How to Obtain Fire Safety Inspection Certificate

A Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) is a certificate being issued by the local fire department. It is required for issuance of occupancy permit and business permit.

For example, if you have a business in Makati or your newly built building in Makati is ready for occupancy, you have to secure Fire Safety Inspection Certificate from the Makati City Fire Station before your building can be occupied or before you can open a business. For existing business wherein you already have your FSIC, you still have to secure a new FSIC for renewal of business. FSIC is valid for a year.

Requirements for Issuance of FSIC:

1. Endorsement from the Building Official or Business Permit Licensing Office
2. Photocopy of Building Permit and Assessment of Occupancy Permit Fee/Assessment of Business Permit Fee/BPLO Assessment/Tax Bill for Business Permit, as the case maybe
3. Copy of Fire Insurance Policy (if any)
4. Copy of Latest Fire Safety Inspection Certificate immediately preceding the current application (if any)

When to Apply:

Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the local office of the Bureau of Fire Protection

Local office means the municipal or city fire station.

Fee for Fire Safety Inspection Certificate:

10% of all fees charged by the Building Official or by the Local Government Unit or other government agencies concerned in granting pertinent permits or licenses

Steps in Obtaining Fire Safety Inspection Certificate:

1. Secure FSIC Application Form with the list of requirements from the Customer Relations Officer of the local BFP office.
2. Submit duly accomplished application form with the complete requirements to the Customer Relations Officer.
3. Wait for the Release of Order of Payment.
4. Pay the Fire Code Fee to Government Servicing Bank or BFP Collecting Officer.
5. Present machine validated Order of Payment or Official Receipt as basis for issuance of claim stub. (From step 5 to step 6, it will take about five days because the local fire department will still conduct fire safety inspection of the building or establishment.)
6. Present claim stub to the Customer Relations Officer to claim Fire Safety Inspection Certificate.

Fire Safety Definition of Terms (Part 4 of 4)

Overloading - the use of one or more electrical appliances or devices which draw or consume electrical current beyond the designed capacity of the existing electrical system.

Owner - any person who holds the legal right of possession or title to a building or real property.

Oxidizing Material - a material that readily yields oxygen in quantities sufficient to stimulate or support combustion.

Pressurized or Forced Draft Burning Equipment - type of burner where the fuel is subjected to pressure prior to discharge into the combustion chamber and/or which includes fans or other provisions for the introduction of air at above normal atmospheric pressure into the same combustion chamber.

Public Assembly Building - any building or structure where fifty (50) or more people congregate, gather, or assemble for any purpose.

Public Way - any street, alley or other strip of land unobstructed from the ground to the sky, deeded, dedicated or otherwise permanently appropriated for public use.

Pyrophoric - descriptive of any substance that  ignites spontaneously when exposed to air.

Refining - a process where impurities and/or deleterious materials are removed from a mixture in order to produce a pure element of compound. It shall also refer to partial distillation and electrolysis.

Self-closing Doors - automatic closing doors that are designed to confine smoke and heat and delay the spread of fire.

Smelting - melting or fusing of metallic ores or compounds so as to separate impurities from pure metals.

Sprinkler System - an integrated network of hydraulically designed piping installed in a building, structure or area with outlets arranged in a systematic pattern which automatically discharges water when activated by heat or combustion products from fire.

Standpipe System - a system of vertical pipes in a building to which fire hoses can be attached on each floor, including a system by which water is made available to those outlets as needed.

Vestibule - a passage hall or antechamber between the outer doors and the interior parts of a house or building.

Vertical Shaft - an enclosed vertical space of passage that extends from floor to floor, as well as from the base to the top of the building.

Source: RA 9514