W. Va. C.S.R. § 87-1-1 et seq. § §87-1-6
Interference with Fire Protection Equipment
Operative Text
§ 87-1-6. Interference with Fire Protection Equipment.
6.1. No person shall render any portable or fixed fire extinguishing system or device or any fire warning
system inoperative or inaccessible except as may be necessary during emergencies, maintenance, drills, or
prescribed testing.
6.1.1. Any person responsible for maintenance, prescribed testing, or for drill purposes, shall
contact the local 911 center to make them aware of the said activities at the commencement and conclusion
of the above activities.W. Va. C.S.R. § 87-1-6 prohibits anyone from disabling, blocking, or otherwise rendering inoperative any portable or fixed fire extinguishing system, device, or fire warning system. The only recognized exceptions are genuine emergencies, authorized maintenance, drills, or scheduled testing. When work falls under one of those exceptions, the person responsible must notify the local 911 center both when the activity begins and when it ends.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under W. Va. C.S.R. § 87-1-6, compliant property operators keep all fire extinguishing and warning systems fully operational and accessible at all times outside of permitted exceptions. When maintenance, testing, or drills require temporarily taking a system offline, operators typically coordinate with the local 911 center at the start and finish of those activities to satisfy the notification requirement. Maintaining clear records of these notifications and the scope of any planned work is a common practice among operators seeking to demonstrate compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
W. Va. C.S.R. § 87-1-6 establishes that tenants have an interest in fire protection equipment remaining functional and accessible in their building at all times, except during narrow, defined circumstances. If a tenant observes fire extinguishing or warning equipment that appears to have been disabled or made inaccessible outside of an emergency, maintenance, drill, or testing context, they may consider reporting the concern to local fire authorities or a tenant-rights organization. Tenants can also inquire whether the required 911 center notifications were made whenever systems are taken offline for permitted activities.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation