Rainier Fire installs, inspects, services and monitors commercial fire alarm systems in South Hill, Bonney Lake and across East Pierce County, as part of serving all of Washington. Cities, the county and the local fire agencies split the work here. Here’s who does what, and what we take care of for you.
Who issues the permits
A fire alarm project usually needs two permits: a fire alarm permit from the fire authority, which reviews the design, and an electrical permit for the wiring. Here, who issues them depends on where the building is:
- South Hill and unincorporated Pierce County: South Hill is one of the county’s largest unincorporated communities, so the Pierce County Fire Prevention Bureau issues the fire alarm permit and its plans examiners review the design. A like-for-like panel or communicator replacement (the communicator is the device that sends alarms to the monitoring center) only needs product data sheets submitted. The electrical permit comes from L&I, or from Tacoma Power where it serves the property.
- City of Bonney Lake: the city’s Permit Center issues the fire alarm permit, and East Pierce Fire & Rescue does fire inspections in the city. The electrical permit comes from L&I.
For other towns nearby, we confirm the right agency for your address before work starts. On jobs where your electrician pulls the electrical permit, such as our Parts & Smarts program for electrical contractors, we handle the fire alarm permit and design.
Design review by a NICET III
Washington requires fire alarm construction documents to be reviewed by a NICET Level III in Fire Alarm Systems, a Level III certified fire alarm designer or a licensed professional engineer before they’re submitted for a permit (WAC 51-54A-0907). Rainier Fire’s designs are stamped by a NICET III, so that review is built in, not an extra step. More on how we design and install systems.
Where the inspection report goes
After the yearly inspection and test, the report has to reach the fire authority. In much of East Pierce County, that happens through The Compliance Engine, an online system fire departments use to collect inspection reports:
- Unincorporated Pierce County, including South Hill: since May 2023, Pierce County takes test reports only through The Compliance Engine, not by email.
- Bonney Lake, Sumner, Edgewood and Milton: contractors submit test results to East Pierce Fire & Rescue through The Compliance Engine, on behalf of their customers.
Elsewhere, we file the report the way that fire authority requires. Either way, you don’t have to send it yourself. See how our inspection and testing works.
What we do in East Pierce County
- Installation & design for new construction and tenant improvements, from plans to fire department acceptance.
- Inspection & testing, with the report filed for you.
- Panel replacement & upgrades when a panel reaches end of life.
- Monitoring & cellular communicators, so your alarm keeps reporting as copper phone lines are retired.
- Parts & Smarts for electrical contractors who want to keep the fire alarm scope.
Have a building in South Hill, Bonney Lake or East Pierce County?
Tell us the address and what you need. We’ll confirm who issues the permits there and take it from there.
Get a QuoteSources
- Pierce County, South Hill, Fire Permits, fire permit application and Fire Inspections.
- City of Bonney Lake, Fire Permits; East Pierce Fire & Rescue, Fire Prevention.
- Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, City electrical permits and inspections.
- Washington Administrative Code, WAC 51-54A-0907, fire alarm design review.