A Building Manager s Guide to Maintaining Fire Code Compliance

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1 A Building Manager s Guide to Maintaining Fire Code Compliance Know your role in conducting fire protection system inspections : Fire Alarm

2 Codes and Standards Maintaining your compliance with fire code regulations means that your fire protection systems must be properly tested, inspected and maintained to operate at peak performance and avoid false alarms. The National Fire Code of Canada and National Building Code of Canada are the legal documents that prescribe building safety requirements, but you also must check with municipal, provincial or territorial officials to determine the relevant code requirements for your jurisdiction. Specific rules within various codes and standards dictate the proper procedures for fire protection system installation, inspection, testing and maintenance. Initial Installation and Verification National Building Code of Canada references NFPA13 to prescribe fire sprinkler installation requirements. National Building Code of Canada references CAN/ULC-S524 Installation of Fire Alarm to prescribe fire alarm system installation requirements. National Buidling Code of Canada references CAN/ULC-S537 Verification of Fire Alarm to prescribe initial testing procedures for new fire alarm system installations. Ongoing and Maintenance National Fire Code of Canada references CAN/ULC-S536 Inspection and of Fire Alarm to prescribe the periodic testing procedures required for fire alarm systems. National Fire Code of Canada references NFPA 10 to prescribe the ongoing testing procedures for portable fire extinguishers. National Fire Code of Canada references NFPA 25 to prescribe the ongoing testing procedures for water-based fire protection systems. In Canada, Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) must test and list every fire extinguisher. The ULC label appears on all tested and listed extinguishers. 1 : Fire Alarm

3 Given the variety of codes that exist and the number of parties involved, identifying who is responsible for building safety can be challenging. According to the National Fire Code of Canada, and various Provincial fire codes, the following guidelines apply: The building owner must maintain life-safety systems for the property, carrying out the provisions of the code and maintaining a record of the tests unless otherwise specified. An original or a copy of system tests, inspections, maintenance or operational procedures must be retained at the premises. Inspection reports must be retained for the current and previous year no records shall be destroyed within two years of the test completion. The initial verification or test report for each system shall be retained throughout the life of the systems. Take Note As a building owner or manager: Always insist on receiving a completed Fire Alarm Inspection Report as documented in the appendix of CAN/ULC-S536. You must retain the report for three years. The building owner must maintain life-safety systems for the property In contrast, you have no legal requirement to obtain or post a fire alarm inspection certificate in Canada. : Fire Alarm

4 : Fire Alarm Work with a professional for help with fire system installation, testing and compliance. When it comes to your heat detectors and smoke detectors, choose a provider that knows to follow these measures: Test heat detectors with a low-temperature heat source. Common heat-detection devices contain a rate of rise heat-sensing function that is designed to respond to an increase in temperature of just 15 degrees Fahrenheit or 8.4 degrees Celcius over a one-minute period. Avoid the use of fuel-burning devices when testing heat detectors, as they produce extremely high temperatures that can damage the detector. Always keep smoke detectors as clean as possible. Use professional testing apparatus to test a smoke detector to avoid detrimental effects often associated with direct aerosol spray testing. Avoid exposing smoke detectors to large amounts of aerosol spray, which can contaminate detectors and lead to false nuisance alarms. Work with a professional for help with fire system installation, testing and compliance. : Fire Alarm

5 When testing your sprinkler system, choose a service provider that knows the proper testing procedures for the following fire sprinkler system components: Water-flow switches: Such switches rely on the pivoting of a paddle within the sprinkler pipe to activate the fire alarm system. These switches must be tested by flowing water through the system. Sprinkler heads: Different types of sprinkler heads trigger when they are exposed to different temperature thresholds. Test according to code and watch for corrosion, damage or large amounts of dust accumulation, which can impact effectiveness. Sprinkler shut-off tamper switches: Water supply valves, which allow water to flow within the sprinkler system, must remain in the OPEN position. Tamper switches monitor the position of these valves (and annunciate on the fire alarm panel) to alert you when the valve is not in the FULLY OPEN position. Many components of the fire sprinkler system require testing to ensure the system (as a whole) operates properly. Fire pumps: This equipment boosts sprinkler-system water pressure, which is often necessary in high-rise buildings. Enough water pressure must be present at the highest and/or last sprinkler head to provide adequate water-flow to extinguish a fire. Backflow preventer valves: These one-way valves separate the water feeding the fire sprinkler system from the domestic water supply. these devices ensures that contamination of drinking water is prevented. Gauges: Replace every five years, or test with a calibrated instrument to ensure accuracy. : Fire Alarm

6 Professional testing of fire alarm and sprinkler systems is typically conducted at the same time, as both systems are tied together to create one fire protection system. teams must consist of two types of skilled professionals the sprinkler system professional activates the flow of water in order to trigger water-flow switches, while the fire alarm professional witnesses the activation of the fire alarm panel to confirm both systems work together properly. Fire alarm professionals will also check other types of fire detection devices, as well as the fire alarm control panel to confirm: Activation of visual and audible alarm signals to alert occupants Alarm location annunciation to direct firefighters to the source of the fire Fire control panel signal activation to the alarm monitoring station For more information, call or visit Safer. Smarter. Tyco. : Fire Alarm