The International Code Council, a building safety and fire prevention membership organization that develops building codes used in the construction of residential and commercial structures, has announced it now offers a program of fire marshal certification.

"At long last, we have a national standard for fire marshal competence," said Tom Lariviere, chairman of the International Fire Code Council and fire chief forMadison, Miss. "The people that earn this certification are those that really care about professional credentials. They are those that want to demonstrate experience, knowledge and capabilities."

The fire marshal certification exam emphasizes public education and fire investigation. Individuals who pursue the certification learn to communicate fire- and life-safety information to the public, develop education strategies, analyze data, and identify at-risk arsonist candidates. In addition, the program provides instruction on how to assess and secure a fire scene and its perimeter and, when determining fire origins, how to document fire behavior, identify burn patterns and reconstruct fire scenes.

Prerequisites for the ICC Fire Marshal certification are Fire Inspector I and II, Fire Plans Examiner and Certified Building Official–Technology, and Legal and Management Modules. For more information about the International Code Council's Certification Programs, visit the ICC Web site.