This document outlines a 5-step process for assessing staffing needs for a fire prevention organization based on NFPA 1730. The steps include outlining all services provided, determining time demands for each task, calculating total hours required and available, and using this to calculate the total personnel needed. It provides an example application showing that 1.08 full-time employees would be needed based on the given task hours and availability. The purpose is to determine appropriate staffing levels to effectively perform fire prevention activities.

1. Fire Prevention Organization:
Assessing Staffing Needs
Aaron Johnson, Fire Strategist
www.TheCodeCoach.com

2. SURVEY
Staffing
Facilities
Tasks

3. What is the title of the highest ranking individual
responsible for fire prevention?

4. How many personnel have primary responsibilities
for fire prevention activities?

5. How many levels of supervision do inspectors
have?

6. What is the total square footage of your facilities?

7. What tasks are fire prevention personnel
responsible for?

8. “A high number of tasks are being
performed by a low number of personnel.”

9. What is your biggest challenge?
#1 Response: Budget
#2 Response: Personnel Retention

10. High $ → Low ROI (perceived)
COST → BENEFIT
Industry Standard

11. NFPA 1730
Standard on Organization and Deployment of Fire
Prevention Inspection and Code Enforcement, Plan
Review, Investigation, and Public Education
Operations

12. NFPA 1730
“The purpose of this standard is to specify the
minimum criteria addressing the effectiveness and
efficiency of the fire prevention organization
functions…”

13. Organization and Structure
Community Risk Assessment
Common Fire Prevention Activities
Existing Occupancies
Plan Review
Investigations
Public Education

14. 4.7.1* The resources and personnel required to
perform the level of services outlined...shall be
determined…
A4.7.1. “...model for analyzing the personnel
needed to achieve the level of services outlined..”
Annex C - Sample Staffing Exercise

15. The 5 Step Process

16. Outline all services provided by the
fire prevention organization
Step 1

17. Life Safety Inspections
Fire Protection Systems ITM
Permits (hot work, events, confined space, etc.)
Training Class Delivery
Public Education
Software Administration
Policies, Procedures, R&D
Fire/Evacuation Drills

18. Determine time demand for each task
Step 2

19. Life Safety Inspections 250 hrs/yr
Fire Protection Systems ITM 300 hrs/yr
Permits (hot work, events,
confined space, etc.)
200 hrs/yr
Training Class Delivery 150 hrs/yr
Public Education 200 hrs/yr
Software Administration 50 hrs/yr
Policies, Procedures, R&D 120 hrs/yr
Fire/Evacuation Drills 40 hrs/yr

20. Determine total personnel hours
required to complete activities
Step 3

21. Life Safety Inspections 600 hrs/yr
Fire Protection Systems ITM 350 hrs/yr
Permits (hot work, events, confined space,
etc.) 250 hrs/yr
Training Class Delivery 250 hrs/yr
Public Education 250 hrs/yr
Software Administration 100 hrs/yr
Policies, Procedures, R&D 150 hrs/yr
Fire/Evacuation Drills 80 hrs/yr
TOTAL TASK HOURS 2,030 hrs/yr

22. Calculate personnel total availability
Step 4

23. Total Work Week Hours 2,080 hrs/yr
Less Holidays (-) 80 hrs/yr
Less Vacation (-) 40 hrs/yr
Less Sick Leave (used) (-) 40 hrs/yr
Less Required Training (-) 40 hrs/yr
Total Work Hours Available 1,880 hrs/yr

24. Calculate total number of personnel
required to perform tasks
Step 5

25. Total Task Hours 2,030 hrs/yr
÷
Total Work Hours Available 1,880 hrs/yr
＝
Total Personnel Needed 1.08 FTE

26. Total Task Hours 10,000 hrs/yr
÷
Total Work Hours Available 1,880 hrs/yr
＝
Total Personnel Needed 5.32 FTE

27. Step 2: Determine time demand for each task
Step 3: Determine total personnel hours required to
complete activities
Step 4: Calculate personnel total availability
Step 5: Calculate total number of personnel
required to perform tasks
Step 1: Outline all services provided by the fire
prevention organization

28. ROI

29. Fire Prevention Organization:
Assessing Staffing Needs
nfpa1730.info
For more information and access to the survey, resources, and
report visit: