Finger Lakes Building Officials Association
Fire Alarm Inspections
25 Steps to FAILURE!
• RIT INN AND CONFERENCE CENTER
14 March 2022
1
Presented by
Asset Protection Associates
14 March 2022 2
1
2
REFERENCES
• Text on following slides refers to The Building Code of New York State
• All references are accurate to the 2020 Edition of Building Code of NYS
• Consider most references synonymous
With the IBC and IFC
14 March 2022 3
2020 Fire Code of NYS
• Section 907.1.2 NYSFC and NFPA 72-7.2.1
• Shop Drawings
• Requires Floor Plans
• Requires Locations
• Requires Battery Calculations
• Requires Voltage Drop Calculations
14 March 2022 4
3
4
WIRING
Wiring SHALL comply
with the requirements
of NFPA 70 and NFPA 72.
14 March 2022 5
Fire Code of NYS (2020 edition)
• Section 907.1.2 & 907.2.2
• Refers to NFPA 72 (2016 edition)
• IAW Approved Plans & Specifications
• Requires Record of Completion
14 March 2022 6
5
6
New York State Fire Code
• Section 907.7
• Requires Acceptance Testing
• All devices shall be tested
• IAW and Refers to NFPA 72
14 March 2022 7
Fire Code of NYSInstructions
• Section 907.7.3
• Requires Operating Instructions
• Refers to NFPA 72 – 7.5.3
• Requires Record (As Built) Drawings
• And Manufacturers published instructions
• NFPA 72-7.7.2.1
• States “Storage at an Approved Location”14 March 2022 8
7
8
Fire Code of New York StateInspection, Testing and
Maintenance
• Section 901.6
• Section 901.6 Maintenance Required
• Section 907.8 Testing Required
• Exception for Inaccessible with safety reasons extending NFPA frequencies
14 March 2022 9
New York State Fire CodeDetector Sensitivity Testing
• Check one Year After Installation
• After First Test – Alternate Years
• Section 907.8.3 Testing Required
• Exception for Inaccessible with safety reasons extending NFPA frequencies
• Specified in 907.8.214 March 2022 NFPA 72, 14.4.4.3.1
9
10
New York State Building Code
• Section 907.6.3
• New in 2015 - states “The FAS shall ID each initiating device, address location, device type, floor level, status as normal, supervisory status, trouble as appropriate.”
• These relate to systems of ten or more devices excluding manual or waterflow
14 March 2022 11
Definitions – Acceptance Test
ACCEPTANCE TEST 901.5 and 907.7An acceptance test - act intended to verify and confirm the functional operability of all or part of a new system, device, circuit or programming.
NFPA 72, 14.2.1.1 [‘16]
11
12
Acceptance Testing
CEO must be notified prior to the acceptance test.
The CEO may or may not witness a 100% test but must be performed before inspector arrival
Required tests at owner expense
Record of Completion shall be completed and provided at the acceptance test
10-74 BCNYS, 901.5 [‘20]; NFPA 72, 14.4.1 [’16]
Record of Completion
14 March 2022 14
13
14
Schedule includes all fire alarm devices
Control panels, power supplies, etc.
Continues with cable.
Continues on list to all fire alarm initiating devices
Next - notification appliances.
-NFPA 72, Table 14.4.3.2 [’16]
Pre CEO Inspection
2016 Edition - Frequency and Methods combined - 14.4.3.2
10-24
Table lists how to test
Manufacturer may be more stringent
Follow manufacturer published instructions
Methods based on the listing requirements
Table 14.4.3.2 - Methods
Inspection and Testing
10-33
15
16
Qualified
14 March 2022 17
Code says:
Examples of “Qualified and Experienced”
New in 2013 and continued in 2016:
Testing personnel shall have experience
and be knowledgeable of the testing requirements for
the fire alarm equipment on which they will work
Acceptance Test PracticesDuct Detector
Test differential pressure across sampling tubes with a magnehelic gauge to
Use punk or aerosol to ensure detector functionality
Mechanical contractor often will test duct detectors.
Annual testing performed by a Qualified Fire Alarm Technician
Follow manufacturers instructions.
DO NOT USE SMOKE BOMBS or theatrical smoke machines
14 March 2022 18
17
18
10-70
Magnehelic Gauge
Testing Instrumentation
Magnehelic gauge used to test duct smoke detectors.
10-71
Magnehelic Guage
Air flow
19
20
Anemometer used by contractor to
measure air speed in duct.
10-72
Anemometer
Anemometer is used to verify that the detector’s environment is within its rated/listed air speeds.
Initial Notification Appliance Testing
Test all audible appliances using a decibel meter.
Measure dB levels - intervening doors closed.
Minimum sleeping rooms 75 dBA maximum reading 110 dBA.
NEW in 2013 (2016): Test any visible appliances to make sure they flash, both at Acceptance Test and annually afterwards. ly.)
10-58
-NFPA 72, 14.4.3.2(22) [’16], BCNYS and FCNYS, 907.5 [‘20],
21
22
Use a digital decibel meter to take your readings.
