Fire Prevention Design Bulletin #0001-GUIDELINES FOR MEETING MILESTONES DURING A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT Revised: January 2026

Definition: Items that are placed in the building, area, floor or room(s), that are in original packaging, not assembled. Items may be staged in one area or along the outer area of floor space, as approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. 

The following items shall be in place to request approval for move in of furnishings and equipment. 

• Fire Sprinkler systems and standpipes shall be installed, fully charged and operational in all exit ways and in all areas furniture and furnishings are prepped or stocked. *
• Fire Alarm system shall have the capability to monitor the waterflow switch(es), tamper switches, and provide an onsite alarm and send an alarm to central station monitoring. *
• Fire protection signage indicating areas protected shall be provided.
• Exits and path of travel to exits shall remain open and unobstructed.
• Buildings shall have proper addressing installed.  Streets and road signs shall be provided.
• Fire Extinguishers shall be provided throughout.
• Fire Department access to the site shall be provided.
• All exit discharges shall be accessible to a public way.
• Required on site water supplies for fire protection shall be installed and operational.

*Systems shall not be required to have a final inspection and sign off at this point, however inclusion of Facilities Fire & Life Safety Systems team for concurrent agreement is preferred.

Definition: Use of a building, area, floor, or room(s) to set up final layout of furnishings, provide onsite training of employees, stocking of merchandise, materials or goods, which will be part of the final occupancy layout and use. Requirements could also apply to requests to occupy completed floors in a multi-story building still under construction. 

• Fire Sprinkler systems and standpipes shall be installed, tested, fully charged, operational and ready for permit final.*
• Fire Alarm system shall be installed per approved plans, operational, and ready for permit final, including meeting requirements of BULLETIN_0003_INTEGRATED FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEM TESTING_NFPA 4.*
• Emergency radio responder communication system (ERRCS) shall be installed, tested, operational and ready for permit final.**
• Fire Alarm Control Unit and Fire Command Center (where required) shall be fully equipped and operational to the satisfaction of the local fire department.**
• Smoke control and stair pressurization systems shall be tested and fully operational.
• Legally required standby and emergency power shall be tested and fully operational.
• Fire doors, dampers, enclosures, seals and other opening protections shall be installed and fully operational.
• Phase I and II emergency elevator operations shall be tested and functional.
• Emergency lighting and exit signage shall be installed and operational.
• Exits and path of travel to exits shall remain open and unobstructed.
• Buildings shall have proper addressing installed.  Streets and road signs shall be provided.
• Evacuation maps shall be posted throughout.
• Fire Extinguishers shall be provided throughout.
• Fire Department access to the site shall be provided.
• Fire Department Access Key Box shall be installed and house keys, cards, and/or codes as approved by the Fire Prevention Team.
• Required on site water supplies for fire protection shall be installed and operational.
• Hazardous materials may not be brought on site until approved by EH&S Chemical Hygiene.

*Written acceptance from Facilities Fire & Life Safety Systems team is required.

**Pre-fire planning with local SFFD will have occurred and will have included: SFFD use of/testing of ERRCS with their radios, revealing no coverage issues; and acceptance of Fire alarm control unit or Fire Command Center by SFFD.

Definition: Construction of a project is completed when all Fire and Life Safety Systems have passed all inspections and are operational. A final Certificate of Occupancy can be issued as defined in the CA Building Code Chapter 1 Section 111.2.

• All items listed previously, and outstanding items identified from field inspections shall be completed and signed off by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
• As-built drawings are submitted and approved for recordkeeping.
• All required signage for the building, area, floor or room(s) shall be in place.
• All exterior access requirements shall be met, including but not limited to, fire lane signage and marking.
• Emergency Plans shall be complete, including but not limited to, emergency response plans, evacuation plans, or preplans.
• The following Departments shall sign off on the project and complete the Department Routing form:
  • Facilities
    • Fire Life & Safety
    • Facilities Management
    • Access Control
  • Planning
  • Sustainability
  • Emergency Management

Definition – Project has received Certificate of Occupancy, and a form is required by a licensing agency to verify fire and life safety standards under Title 19 and Title 24 have been met.*

• Emergency procedures and evacuation plans have been approved, and a training and education program is established for all staff/all shifts.
• General fire safety and Environment of Care requirements in the clinic space which include:
  • Evacuation plans inside the clinic space
  • Clear exits and corridors
  • Sprinkler clearances from storage
  • Exit signs
  • Proper operations of fire rated and egress doors
  • If the program is part of UCSF Health: EOC binder with current EAP, SPHP, and Annual self-assessment
  • If not under UCSF Health: Emergency action plan
  • Emergency response instructions, aka Rainbow charts
  • Signage for hazardous locations such as compressed gas cylinders and soiled utility rooms
  • NFPA 701 compliant cubicle curtains

* STD Form 850’s may be granted for buildings receiving TCO with NO LIFE SAFETY DEFICIENCIES.

For questions, please call EH&S at 476-1300 or email [email protected]