LIST OF REQUIREMENTS OUTLINING ALL INSPECTION, TESTING, MAINTENANCE
AND OPERATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS
CAN BE FOUND IN THE:
- VANCOUVER FIRE BY-LAW
- VANCOUVER BUILDING BY-LAW
- NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, CODES AND STANDARDS
- CSA STANDARDS, CAN/ULC STANDARDS
MAINTENANCE
1. Fire alarm and detection system components shall be
maintained at all times in operating condition by qualified
personnel.
2. Access to fire alarm and detection system components
requiring inspection or servicing shall be kept
unobstructed.
3. Proprietary signalling systems shall be maintained in
conformance with ULC Standard 536, for the Installation,
Maintenance and Use of Proprietary Protective Signalling
Systems.
NOTE: The Vancouver Building By-Law allows a delay of a
maximum of five (5) seconds upon activation of a manual pull station.
1. Daily visual checks and monthly tests shall be conducted by
the owner, agent or occupant of the building.
2. Yearly tests shall be conducted by a person acceptable to
the authority having jurisdiction for servicing fire alarm
systems.
3. Approved records shall be kept of the installation, testing,
maintenance, failures, repairs and extension of any required
fire alarm and detection system.
4. Details of inspections and tests shall be subject to the
inspection and approval of the Fire Inspector.
The following daily visual checks shall be conducted and if a
fault is established, appropriate corrective action shall be
taken.
1. Check the principal and remote trouble lights for trouble
indication.
2. Inspection of the AC power-on light shall be carried out to
ensure its normal operation only if the main power supply
failure is not electrically supervised.
The following monthly tests shall be conducted by the person
responsible for the proper operation of the Fire Alarm System.
1. One manual alarm initiating device shall be operated on a
rotation basis and shall initiate an alarm condition.
2. The intended function of all alarm audible signal appliances
shall be ensured.
3. Annunciator panels shall be checked to ensure that each
device annunciates correctly.
4. The intended function of the audible and visual trouble
signals shall be ensured.
5. The Fire Alarm Power Supply shall be checked to ensure that:
a) Terminals are clean and lubricated where necessary.
b) Terminal clamps are clean and tight where necessary.
c) The electrolyte level and specific gravity, where
applicable are to the manufacturers specifications.
1. The annual tests require that a qualified person,
satisfactory to the Fire Chief, carry out extensive testing
of the entire Fire Alarm System. Tests will be completed and
recorded by the service technician. The records shall be
available for inspection by the Fire Inspector on request.
2. It is the responsibility of the owner\agent of a building
equipped with a Fire Alarm System to ensure that these tests
are carried out and are properly recorded.
3. The following annual tests shall be conducted by a qualified
authority. Every reasonable effort shall be made to test all
components required. In the event that some required
components cannot reasonably be made accessible, a list of
components and their location shall be included in the
inspection record. However, all components shall be tested
at least once every three (3) years.
a) The Fire Alarm System shall be operated under general
alarm conditions.
b) A minimum of six (6) manual alarm initiating devices,
most remote from the standby power supply, shall be
activated individually with the main power supply
disconnected.
c) Every manual alarm initiating device on each floor,
including subgrade areas, shall be activated with the
main power supply on.
d) Operation of every audible and visual signal appliance
shall be ensured during the testing of alarm
initiating devices.
e) Each automatic alarm initiating device shall be tested
for its intended function following the manufacturer's
instructions.
f) All alarm signalling, initiating circuits and
annunciator panels shall be checked for electrical
supervision and trouble indications.
g) Correct annunciation shall be ensured for each
initiating device tested.
h) The Fire Alarm System control unit shall be visually
checked.
MAINTENANCE, INSPECTION OF HOSE CABINETS AND EQUIPMENT
1. Hose cabinets shall be inspected monthly to ensure that the
hose is in proper position, all of the equipment is in place
and in operable condition.
2. Standpipe hose cabinets shall be used for fire protection
equipment only.
3. Standpipe hose cabinets shall be properly identified and
unobstructed.
4. Hose valves shall be examined annually to ensure that they
are tight and do not leak,(NFPA 1962)
5. Where system pressures exceed 150 PSI (10.3 bars), an
appropriate sign shall be provided at each outlet, NFPA
14.4.7.2.
6. Where system pressures exceed 175 PSI (12.1 bars) a pressure
regulating device shall be installed at the hose valve
outlet. The pressure regulating device will ensure that the
pressure at the outlet does not exceed 100 psi (6.9 bars),
NFPA 14.4.7.3.