Digital Decibel Meter
10-59
Testing
Reasons Why Inspections Fail
• Conducted National Survey
• Administered to Varied AHJ’s and CEO’s
• Asked for Top Ten Reasons
• Received Up to 37 Reasons
• Only 25 presented – Some with References
14 March 2022 24
23
24
Reason Number 25
Building Occupant Interference
Preparatory Initiatives Necessary
14 March 2022 25
Reason Number 24
Inadequate Engineering
Design
Performed by an Unqualified
Individual
14 March 2022 26
25
26
Reason Number 23
Miscommunication Among
Participants
Inspection Date, Time, Rendezvous
Location Unclear
14 March 2022 27
Reason Number 22
Contractor and/or Owner
Coordination with Vendor
Lacking
Who reports to Whom?
14 March 2022 28
27
28
Reason Number 21
Untimely
Participant
Arrival
14 March 2022 29
JM1
Reason Number 20
Premature Occupancy
Persons in Unapproved Areas
Interfering with Inspection Progress
14 March 2022 30
29
30
Reason Number 19
Building Unfamiliarity
Participants Unfamiliar
With Actual Installation
14 March 2022 31
Reason Number 18
Field and Design Changes
Not Recorded
With Appropriate Detail
14 March 2022 32
31
32
Reason Number 17
MAJOR Design Changes
Not Filed with CEO/AHJ
14 March 2022 33
Reason Number 16
Repairs
UNENFORCED!!!
14 March 2022 34
33
34
Reason Number 15
Inspection Notification
Occupants not Informed
Notice Improperly Posted
Untimely Notification
14 March 2022 35
Reason Number 14
Inspection Scheduled
Without Approved Drawings On site
14 March 2022 36
35
36
Reason Number 13
Documentation Insufficiencies
Variances, Permits, Supervising Station Contract, Correspondence, C.O.,
Specifications
14 March 2022 37
Reason Number 12
Inspector Stall
Attempts to Delay Inspector
While Final Program Changes Affected
14 March 2022 38
37
38
Reason Number 11
Devices Not Permenantly Installed
Includes wiring, Supervising station
Permanence, Emergency and Permanent Power, Drawing Cabinet, HVAC Equipment
Non-operational, Phone Lines Incomplete14 March 2022 39
Reason Number 10
No Water
Impossible to Test Waterflow Device
with Empty Sprinkler Piping
14 March 2022 40
39
40
Reason Number 9
Hidden or Covered Devices
Shipping Covers on Smoker Detectors,
Devices Hidden behind Drywall,
Access Doors Lacking
14 March 2022 41
Reason Number 8
Vertical Transportation Issues
Elevator Phase I & II and
Shunt Trip incomplete
Smoke Hatches Non-operational
14 March 2022 42
41
42
Reason Number 7
Inspector Test Valve
Missing or Drain Valve Used
14 March 2022 43
Reason Number 6
Major System Component Missing
Fire Safety Functions Not Performing
Purge, Stair Pressurization, Systems Interoperability, Door Release, etc.
14 March 2022 44
43
44
Reason Number 5
Manpower Inadequate
Ya Need the Fitter, Tinknocker,
Electrician, Elevator Guy, HVAC Technician,
Supervising Station Rep,
Commissioning Agent – ON SITE!14 March 2022 45
Reason Number 4
Unqualified Fire Alarm Technician
Some Licensees ar NOT enough!
Qualified as in NICET Tech at
Appropriate Certification Level
14 March 2022 46
45
46
Reason Number 3
Inadequate/Improper Tools to Perform
Ladders, Canned Smoke, Test Equipment,
Laptops, Hand Tools, Hi-lo or Scaffold
NO MAGNETS, Radios
14 March 2022 47
Reason Number 2
Incomplete Documentation
Record of Completion, Record Drawings,
Test Notations (including Static Differentials for Duct Detectors and SPL for Notification
Appliances), Permanent Site-Specific Software, Approved Drawings, Permits
14 March 2022 48
47
48
Reason Number 1
NO PRETEST!!!!
Operational Pre-test Never Performed
First 3 or 4 Devices Fail – AUTOMATIC
Inspection Cancellation or Failure & Violation Order Issuance
14 March 2022 49
SUGGEST
• Develop Company Pre-test Checklist
• Record ALL Test Results (FNS, DBA, “WC”)
• Call CEO/AHJ Day Before Inspection
• Prepare and Present “Plan for Inspection”
• Use All Resources
14 March 2022 50
49
50
SUGGEST
• Staff Training
• Know More than the Product
• Reward Advancement in Qualifications
• Pre-test As if You are the Inspector
• GET GOOD OR GET GONE !
14 March 2022 51
•Important Notice: This document has been provided for NFPA technical committee member use only. This document is the copyright property of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Copyright 0 2014 NFPA, and may not be used for any other purpose or distributed to any other persons or parties outside of the technical committee.
•NFPA® 170
•Standard for •Fire Safety and
•Emergency Symbols
•2018 Edition
NFPA
•NFPA®, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, USA An International Codes and Standards Organization
51
52
SYMBOLS – NFPA 170
14 March 2022 53
14 March 2022 54
AlarmExtinguishing System(CO2, CA, HL, WC, FO, DC)
Emergency Connection
Exit Sign
Exhaust FanEmergency Phone
Exhaust Outlet Fire
Flammable Liquids
Gas Detector
High Pressure Gas
Heat Detector
Manual Pull Station
People
Smoke
53
54
55
Thank you for yourkind attention!
Any questions?
James M. Mundy, Jr. NYS CCEO, SET, CFPS
Asset Protection Associates, [email protected]
55
Top Related