________________________________ Year M odel:________
Depart. Apparatus #:______________
M anufacturer’s M ake and M odel #: ______________________________________ M anufacturer’s Serial #:__________________________
Engine M ake & M odel: _______________________ Engine Displacement: __________ Base H.P.: _______@ ____ Gov. RPM
Pump M ake & M odel: ________________________Pump Serial #:_______________ Torque: _________@_________RPM
Gear Ratio: (Engine to Pump) @ : 150 psi. ____________ 200 psi. _____________ 250 psi. _____________
Transmission Gear Used for Test: 150 psi. ____________ 200 psi. _____________ 250 psi. _____________
Pressure Control Test :
(P=PASS F=Fail)
100% @ 150psi___, 100% @ 90psi___, 50% @ 250psi___
Test Requirements: (100 %) __________________ GPM @ 150 psi. Net Pump Pressure
Test perform ed by:_______________________
Test Requirements: (70 %) __________________ GPM @ 200 psi. Net Pump Pressure
Test Location:____________________________
Test Requirements: (50 %) __________________ GPM @ 250 psi. Net Pump Pressure
Elevation:_____ Water Tem p.:___ Air Tem p.:___
Test Conducted From
Draft
Hydrant
Suction Hose Size: _____ Inches Length: ______ Feet Lift: _____Feet
Time to Obtain Suction: _______ Seconds
No Load Governed Speed: Specified - _____ RPM and Recorded - _____ RPM
Vacuum Test: drop in 5 min. :_____ Inches
Location on Apparatus where Speed Check Readings are taken: _________________ Taken with:___________________________
Counter Ratio: ENGINE or PUM P: 1 To ______
Tank to Pump Flow Test:________Gallons Delivered at _______GPM
(circle one)
First Test Layout:___________________
TIME
Tip Size:_____" Nozzle Pressure:______psi GPM:______ (Parallel, Series, Single Stage)
COUNTER
ENGINE
TEST
ACTUAL
SUCTION
NET PUMP
PITOT
PUMP
SPEED
TACH.
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
SUCTION
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
FROM
SPEED
GAUGE
GAUGE
IN Hg.
(CORRECTED)
SPEED
APPARATUSAPPARATUS
GPM
OIL
ENGINE
PRESSURE
COOLANT
TEMP.
COUNTER
TOTALS
AVERAGE
Excess Power Test: _____ GPM @ _____psi. Net Pump Press.; Counter Pump Speed______RPM , Counter Engine Speed______RPM
Apparatus Tach. Speed______RPM
All Test Results are Accurate and Correct:________________________________________-Signature____________________________________________-Title
Second Test Layout:___________________
TIME
Tip Size:_____" Nozzle Pressure:______psi GPM:______ (Parallel, Series, Single Stage)
COUNTER
ENGINE
TEST
ACTUAL
SUCTION
NET PUMP
PITOT
PUMP
SPEED
TACH.
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
SUCTION
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
FROM
SPEED
GAUGE
GAUGE
IN Hg.
(CORRECTED)
SPEED
APPARATUSAPPARATUS
GPM
OIL
ENGINE
PRESSURE
COOLANT
TEMP.
COUNTER
TOTALS
AVERAGE
Third Test Layout:___________________
TIME
ENGINE
TEST
ACTUAL
SUCTION
NET PUMP
PITOT
PUMP
SPEED
TACH.
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
SUCTION
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
FROM
SPEED
GAUGE
GAUGE
IN Hg.
(CORRECTED)
SPEED
COUNTER
TOTALS
Tip Size:_____" Nozzle Pressure:______psi GPM:______ (Parallel, Series, Single Stage)
COUNTER
APPARATUSAPPARATUS
GPM
OIL
ENGINE
PRESSURE
COOLANT
TEMP.
9S / 9E Inspections –
Weight Tickets
 Certified weight tickets with following:
– Apparatus owner (fire dept. name).
– Apparatus number.
– Date weight obtained.
– Gross weight of apparatus.
– Certification (of scales) stamp on ticket.
– Signature of weighmaster (person
conducting the weight measurement).
