Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0780 - Commerce and Insurance
Subtitle 0780-02 - Division of Fire Prevention
Chapter 0780-02-16 - Certified Codes Inspectors Standards and Qualifications
Section 0780-02-16-.01 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

(1) The purpose of inspector certification is to establish uniform minimum requirements designed to increase the level of competency and reliability of code enforcement personnel to the level that will enhance each local government's ability to protect the lives and property of its citizens from improper construction, fire, and related hazards.

(2) All applications or documents for certification shall be submitted to the State Fire Marshal's Office. All applications for initial certification and recertification shall be completed, in full, on forms approved by the State Fire Marshal's Office.

(3) The applicant for certification shall provide satisfactory proof to the State Fire Marshal, or designee, that the applicant understands applicable building, fire, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, or fuel gas codes through the regulations established in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-16. Application matters not specifically addressed herein will be at the discretion of the State Fire Marshal, or designee.

(4) When a certified codes inspector performs inspections pursuant to Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-16, the codes inspector shall carry a certification identification card issued by the State Fire Marshal's Office. Specialties in which the inspector is authorized to perform codes inspections may be listed on the certification identification card.

(5) Any new applicant for certification as a building, fire, plumbing, or mechanical codes inspector has up to twelve (12) months from the date of employment to satisfy the requirements for certification and submit the required application to the State Fire Marshal's Office. All requirements for certification shall be satisfied within the first twelve (12) months of employment or excused for just cause by the State Fire Marshal, or designee. A new applicant shall be eligible to utilize the twelve (12) month period only once, unless otherwise authorized by the State Fire Marshal, or designee. An applicant to become an electrical code inspector must be certified before conducting any codes inspections.

(6) Municipalities and counties shall notify the State Fire Marshal's Office within sixty (60) days after any new codes inspector who is required to obtain certification is hired. The notice shall be on a form provided by the State Fire Marshal's Office for this purpose and shall contain the name of the newly hired codes inspector and the date of employment.

(7) Persons who conduct fire prevention inspections or pre-fire planning inspections are not required to be certified unless part of their job duties also includes fire, building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, or fuel gas code inspections.