Standard Operating Procedure Ottawa Fire Services. Fire Operations- Structural Fire Incidents SUBJECT. Fire Alarm Systems (Silence/Reset) - Revised

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1 CLASSIFICATION # SOP FI Fire Operations- Structural Fire Incidents SUBJECT Fire Alarm Systems (Silence/Reset) - Revised AUTHORITY Fire Chief Policy (OFS) personnel, before leaving a building, shall make every effort to ensure fire alarm systems are operational. If this is not possible, then follow-up measures shall be taken. Purpose To detail procedures for OFS personnel when dealing with fire alarm systems (silence/reset) Scope All OFS personnel Procedure RULES A Notice to Owner/Occupant form shall be issued whenever there is a problem with a building fire alarm system, as detailed in the Notice to Owner/Occupant form. An issued Notice to Owner/Occupant form shall be posted on a clipboard that is kept in the station watch room. In occupied buildings, when a fire alarm system is silenced, Command shall ensure that Building Supervisory Staff are directed to make arrangements to have the alarm system repaired. (see Part 5 of this SOP) ACTIONS 1.0 Officer/Member in Charge s Duties at a Fire Alarm Call 1.1 If system was silenced before arrival of OFS, it is possible that Building Supervisory Staff could not locate an emergency condition and has silenced the system. 1.2 The Officer/Member in Charge shall have a crew check the building for the source of the alarm activation before attempting to have the alarm reset. 1.3 If there is no evidence of fire, then an attempt to reset the fire alarm system may be requested. 1.4 If the system cannot be reset, then fire crews should recheck for activated pull stations, smoke detectors, or heat detectors. Issue Date: October 15, 2002 Last Revision: April 2, 2008 Page 1 of 5

2 1.5 If the system cannot be reset, then the system shall be left in the silenced mode and a Notice to Owner/Occupant form shall be issued. The Building Supervisory staff shall post a fire watch until the system is returned to normal operational mode. 1.6 Record on Notice to Owner/Occupant form who silenced/reset the fire alarm system (name, address, telephone #). 2.0 Resetting Fire Alarm Systems 2.1 Building Supervisory Staff on scene. The Officer/Member in Charge shall: Direct/assist Building Supervisory Staff to reset the fire alarm system. Check the annunciator panel to see that it is in normal operating status (non alarm) before leaving scene. 2.2 Building Supervisory Staff not on scene. The Officer/Member in Charge shall: Obtain keys from the lock box and reset the fire alarm system. Check the annunciator panel to see that it is in normal operating status (non alarm) before leaving scene. 2.3 Building Supervisory Staff on scene and the Officer/Member in Charge cannot access panel. The Office/Member in Charge shall: Refer to part 4 of this SOP. 3.0 Silencing Fire Alarm Systems (The fire alarm system cannot be reset or building supervisory staff would like to investigate problem before attempting reset) Note building has been examined and no apparent fire exists. 3.1 Building Supervisory Staff on scene. The Officer/Member in Charge shall: Direct/assist Building Staff/Management to silence the fire alarm system. Advise Building Staff/Management that their alarm system must be serviced immediately. Issue a Notice to Owner/Occupant form. 3.2 Building Supervisory Staff not on scene. The Officer/Member in Charge and a firefighter shall: Obtain keys from the lock box and silence the fire alarm system. Leave a Notice to Owner/Occupant form: o With a responsible occupant, if possible. o At the building staff/management office. 4.0 No Access To Reset a Fire Alarm System 4.1 Occupants in building. The Officer/Member in Charge shall: Request that building occupants contact building supervisory staff in order that fire alarm system keys can be brought to the building. Request that Dispatch attempt to contact building supervisory staff in order that fire Issue Date: October 15, 2002 Last Revision: April 2, 2008 Page 2 of 5

