Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Transferability of credit depends entirely upon the institution to which the student wishes to transfer.

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Analyze plans for compliance with requirements for fire and life safety codes.
• Communicate fire and life safety requirements to design and construction professionals.

Activities include in-class illustrated lectures, showing concepts of Fire and Life Safety building codes, supported by collaborative group review of case studies.  In-class work will be supported by out-of-class individual reading and research of building codes, and application to mock problems. 

• Course materials will be presented in a lecture and discussion format, using multimedia presentations (slides, videos) showing examples of Fire and Life Safety code applications in various buildings.
• Discussions will be supplemented by posting of additional references and resources, on the PCC D2L website.
• Weekly assignments will provide an opportunity for students to apply class information to plans of actual building examples.
• Short answer exams will cover a summary of information from the Fire and Life Safety codes.

Student will work on projects using mock architectural plan, to determine code compliance with Fire and Life Safety codes.

Assessment will include review of projects, along with exams requiring ability to find and cite Fire and Life Safety requirements.

Student to demonstrate willingness and ability to work in small groups during class, to provide input and solve in-class assignments, and articulate findings to class. 

Student to demonstrate time management skills by completion of projects by assigned deadlines, and by meeting specific objectives for each phase of class projects.

Commercial building Fire and Life Safety requirements regulate building design and components, specifying the minimum requirements for public buildings, and multi-family structures.

Building Inspectors need to understand their role in interpreting and applying Fire and Life Safety codes requirements for public buildings, and multi-family structures.

Skills:  Review plans and construction to determine compliance with Fire and Life Safety codes, including: 

• Construction requirements
• Hazardous materials' regulations 
• Fire alarm & smoke detection systems
• Means of egress systems 
• Adequate access to water and other fire protection systems.