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 will be able to:

• Analyze plans for compliance with fire and safety requirements.

• Communicate fire and life safety requirements to architectural and building professionals.

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

·        Course materials will be presented in a lecture and discussion format, using multimedia presentations (slides, overheads, videos) showing examples of Fire and Life Safety code applications in various buildings, and online building codes. 

·        Collaborative work group experience will be supplemented by posting of additional reference and resources, on the PCC Course Tools files. 

·        Weekly assignments will provide an opportunity for student to apply class information to mock plan submittals.

·        Short answer  exams will cover a summary of information from the Building Codes.

Student will work on projects using mock plans 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 codes regulate the fire and life safety requirements for commercial structures and specify their minimum requirements, for public and multi-family structures.

• Plans Examiners need  to understand their role in interpreting and applying fire and life safety requirements.

• Plans Examiners need to read and understand prints submitted for permit, and determine if they meet fire and life safety requirements.

• Skills: 

Review plan submittals to determine if exit systems meet fire and life safety requirements, based on building occupancy

Review plan submittals for code adherence for hazardous materials’ regulations

Determine if plan submittal allows for adequate access to water, site access, and other fire protection systems