7. Standpipe hose shall be removed and re-racked annually as
well as after use. Check for worn gaskets in the couplings
at the hose valves and at the nozzle.
8. Standpipe hose shall be removed and service tested at
intervals not exceeding five years after the purchase date
and every three years thereafter.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Sprinkler control valves shall not be closed in the event
of a fire until the fire is extinguished or is considered to
be under control by other means.
2. Changes in equipment or occupancy which may result in
temperatures at sprinkler heads being more than 38o C or
less than 4o C with wet pipe systems, shall not be made
without previously making provisions to alter the sprinkler
system to prevent premature operation or freezing.
3. Sections of sprinkler systems subject to freezing shall be
converted to a dry pipe or anti-freeze system with a
separate control valve for that part of the system.
4. No obstructions such as partitions, racks or piled stock
shall be placed so as to interfere with the effectiveness of
water discharge from sprinkler heads. Minimum clearance
required for sprinkler heads shall be 45 cm (18").
5. Sprinkler heads shall be protected by approved sprinkler
guards where there is the possibility of mechanical damage.
NOTE: Sprinkler systems shall be maintained in accordance
with the requirements of NFPA 13, 13A OR 13R depending
on the installation being tested
1. Where operations require the temporary shutting down of
sprinkler protection, such operations shall be programmed by
the contractor working on the system to enable completion in
the shortest possible time, and protection shall be restored
as promptly as possible. Before a sprinkler system is shut
down, Fire and Rescue Services Dispatch and Engineering
departments shall be notified. They are to be notified upon
re-activation of the system.
2. During an interruption of normal sprinkler protection,
emergency hose lines and portable extinguishers shall be
placed on duty, and temporary water connections shall be
made to the sprinkler systems where practicable.
3. Full sprinkler protection shall be restored, or the
provisions of item 2 maintained when work on the system is
discontinued, as at night time or during holidays.
4. Closed sprinkler control valves shall be tagged or
identified in a manner acceptable to the Fire Chief.
1. Prior notification of waterflow or other tests to be made
to a sprinkler system shall be given to all parties who
could be affected by an alarm.
2. On wet sprinkler systems, waterflow alarm tests using the
most hydraulically remote test connection shall be performed
monthly.
3. On dry sprinkler systems, waterflow alarm tests using the
alarm test connection located at the dry-pipe valve shall be
performed monthly.
4. An approved record shall be kept of all tests and operations
of each system, and this record shall be available for
examination by the Fire Inspector.
5. a) Where an electrical supervisory signal service is
provided for a sprinkler system, such service shall be
tested annually by qualified personnel so that tests
are made of all initiating and transmitting devices in
conformance with items 2 and 3.
b) All transmitters and water flow actuated devices shall
be tested at two (2) month intervals.
c) Gate valve supervisory switches, tank water level
devices, building and tank water temperature
supervisory devices and other sprinkler system
supervisory devices shall be tested at intervals of
not more than six (6) months.
6. Except as permitted in item 8, the sprinkler system shall
be subjected to a hydrostatic pressure test of 200 psig, or
50 psig in excess of the maximum static pressure to which
the system may be subjected if in excess of 150 psig, for a
period of two (2) hours without loss of pressure.
7. For dry-pipe systems, the clapper of the differential type
dry-pipe valve shall be held off its seat, and the ball drip
in the intermediate chamber shall be replaced by a plug
during the test.
8. At seasons of the year that will not permit hydrostatic
pressure testing, the sprinkler system shall be pressure
tested with air at 50 psig for two (2) hours without loss of
pressure, and the tests described in item 7, performed when
hydrostatic pressure testing can be performed without danger
of freezing.
9. Sprinkler system water pressure shall be tested with the
main drain valve fully open.
10. Drainage facilities shall be tested to ensure that the
drains are capable of taking the full flow from the main
drain pipe without overflowing.
11. Dry-type valves shall be tested annually to ensure that they
are in operative condition.
12. All mechanical and electrical alarms shall be tested
annually to ensure that they are in operative condition.
13. If any device in a sprinkler system does not operate
properly on test, it shall be repaired or replaced
immediately.
1. Except for electrically supervised valves, all valves
controlling water supplies to sprinklers and alarm
connections shall be checked weekly to ensure that they are
in the open position.
2. Sprinkler control valves shall be accessible and maintained
in operable condition at all times.
3. Pits containing sprinkler control valves shall be kept free
of water and protected against freezing.