3 alarm system keys can be brought to the building. Leave a Notice to Owner/Occupant form: o With a responsible occupant, if possible. o At the building staff/management office. If Building Supervisory Staff cannot be contacted, then the Officer/Member in Charge shall advise occupants that the alarms will ring until Building Supervisory Staff can be contacted and that they should be alert for signs of fire until the alarm system has been reset. 4.2 No occupants in building. Access cannot be made to the building (no lock box). The Officer/Member in Charge shall: Check the exterior of the building and check the interior for signs of fire through any available windows. Request that Dispatch attempt to contact building supervisory staff in order that fire alarm system or access keys can be brought to the building. If building supervisory staff cannot be contacted, then a Notice to Owner/Occupant form shall be left at the front door of the building and all OFS vehicles may clear the scene. Request for Inspection form to be sent to Prevention Division. 5.0 Notice to Owner/Occupant form follow-up. 5.1 The Officer/Member in Charge shall check the appropriate clipboard every morning for any unresolved incident (e.g. panel showing trouble) and the annunciator panel of these buildings shall be inspected by the day shift within 24 hours. If the annunciator panel is in normal operating status, the Officer/Member in Charge shall indicate the date of recheck and the results and forward the completed the Notice to Owner/Occupant Form to the Fire Prevention Division. If the annunciator panel still indicates a status other than normal, the Officer/Member in Charge shall indicate the date of recheck and the results and forward the completed Notice to Owner/Occupant form attached to a Request for Inspection form explaining the problem and providing contact phone numbers to the Fire Prevention Division by inter office mail for action. 5.2 Rural: Sector Chiefs shall arrange any follow-up inspections required when a Notice to Owner/Occupant form has been issued. The Sector Chief/Fire Prevention Officer responsible for that rural area shall inspect these buildings within 24 hours of occurrence. If the annunciator panel is in normal operating status, the Sector Chief /Fire Prevention Officer responsible for that rural area, or Officer/Member in Charge, shall indicate the date of recheck and the results and forward the completed Notice to Owner/Occupant form to the Fire Prevention Division. If the annunciator panel still indicates a status other than normal, the Sector Chief or Officer/Member in Charge shall indicate the date of recheck and the results and forward the completed Notice to Owner/Occupant form attached to a Request for Inspection form explaining the problem and provide contact phone numbers to the Issue Date: October 15, 2002 Last Revision: April 2, 2008 Page 3 of 5

4 Fire Prevention Division by inter-office mail for action. The Fire Prevention Division shall file both the Notice to Owner/Occupant and the Request for Inspection forms. 6.0 Private Residences (Monitored Smoke Alarm Systems) 6.1 Alarm sounding no answer at the door: Command shall: o Ensure that the exterior perimeter of the building has been checked for signs of smoke or fire. o Ensure that windows and door leading to the interior of the building have been visually examined for smoke or fire conditions inside the building. 6.2 Command shall not: o Authorize any activity that may cause damage to the building without clear indications that a fire condition exists within the structure. 6.3 Issue Notice to Owner/Occupant form. RESPONSIBILITIES Command shall: Check the annunciator panel to see that it is clear, before leaving scene. Issue Notice to Owner/Occupant form when required. Command shall ensure that buildings are thoroughly checked before leaving the scene. Command shall ensure that all attempts have been made to reach a key holder. Station Officer shall recheck buildings that have been issued Notice to Owner/Occupant form. Command shall notify Ottawa Police Services if forcible entry has been made. Dispatch shall: Attempt to contact Building Staff/Management, when requested, so that fire alarm system keys can be brought to the building. The Fire Prevention Division shall: Follow-up with Building Supervisory Staff when a Notice to Owner/Occupant form and Request for Inspection form is received from Suppression. File all Notice to Owner/Occupant forms that are submitted. File all Request for Inspection forms once completed. References and Related Areas Of Interest Ontario Fire Code Section (1) Issue Date: October 15, 2002 Last Revision: April 2, 2008 Page 4 of 5

5 (Original signed by Fire Chief Larabie) R. Larabie Fire Chief, Branch Community and Protective Services City of Ottawa It is understood that this procedure may not address all circumstances. Conditions may exist that require some type of deviation by the Incident Commander. Decisions should always be based on experience, the safety of the public and the safety of personnel. Issue Date: October 15, 2002 Last Revision: April 2, 2008 Page 5 of 5

SIGN OFF SHEET- STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURE SOP #: FI 04.

6 SIGN OFF SHEET- STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURE SOP #: FI Fire Alarm Systems (Silence/Reset) - Revised A Platoon B Platoon Print Name Signature Print Name Signature C Platoon D Platoon Print Name Signature Print Name Signature (please sign after reading above noted SOP)

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