Welcome to the Keys to a Successful Fire / Life Safety Inspection and Sustained Tenant & Building Safety 2017
Keys to a Successful Fire / Life Safety Inspection and Sustained Tenant & Building Safety First a few simple questions 1. Who dreads their annual Fire Marshal Inspection? 2. Who looks forward to their annual Fire Marshal Inspection? 3. Who prepares for their annual Fire Marshal Inspection? 4. Are you surprised, when you do not pass the Fire Marshal Inspection? 5. Have you discussed with your Local Authority Having Jurisdiction their expectations, before your inspection? 6. Do you have the required documents in place, prior to your Fire Marshal Inspection?
Pre - Fire Marshal Inspection - Checklist Items to be Maintained Onsite and Available Upon Request of the Fire Marshal Drawings of the Building and of the Life Safety Systems A Finalized Record of Completion (RoC) Form Current Life Safety Systems Inspection and Testing Forms for your: Fire Alarm System Fire Suppression Systems Wet, Dry or Preaction Sprinkler, Standpipe, Kitchen Hood Wet Chemical System, IT Sever Gaseous System, etc. Fire Extinguishers Fully Developed and Approved, by the Fire Marshal Evacuation Plans (Placards) Emergency Preparedness Plans On Site, Staff Life Safety Training Programs Fire / Emergency Evacuation Training and Drill Program
Drawings of the Building and its Systems Accurate Drawings of the Building and its Systems is critical. The most reliable drawings should be the Contractors As-Built Drawings. To assure accuracy, the Contractors As-Built Drawings should be reviewed and approved by the Design Team s Architect, and Engineers prior to final acceptance by the Owner Maintaining drawing accuracy is very important, whenever making modifications to the Building or its Systems, drawings should be updated in one complied set to reflect the finalized modifications.
Record of Completion (RoC) Form The RoC Form is signed and issued, by a Licensed Fire Alarm Contractor, to the Owner and to the AHJ. The RoC Form clearly states the system has been installed in accordance with the applicable Codes, has been fully tested, certified, fully functional and ready for the Owner s beneficial use The Fire Marshal and/or Building Inspector will also sign the RoC Form upon his, her or their final inspection and acceptance of the Fire Alarm System Your Licensed Fire Alarm Contractor as well, should retain a copy of the executed R0C Please Note: an existing RoC Form is required to be updated whenever the Fire Alarm System is modified
Current Life Safety Systems Inspection & Testing Forms Fire Alarm System At a minimum your Fire Alarm Service Provider is required to fill out and submit to the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), an Inspection and Testing Form, in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 72, each time the Fire Alarm System is inspected, tested or modified NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Specific AHJs may have unique Inspection and Testing Forms, if this is the case the Local AHJ s Inspection and Testing Form would be utilized.
Current Life Safety Systems Inspection and Testing Forms Fire Suppression Systems; Wet, Dry, Preaction Sprinkler, Standpipe, Kitchen Hood Wet Chemical System, IT Sever Gaseous System, etc. At a minimum your Fire Suppression Service Provider is required to fill out and submit to the local AHJ, an Inspection and Testing Form, in accordance with the requirements of the applicable NFPA Standard each time a Fire Suppression System is inspected, tested or modified. Applicable NFPA Standards include: NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems NFPA 14: Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems NFPA 17A: Standard for Wet Chemical Extinguishing Systems NFPA 20: Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems Specific AHJs may have unique Inspection and Testing Forms, if this is the case, the Local AHJ s Inspection and Testing Form(s) would be utilized.
Current Life Safety Systems Inspection and Testing Forms Fire Extinguishers Type, Rating and Use are described in NFPA 10: Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers Typical Fire Extinguishers and Ratings include: Pressurized Water CO2 Tri Class Dry Chemical Class K (A) Ordinary Combustibles, (B:C) Flammable Liquids, (A-B:C) Electrical Equipment, (K) Kitchen Fires Fire Extinguisher are to be viewed monthly by the Building Ownership and Inspected Annually by your Service Provider Your Fire Extinguisher Service Provider is required to fill out and place an inspection Tag on each Fire Extinguisher Annually
Current Life Safety Systems Inspection and Testing Forms Fully Developed and Approved, by the Fire Marshal Evacuation Plans Evacuation Plans are best if they developed from existing building plans. Attention to details is important, a singular orientation plan view can be very confusing. Plans should be rotated as needed to correctly represent the building and evacuation pathways from the viewer YOU ARE HERE perspective Evacuation Plans wherever possible should incorporate familiar commonly used symbols such as: Primary Egress You Are Here Secondary Egress If you need assistance developing these documents, speak with an Architect or a Life Safety Engineer The AHJ typically requires the Plans be Submitted for Review and Final Approval
Current Life Safety Systems Inspection and Testing Forms Fully Developed and Approved, by the Fire Marshal Emergency Preparedness Plans, should be a well written Formalized Procedure that includes: Facility Background Information; Address, Building Size, Construction and Occupancy Introduction; Why the Plan is Required and why it is Important to Follow the Plan Emergency Plan Guide; Emergency Actions listing in Detail, Procedures undertaken during a Fire Event or, a Non-Fire Emergency Event. Emergency Plan; A Practiced List of Procedures that are implemented during an Emergency Assembly Area; Outside the Building following an Evacuation A Plan for Alternate Accommodations; Should the Emergency Event makes the Building Uninhabitable General; Description of Life Safety System and a Inspection Schedule for each System Training; Requirements Specific to the Staff and Residence Drills; Requirements, Frequency, Participants, Expectations Post Drill Evaluation; What Went as Planed, What Did Not, Needs for Improvement If you need assistance with developing this document, speak with and Architect or a Life Safety Engineer The AHJ typically requires the Plan be Submitted for Review and Final Approval
Current Life Safety Systems Inspection and Testing Forms Fully Developed and Approved, by the Fire Marshal On Site, Staff Life Safety Training Programs Training of Employees Who is trained annually on the use of a Fire Extinguisher Emergency Contact Structure; Who is to be called, and in what order, During an Emergency Event Who is responsible for Contacting the Fire Department, on per shift basis Who is responsible For Evacuation Assistance Who is responsible for Confirming the Individuals, at the Outside Area of Assembly Who is responsible for providing information to the Fire Department upon their arrival Who is responsible for assisting the Fire Department with the operation of the Building Fire Alarm System Training is important, but should always be completed by a Qualified Firm or Organization, as Training comes with liability Issues
Current Life Safety Systems Inspection and Testing Forms Fully Developed and Approved, by the Fire Marshal Fire / Emergency Evacuation Training and Drill Program Drills, prior to conducting a Drill, the Facility should conduct an information session with the building s occupants. Explaining the overall Emergency Preparedness Plan will assistant the occupants in understanding what they may see and what directions may be given during an Evacuation Practicing Drills will aide the Occupants and the Staff understand the Evacuation Procedures Drills often are announced in advance, this is allows everyone involved to be prepared and practice what they have learned in a controlled setting With advance notification, some occupancy may elect to be off site on that day or time to avoid participating. The Ownership, where possible should try to discourage this With everyone participating the Drills and when necessary the actual Emergency Evacuation will be tolerated far better. Once a sufficient number of Information Sessions and Scheduled Drills are successfully completed, an unannounced Drill is recommended As mentioned previously, Following Every Drill, complete a Post Drill Evaluation
Keys to a Successful Fire / Life Safety Inspection and Sustained Tenant & Building Safety The Last Key Element to a Successful Fire / Life Safety Inspection is.. Don t be Surprised, Discuss with your Local AHJ their expectations, Ahead of Your Inspections
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