COURSE SYLLABUS FIRE ALARM AND FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS CORRESPONDENCE COURSE 100130 Description The first part of the course presents the requirements for fire alarm systems. It describes the buildings that require a fire alarm system, describes the different types of fire alarm systems and explains the persons and processes involved when a fire alarm system must be installed. The detailed requirements for fire alarm systems are described in terms of input functions and output functions. For example, a fire alarm system receives information, such as smoke detected by a detector, and acts on it by shutting down an air handling system. Some post-occupancy requirements for fire alarm systems are also presented. The second part of the course discusses the ABC 2014 requirements for fire suppression activities and systems. A history of fire suppression and basic fire theory is presented. Requirements intended to allow firefighters easy access to buildings are described. Finally, all of the detailed requirements for standpipe systems and automatic sprinkler systems are identified, including many requirements from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards addressing these systems. The final part of this course discusses emergency lighting and emergency power systems meant to feed emergency lighting, fire alarm and other life safety and fire protection systems in the event of a loss of normal power. Objectives Identify the subsections of the ABC 2014 discussed in this course and list the types of buildings that require a fire alarm system. Identify persons permitted to design a fire alarm system and list requirements for permits, schedules, and plans. v
Describe requirements for the continuity of fire alarm systems, list the types of fire alarm systems and describe when each type of fire alarm system must be installed. Identify the fire alarm system installation and verification standards, describe the basic requirements of these standards and describe the requirements for the commission and shutdown of fire alarm systems. Describe the basic operation of single- and two-stage fire alarm systems. Describe the requirements for silencing fire alarm signals and for fire alarm systems required to send a signal to the fire department. Describe the function of control units; the different types of field devices and the requirements for annunciators, zoning a fire alarm system and shutting down central vacuum cleaning systems. Describe the requirements for the function of audible signal devices, audibility of alarm systems and visual signal devices. List the types of buildings that require a voice communication system and describe the requirements for the system. Describe the requirements for electrical supervision of fire alarm systems and sprinkler system monitoring. Describe different types of automatic detectors and describe the requirements for fire and heat detectors. Describe the requirements for smoke and duct-type smoke detectors. Describe the requirements for manual stations and smoke alarms. Describe the requirements for testing devices during verification of a fire alarm system. Describe the requirements for maintaining and testing a fire alarm system. Describe the methods to control the fuel, oxygen and heat needed to initiate and sustain a fire. Describe the requirements for access openings into a building. vi
Define when a building is considered to face a street or access route and describe the requirements for hydrants, fire department connections and designing access routes. Describe the requirements for water supplies for firefighting. Describe requirements for emergency operation of elevators, elevators for use by firefighters and central alarm and control facilities in high buildings. Identify which buildings are required to have a standpipe system, the standard to which the system must be designed, the different types of systems and other basic requirements. Identify persons permitted to design a standpipe system and list the requirements for plans. Describe the requirements for fire pumps and hose connections for a standpipe system. Describe the requirements for standpipe system hose stations, the requirements during construction and demolition operations and the requirements for fire extinguishers. Identify buildings required by Articles 3.2.2.20. to 3.2.2.90. to have a sprinkler system, and types of structures considered special and unusual structures. List the sprinkler requirements for basements, large open floor areas, residential occupancies, storeys below ground and buildings with impeded egress zones and contained-use areas. Describe sprinkler requirements for underground walkways; openings in floor assemblies due to manufacturing processes; storage rooms in residential occupancies; areas used for hazardous substances, equipment and processes; industrial occupancies, hazardous areas and linen and refuse chutes. Identify persons permitted to design and install automatic sprinkler systems and list the requirements for plans and hydraulic calculations. List the different types of sprinkler systems and the Standards that govern them. Describe the requirements for sprinkler systems that modify requirements found in the NFPA Standards, combustible sprinkler piping and service spaces. Describe some of the requirements of NFPA 13D. Describe some of the requirements of NFPA 13R. vii
Describe the contents of NFPA 13 and some of the requirements of NFPA 13, Chapters 1 to 7. Describe some of the requirements of NFPA 13, Chapters 8 to 21 and 24. Describe the requirements for emergency lighting equipment, the power sources for emergency lighting and the minimum duration for emergency lighting. Describe the requirements for emergency power for fire alarm systems and other building services and the minimum duration required for emergency power supply systems. Delivery Method Course 100130 is a self-paced, print-based correspondence course. You may work through this learning material at your own pace, but you must complete the course within six months. Advisor A course advisor will be available to answer your questions and discuss any issues you have regarding the course material. The course advisor will help you through any difficulties you experience with course material and is there to support you in accomplishing the course objectives. It is a good idea to touch base with your advisor regularly to make sure you are on track. You may contact your course advisor by email or telephone. Structure The course material is divided into bands, which are subdivided into modules. Each module begins with an introduction and a list of learning objectives to provide an overview of what you will learn. The learning objectives are again presented one at a time within each module. There is a self-test at the end of each learning objective section. Complete all the self-tests to ensure that you understand the course material and to prepare for the final exam. You should complete the course in the order in which the material is presented. An understanding of the concepts presented in one module may be required in subsequent modules. viii
This course contains three bands and nine modules. When you have successfully completed all the modules, you will be ready to take the final exam. Required Reading Resources You must obtain the following publication: Alberta Building Code 2014 It is available from the National Research Council Canada (NRC): http://www.nrccnrc.gc.ca/eng/publications/codes_centre/2014_alberta_building_ code.html Email: CONSTPubSales-Ventes@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca Phone: 1-800-672-7990 or 1-613-993-2463 Fax: 1-613-952-7673 Mail: Publication Sales M-23A, National Research Council 1200 Montreal Road Ottawa ON K1A 0R6 Recommended Reading Resources You will find references to a number of standards developed by organizations such as the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada, NFPA and international organizations equivalents. These materials are not required to complete this course but provide additional information you may find valuable. Evaluation To receive credit for this course, you must earn a grade of at least 80 percent on the final exam. The exam is two hours long and has 40 multiple-choice questions. It is open book, which means you can refer to your course materials and related documents. You may complete the final exam online, under the supervision of a proctor. You and your proctor will be emailed the passwords for the secure software download. The office must have your completed Online Examination and Proctor Consent forms at least 48 hours in advance if you choose to write online. ix
You may, instead, choose to write the exam in a paper-based format at the office, or at another location under the supervision of a proctor. To receive a hard copy of the exam, you and the proctor must complete a Proctor Consent. The office must have the form least one week before the date you wish to write the exam. The exam will be sent to your proctor. With the permission of ULCS, material is reproduced in this course from CAN/ULCS-S524-06, 'Installation of Fire Alarm Systems', CAN/ULCS-S536-13, 'Standard for the Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems', and CAN/ULCS-S537-13, 'Verification of Fire Alarm Systems. Copyright ULC Standards. Used under licence. x