Why Your Facility Needs an NFPA 1620 Pre-Incident Plan — And Why the Fire Department Must Help Build It
In the world of industrial safety, few documents carry as much practical weight as a well-executed pre-incident plan (PIP). When seconds matter during a fire, chemical release, or explosion, first responders don’t have time to “figure things out” on scene. That’s exactly why the National Fire Protection Association created NFPA 1620: Standard for Pre-Incident Planning.
Published by NFPA, the standard provides a comprehensive framework for developing, maintaining, and using pre-incident plans to improve life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation. For EHS professionals, plant managers, and safety directors, compliance with NFPA 1620 isn’t just good practice — in many jurisdictions it’s expected, and insurers increasingly require it.
The Single Biggest Mistake Facilities Make
The most common (and dangerous) mistake is treating the pre-incident plan as an internal exercise. Too many companies create beautiful binders or digital folders filled with site plans, hazard inventories, and utility shut-offs — then lock them in a drawer that the fire department has never seen.
NFPA 1620 explicitly states that pre-incident planning is a collaborative process between the facility and the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), which is almost always your local fire department. The standard emphasizes joint walkthroughs, shared responsibility for accuracy, and mutual understanding of tactics before an incident occurs.
What Happens When You Skip the Collaboration
Firefighters arrive with no familiarity of your site layout, leading to delayed size-up.
They may not know where critical shut-offs, fire pumps, or suppression systems are located.
Command staff waste valuable minutes requesting basic information over the radio.
In the worst cases, responders walk into unrecognized hazards — think hidden anhydrous ammonia tanks or energized high-voltage rooms marked only on an internal drawing.
A pre-incident plan that lives only inside your four walls is barely better than no plan at all.
The 12 Critical Elements NFPA 1620 Says Must Be Included
To meet the intent of the standard (and to give responders what they actually need), your plan should contain at minimum the following information, developed jointly with the fire department:
Accurate Site Plot Plan & Building Floor Plans Include all buildings, roadways, hydrant locations, fire department connections (FDCs), and Knox Box locations. Mark north and provide a legend.
Building Construction Details Type I through Type V construction, roof construction, fire resistance ratings, parapet heights, and any recent renovations that affect structural integrity.
Fire Protection Systems Location and type of sprinklers (wet, dry, pre-action, deluge), standpipes, fire pumps, special suppression (CO2, clean agent, water mist), detection systems, and alarm panels.
Hazardous Materials Inventory & Locations Current Tier II or NFPA 704 placarded quantities, storage configuration (drums, totes, process vessels), and exact locations. Include SDS binders or digital access instructions.
Utility Shut-Off Locations Natural gas, fuel oil, propane, electrical main disconnects, domestic water, process water, and any medical gases. Clearly mark normal positions and any lockout/tagout requirements.
Special Hazards & Processes Dust collectors, spray booths, dipping operations, hydrogen systems, combustible metal operations, high-piled storage, etc.
Water Supply Information Static and residual pressures, private hydrant flow data, draft sites, and any non-standard threading on FDCs or hydrants.
Access & Security Issues Gates, fencing, card readers, guard forces, and after-hours contact procedures.
Key Contacts & Recall Lists 24/7 facility representatives, process experts, hazardous materials team members, and mutual aid partners.
Ventilation & Forcible Entry Notes Preferred ventilation points, roof access ladders, scuttle locations, roll-up door manual releases, and any fortified security doors.
Tactical Considerations & Pre-Assigned Tasks Jointly developed incident priorities (life safety, exposure protection, confinement, etc.), recommended apparatus placement, and initial attack strategies.
Post-Incident Recovery Information Critical equipment that must be protected for business continuity, environmental concerns, and decontamination procedures.
How to Actually Build the Relationship
Reach out to your fire department’s operations chief or fire prevention bureau and request a formal pre-plan walkthrough.
Schedule joint sessions quarterly or after any significant process change.
Provide digital copies in a format they can load into mobile data terminals (PDF/A or CAD files work best).
Participate in tabletop and full-scale exercises using the plan.
Update the plan annually at minimum — and immediately after incidents or near-misses.
The Bottom Line
NFPA 1620 isn’t just another standard to check off. It’s a proven method for turning strangers into partners before the tones drop. When the fire department already knows your facility almost as well as you do, response becomes faster, safer, and dramatically more effective.
Don’t wait for the insurance auditor or the next close call. Pick up the phone this week and invite your local fire department to help you build — or rebuild — a pre-incident plan that meets NFPA 1620 and actually works when you need it most.
Your people, your responders, and your community are counting on it