4. After any sprinkler system control valve has been operated,
a drain test shall be performed to ensure that the valve has
been fully reopened.
5. Sprinkler piping and hangers shall be kept in good repair.
6. In addition to other requirements in this part, dry-pipe
automatic sprinkler systems shall be maintained in
conformance with items 7 to 12.
7. Air pressure shall be checked weekly by checking gauges
provided on the system, and the system shall be maintained
at the required operating pressure.
8. Dry-pipe valves shall be tripped annually by means of the
systems test pipe to ensure that they operate as designed
and that the sprinkler alarms are in operating condition.
9. Auxiliary drains shall be drained before each winter.
10. Dry-pipe valve rooms or enclosures in unheated buildings
shall be checked daily during periods of freezing weather to
ensure that adequate temperature is maintained to prevent
freezing.
11. The priming water supply for dry-pipe systems shall be
maintained at the proper level above the dry-pipe valve.
12. Every fifteen (15) years dry-pipe systems shall be test
flushed for obstructions in the sprinkler piping, if
necessary, the entire system flushed of foreign material.
13. Sprinkler heads shall be inspected at least once per year
to ensure that they are free from damage, corrosion, grease,
dust, paint or whitewash and shall be replaced where
necessary as a result of such conditions.
14. Except as otherwise required by the Fire Inspector, sample
heads from sprinkler systems which have been in service for
more than fifty (50) years shall be sent to an approved
testing laboratory for testing, and every ten (10)years
thereafter.
15. When sprinkler heads are required to be tested in
conformance with item 14, at least six (6) sprinklers of
each type shall be tested, except that not less than two (2)
sprinklers per floor per individual system shall be tested.
16. All sprinkler heads shall be replaced in sprinkler systems
from which sample heads have been tested and found
defective.
17. Where sprinkler systems are installed, a supply of spare
sprinkler heads and equipment shall be maintained in
conformance with items (a) to (d).
a) Spare sprinkler heads shall be kept in a cabinet
located where the temperature will at no time exceed
38 C.
b) The stock of spare sprinkler heads to be kept on hand
shall be as follows:
1. for installations containing not more than 300
sprinklers, at least six (6) heads.
2. for installations containing from 301 to 1,000
sprinklers at least twelve (12) heads.
3. for installations containing more than 1,000
sprinklers, at least twenty-four (24) heads.
c) Spare sprinkler heads shall correspond to the types and
temperature ratings of the sprinklers in use.
d) A sprinkler wrench shall be kept in the cabinet where
the spare sprinkler heads are stored.
1. Where special extinguishing systems have been installed,
they shall be certified. Inspection and maintenance of the
system, as approved by the Fire Inspector, shall be provided
at least every six (6) months.
2. Written records shall be kept of all periodic tests carried
out, and such records shall be accessible for inspection by
the Fire Inspector.
3. Operating and maintenance instructions shall be posted in
proximity to the equipment and shall be located near manual
controls when such controls are provided.
4. Valves and controls shall be marked to clearly indicate
their function and shall be accessible at all times.
5. Extinguishing agent containers provided for special
extinguishing systems shall be fully charged with the proper
quantity of extinguishing agent and the necessary operating
pressure maintained.
6. Discharge outlets for extinguishing systems shall be kept
free of dirt and residue.
7. Piping and equipment shall be mechanically secure and
accessible for cleaning and maintenance.
8. No replacement equipment and devices provided for special
extinguishing systems shall be used unless approved for the
installation in which they are to be placed.
9. An increase in a hazard for which a special extinguishing
system has been designed shall not be permitted unless
approved fire protection measures are made to accommodate
the increased hazard.
1. The temperature of pump rooms shall be checked daily during
freezing weather and maintained at an appropriate
temperature to prevent freezing.
2. Fire pumps shall be started at least once per week at rated
speed and at this time the fire pump discharge pressure,
suction pressure, lubricating oil level, operative condition
of relief valves, priming water level and general operating
conditions shall be checked and recorded.
3. Internal combustion engine fire pumps shall be operated for
a sufficient time to bring the engine up to normal operating
temperature and the storage batteries, lubrication systems,
oil and fuel supplies shall be checked and maintained at the
correct levels and recorded.
4. Fire pumps shall be tested at least once per year at full
rated capacity to ensure that they are capable of delivering
the rated flow.
5. Records shall be kept of all fire pump flow tests and shall
be available for inspection by the Fire Inspector.
