1. Addition to system of five devices or less.
2. One for one replacements (must be approved by AHJ).
3. Panel replacements/relocates.
4. Monitoring modules/elevator recall/other building functions.
5. Scope letters shall include appropriate manufacture information and product specification sheets.
6. Letter shall bear the stamp of a NICET III or IV certified designer or a fire protection engineer.
7. Emergency repair or circumstance – AHJ notification and approval required.

1. Addition of five sprinklers or less to an existing system.
2. Repair, maintenance or replacement of components.
3. Changing orientation of sprinklers for construction or other temporary condition.
4. Raising, lowering or otherwise minor adjustments to current location of sprinkler heads or branch lines.
5. Demo of a system or portion thereof .
6. Isolation of a system for retrofits/changes.
7. Sprinkler scope letters shall be stamped.
8. Scope letters shall include hydraulic calculations if needed, as well as manufacture information and product data.
9. As built drawings shall be provided if requested by AHJ.

1. Installation of pre-engineered kitchen hood fire protection systems
2. Required for changes to system due to equipment relocates
3. Not required for link, head or tank replacement
4. Required to be submitted on manufacturer letterhead
5. As built drawings required

Permit submittals must follow the requirements set forth in the 2021 IFC,  Section 510 and Town of Vail Code, In-Building Public Safety Radio System Coverage

Submittal Guidelines

Fire alarm permit plan submittals and applications shall be in electronic format. Information regarding electronic submittal requirements may be found on our eplans Electronic review page.

• All digital files shall be MS windows compatible. All digital documents shall be in PDF and compatible with Adobe Acrobat version 9.0 or greater.
• Fire alarm permits shall be paid for prior to plan review.
• Permit fee shall include one rough wire inspection and the fire alarm final acceptance inspection and test. Partial inspections may be requested.
• Partial inspection and re-inspection fees shall be based on the hourly rate as adopted by VFES.
• A minimum of 2 hour fee ($144.00) will be assessed to the fire alarm permit. Payment shall be rendered to the Town of Vail prior to a final fire alarm approval sign off.
• All Fire Alarm contractors are required to be registered with the Town of Vail prior to submittal of installation permit applications. Contractors must be considered in good standing with VFES and the Town of Vail.
• Installation of Fire Alarm Systems shall comply with standards set forth in most current versions of NFPA 72, NFPA 720, and the 2021 International Fire Code or as set forth in this standard.
• Plans are required to be stamped by a fire alarm design technician with NICET level 3 or 4 certification, or a Fire Protection Engineer.
• Fire alarm contractor and general contractor are required to be present for both rough and final inspections.
• Fire alarm contractor shall be responsible for scheduling inspections.
• General contractors should not attempt to schedule these inspections unless approved by the fire alarm contractor and fire code official.

Installation Guidelines

Fire alarm installation personnel shall meet the criteria set forth in NFPA 72 and this standard. Installation shall be supervised or completed by technicians holding a NICET II or higher level of certification.

Monitored residential fire alarm systems shall zoned by floor. Fully addressable point to point identification is no longer required. (Residential systems only). Combination systems are not approved for installation. Monitored detection is required throughout entire premise.

Wireless systems (RF) are only approved for installation for residential one and two family dwellings.

Detection location and spacing shall be per the latest version of NFPA 72, the 2021 IFC and as set forth herein:

1. Shall be installed in a corridor not more than fifteen feet from the door of the farthest bedroom.
2. Smoke detection is required in living rooms, family rooms, home theatres and any rooms that may be used for sleeping.
3. Detectors need to be installed toward the middle of the room but with consideration of proximity to bathrooms, ceiling fans and return air ducts.

Kitchens and garages are not required to have heat detection installed. Garages shall be either equipped with a sounding keypad or notification device.

Rooms containing (Alarm System) Control Units are not required to be furnished with smoke or heat detecting devices unless otherwise required by this standard or the latest version of NFPA
72. (Applies to residential systems only).

Storage rooms and closets are not required to have smoke detection. Unfinished crawl spaces are not required to have smoke detection.

Carbon monoxide detection is required to be installed per the latest version of NFPA 72 and Colorado HB 1091. Additionally the following installation requirements shall be met:

1. Shall be installed within a corridor no further than 15 feet from the door of the farthest bedroom.
2. Within twenty feet of fuel fired appliances, including stoves, gas fire places, wood burning stoves or wood burning fire places.
3. Entrance vestibules from attached garages shall be equipped with carbon monoxide detection.
4. Areas not previously considered that are equipped with gas fired appliances that may pose a risk to health and life safety of occupants should there be a build up of carbon monoxide.

The installation of combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is permitted provided the temporal sounding requirements of NFPA 72 and 720 are met.

Carbon monoxide detection shall be monitored when a building or residence is equipped with a monitored fire alarm system. If the existing system is not capable of monitoring carbon monoxide detection then plug in/battery back up detection shall be allowed until such a time that a system is upgraded or replaced. Please contact VFES if you have questions. 

Inspection Guidelines

• Inspection requests should be made at least 48 hours in advance. Requests for rough and final fire alarm inspections should be made by the fire alarm contractor.
• Please include a contact email address where you would like to receive your electronic inspection confirmation.
• A representative of both the fire alarm contractor and project manager or general contractor are required to be present for the requested inspection.
• Re-inspection fees shall be assessed on an hourly basis, 2 hour minimum fee ($144.00) and shall be due prior to project receiving final approvals.