9S / 9E Inspections –
Weight Tickets
9S / 9E Inspections –
Clothing Form
 Personnel Protective Clothing Form.
– See example on following slide.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FORM
I, AC Daniels, Fire Chief of the Castalia Fire
Department, do hereby certify that the Fire Department has
the following inventory of Protective Clothing:
NOMEX:
20
20
Coats
PBI:
___ Pants
20
20
Coats
Pants
Traffic Control / Reflective Vests:
Total # Helmets:
40
Total # Pr. Gloves:
40
Total # Pr. Boots:
40
Total # Hoods:
40
10
Minimum number of complete outfits available from the
totals above: 40
(1 Complete Outfit = 1-Coat, 1-pair Pants, 1-Helmet, 1-pair
Boots, 1-pair Gloves & 1-Hood)
9S / 9E Inspections –
Alarm Logs
 Review of alarm logs (call reports)
– Required to verify response to reported
structural alarms.
– Your inspector will review for:
• date, time and location.
• response of personnel and
apparatus.
• plus any additional information
pertinent to the alarm.
9S / 9E Inspections –
Attendance Logs
 Review of department membership
attendance logs:
– for both drills and meetings.
– accurate records must be maintained
to validate attendance of the
department membership to drills and
meetings.
– minimum of 36 hours attendance
required, by each member, per year.
9S / 9E Inspections Drills /
Meetings
 Departments are required to provide a
minimum of 48 hours of drills and
meetings per year.
 Firefighters are required to attend a
minimum of 36 hours of training drills per
year.
9S / 9E Inspections Inventory
 Apparatus Equipment Inventory
– Individual check-off sheets covering
maintenance requirements will be
reviewed.
– The inspector will look for:
• date of equipment inventory check.
• notes of condition of equipment.
• resolution of any problems /
concerns.
9S / 9E Inspections Maintenance

Maintenance Check-off Sheet
– All required ‘first out’ apparatus must
have Apparatus Equipment and
Maintenance Check-off Sheets.
– Maintenance sheets must be checked
monthly.
Equipment - Engine
 Engine Minimum Requirements
– 750 GPM UL Approved Fire Pump
– 500 Gallon Water Tank
– GVW Plate
– Annual Vehicle Safety Inspection
Equipment - Tanker
 Minimum Tanker Requirements
– Minimum 1,000 Gallon Water Capacity
– Adequate Hose for Filling & Dumping
– Properly Baffled
– G.V.W. Plate
– Annual Vehicle Safety Inspection
Vehicle Safety Inspections
 Your OSFM Inspector will expect you to
provide the necessary documentation on
your apparatus and vehicles to verify the
N.C. or Federal Vehicle Safety
Inspections have been completed and
are current.
Vehicle Safety Inspections
Apparatus/Vehicle Weight
10,000 lbs. or less
10,001 lbs. or more
Type of Inspection Required
N.C. Inspection
N.C. or Federal Inspection
Vehicle Safety Inspections
 Federal Safety Inspections of Apparatus
– Fire department must forward copies of
the inspection paperwork to N.C. DMV for
recording.
Stephen Saucier
Safety & Emissions Inspection
1100 New Bern Ave. Room 104
Raleigh, NC 27699
ssaucier@ncdot.gov
Phone: (919) 861-3037
• Failure to do so will result in financial
penalties, per vehicle, levied against the
non-compliant department.
Fire Station Buildings

All fire station buildings shall provide
suitable heating, as well as all weather
protection, of the department’s response
equipment.
N.C. OSFM Fire Ratings
Inspectors
 Davie Summey / Davie.Summey@ncdoi.gov
 Tony Bailey / Tony.Bailey@ncdoi.gov
 Chet Hill / Chet.Hill@ncdoi.gov
 Vernon Ward / Vernon.Ward@ncdoi.gov
 Deral Raynor / Deral.Raynor@ncdoi.gov
 Terry Young / Terry.Young@ncdoi.gov
NC DOI / Office State Fire Marshal
1202 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1202
1-800-634-7854 / (919) 661-5880
fax: (919) 662-4670