Advise needed on working with city inspectors

[Minna Hu]

Hi

We recently asked for fire retrofit inspection of our building as it is needed for refinance, some of the units didn't pass audibility test, so we added wireless interconnected (battery-operated) alarms into the units, but fire inspectors require hardwired interconnected smoke alarms or horns to be added to each unit, which was estimated at over $5000 on electrician work.

We asked them to check with fire marshall, who said wireless interconnected (battery-operated) alarms are alternative solutions, but fire inspector still disapproves what we did because they don't feel comfortable about battery-operated alarms. 

They also required us to get build permit for some drywall work in the fire order, while the build department said we don't need build permit for it. 

Besides accepting whatever comes from the inspector and taking the more costly solution, do you have any advise on how we should move this forward? 

Have you heard of anybody who succeeded in working with city inspectors? And what approach did they use? Thank you, appreciate your input.