Knox Box Information 

• All properties equipped with a monitored fire alarm system are required to have an approved key box on the exterior of the property. Location shall be approved by VFES.
• Key boxes shall be furnished by the Knox Company and can be ordered through them electronically. Duplex and multi-family occupancies are permitted to share a single key box. 
• Key boxes are not required to be equipped with monitored tamper switches. Master keys and key cards are required to be presented for installation in the key box at final inspection.
• Keys will not be accepted by VFES personnel except when on property and in the presence of a contractor or responsible party. Keys will be clearly marked as to what doors they will operate.
• Contact VFES Prevention Office for further guidance if needed.

Knox Box and Key Installation Instructions

1. Go the Knox Box website
2. Click on "Choose your local fire department agency"
3. Select Colorado for your location
4. Type in Vail Fire for your local fire department/agency

This will allow you to order only the approved devices and the locks will be keyed to the VFES keys. 

Submittal Guidelines

Fire sprinkler permit submittals and applications shall be in electronic format. Information regarding electronic submittal requirements may be found on our eplans Electronic review page.

All digital files shall be MS windows compatible. All digital documents shall be in PDF and compatible with Adobe Acrobat version 9.0 or greater.

Plans and hydraulic calculations must bear the signature and stamp of an F.P.E. or a NICET level III designer or above.

Plans shall bear the contractor license number for the Town of Vail and the State of Colorado registration number for the installation of water based fire protection systems.

Permit applications for small projects such as tenant finish improvements in commercial occupancies or small residential remodels may be submitted in letter form. Information regarding submittal requirements can be found at the fire alarm and sprinkler permit download page. Select the fire sprinkler-limited scope permit option.

The letter shall be submitted on the registered contractor’s letterhead. The letter shall explain the scope of work, start and completion date, and a statement that tenant finish, remodel, or additions do not affect the hydraulic demand design or integrity of the existing fire protection system.

The letter shall bear the signature and stamp of a NICET level III or above. More information regarding scope of work letters for sprinkler system modification is available on the fire alarm and sprinkler permit download page. Select the fire sprinkler-limited scope permit option.

Installation & System Requirements

1. Residential fire sprinkler system flow switches and tamper switches are required to be monitored by an approved residential fire alarm system.
2. Fire department connections are not required for 13D systems.
3. An outside horn/strobe is required to be installed with a13D system. Horn/strobe must be shown on submittal drawings but final location can be determined at rough inspection.
4. New 13D systems are required to be designed to a .1 density. A minimum of 2 heads shall be calculated in the design area. Ceilings that are either above 24 feet or greater than a 4:12 pitch shall require a four head calculation.
5. In 13D retrofit situations, a .05 density may be approved if an existing water service is not sufficient to support a .1 density.
6. When determining flow pressures, residual pressures shall be derated by a percentage in accordance with the VFES derate chart that is available on the fire alarm and sprinkler permit download page.
7. 13D systems only need be supported by methods comparable to those required by applicable local plumbing codes (7.4.2, 13D 2019 ed.)
8. 13D pumps and expansion tanks are not required to be listed. Flow switches and flow valves are required to be listed and monitored.
9. Control valves, isolation valves, zone valves or any valve otherwise related to the control of fire sprinkler systems shall be installed so that the operable parts of the valve are accessible without the use of portable ladders. The height of sprinkler control valves shall not exceed 7 feet above the floor.
10. Sprinkler risers and trim packages shall in readily accessible areas that provide sufficient working space for replacement of equipment and servicing of system. A minimum headspace of six feet is required.
11. Garages in 13d and 13r systems are required to equipped with fire sprinklers.
12. Use of antifreeze solutions shall be allowed when systems meet the following criteria. A 50/50 factory pre-mix solution shall be permitted only in existing systems.
13. For new construction anti-freeze solutions shall not be permitted to be in portions of systems covering habitable areas.
14. Risers, cross mains, and branch lines shall not be installed on walls when the outside of the wall is exposed to environmental conditions.

Please contact the  Fire Marshal Office at 970-477-3536 should you need more information.

Fire Alarm & Sprinkler Fees

Instructions for calculating FIRE ALARM or SPRINKLER permit fees (see applicable section below):

1. Determine the valuation (labor & materials)
2. See base Permit Fee (flat fee)
3. Calculate the Plan review fee (multiply the valuation by the applicable percentage listed)

Fire Alarm

• Permit Fee: 3.75% of the valuation
• Plan Review Fee: $288.00, due at permit submittal

Other Fire Permit Fees

• Permits issued under a Scope of Work letter shall be assessed a fee not less than $144.00 and may be increased at a rate of $72.00 per hour for inspections, revisions, and similar elements.
• Re-inspections and plan review for re-submittals shall be billed at $72.00 per hour.
• Operational Permits, Special Event Permits, and Construction Permits other than those required for Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler systems, issued under provisions of the International Fire Code shall be based on an hourly rate of $72.00 per hour per person for site inspections, plan review and permit processing.

Fire Sprinkler

• Permit Fee: 4.25% of the valuation
• Plan Review Fee: $432.00, due at permit submittal