Title
Inspection Testing and Maintenance Report System for Fire and Life Safety Compliance - Update
Description
This report provides an update to the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee regarding the Brycer inspection, testing, and maintenance reporting system for fire and life safety compliance.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION
Report
Summary
The role of the Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Section is to create a safer community through the management and enforcement of the adopted Fire Code. One major component of protecting Phoenix residents and businesses from a destructive fire or other life safety risk is the regular inspection, testing and maintenance of existing fire protection systems. It is estimated that there are more than 97,000 fire protection systems in the City of Phoenix and each of these systems must be evaluated annually to ensure they are functioning correctly. The Fire Code, which was codified by the Phoenix City Council, requires third party contractors to conduct these inspections and report any life safety system deficiencies to the Phoenix Fire Department for appropriate follow-up and enforcement. Effectively managing compliance with this requirement has historically been a challenge for the American Fire Service, including the Phoenix Fire Department, with each fire department achieving varying degrees of success.
In January of 2020, the Mayor and City Council approved the implementation of the Brycer Compliance Engine system. This innovative IT solution utilizes technology to track compliance, provide notification and reporting of compliant and deficient systems, as required by Fire Code. Since inception, Brycer has become an integral component in enhancing the Fire Department's ability to provide for the safety of the Phoenix community.
Prior to the Brycer system, the Fire Prevention Section received an estimated 2,500 third party inspection reports annually and had 23-25 contractors providing reports. Once these reports were received, staff would begin the labor intensive and time-consuming process of reviewing and addressing any life safety system deficiencies. Today, with the Brycer system in place, the Fire Prevention Section has received 33,112 total reports in just the first eight months of 2021, and has 194 contractors providing reports. These reports are then quickly and efficiently processed, and any deficiencies addressed by a Fire Inspector.
The data now available from Bycer has demonstrated that approximately 80% of the reported life safety systems in Phoenix are compliant.
These improvements in the safety of our community have been achieved while saving an estimated 10,720 staff hours processing and reviewing life safety reports.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Brycer inspection testing and maintenance reporting system was approved by City Council on Nov. 6, 2019.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Jeffrey Barton and the Phoenix Fire Department.