College Planning & Management

JUN 2012

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INSPECTING FIRE & LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS these comments as a guide in making their decisions. Contact with representatives from The Joint Commission and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services both indicate they do not require annual sound-level measurement testing on audible appliances. Delayed Egress Locks One of the aspects of operation for the delayed egress locks is the requirement for these locks to be interfaced with the building fi re alarm system or the automatic sprinkler system. The doors are required to unlock upon water-fl ow, or activation of a heat detector or no more than two smoke detectors. While most national codes do not reference a specifi c requirement for testing the delayed egress locks, NFPA 72-1999 National Fire Alarm Code does have a written requirement for testing interface equipment. Table 7-2.2, paragraph 19 says interface equipment connections shall be tested by operating or simulating the equipment being supervised. Signals that are required to be transmitted must be verifi ed at the control panel. Delayed egress locks are not necessarily supervised, but they do have an interface device (control relay) that unlocks the doors on a signal from the fi re alarm control panel. NFPA 72 recommends the testing frequency of interface equipment to be conducted annually. Meet Higher Standards for Rooftop Safety Railings Stairwell Pressurization, Fire and Smoke Damper Operation Minimum requirements require that the interface with the alarm system be tested yearly and that the operational characteristics from the design professional's sequence of operation be tested yearly Extinguisher Monitoring Fire extinguishers tied into the fi re alarm system for monitor- ing are exempt from yearly testing. They must be checked every three years for proper monitoring. Fire Door Release NFPA 80 requires yearly testing of fi re doors for proper release and latching, as well as a visual inspection of door conditions to ensure there is no damage that would cause the door to fail under fi re conditions. Emergency Generator and Lighting and Exit Lights At a minimum, inspection of candela levels for all egress lighting, as well as signs, should be conducted annually. A functional test for the generator based on the sequence of opera- tion supplied by the original design team should be conducted annually as well. Tailor Your Program to Your Campus This is not a comprehensive list of system components and elements that should be reviewed annually. In fact, depending on your specifi c types of systems, there could be a need for monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual testing requirements. Ideally, your testing and maintenance staff or contractor should be able to provide you with a list of the components they are testing and the results, as required by NFPA standards. If you are unsure if your facility fi re and life-safety systems are in compli- ance with codes and standards, consider bringing in a team of your peers who are familiar with your operations and can provide a review of your testing and maintenance program in comparison to adopted standards for your campus. Testing and maintenance of system components will help you UÊ ii Õ>À`® Ê Ã«i`ÊÀvà ʫiÀ>iÌÊv>Ê«ÀÌiVÌÊÃÞÃÌiÃÊvÀÊy>ÌÊÀÊÜÊ UÊ ÃÌ>ÊÜÌÕÌÊÜi`}]Ê`À}ÊÀÊ«iiÌÀ>Ì}ÊÌiÊÀvÊÊ Ê Ê iLÀ>i UÊ `iÃÊ>ÃÊ>Û>>LiÊvÀÊÃÞ}ÌÃ]Ê>ÌViÃ]ÊÃÌ>ÀÃÊ>`ÊÜ>Ü>Þà UÊ `Õ>ÀÊ`iÃ}ÊÌÊwÌÊÛÀÌÕ>ÞÊ>ÞÊÀvÊVw}ÕÀ>Ì UÊ >Û>âi`ÊvÀÊVÀÀÃÀiÃÃÌ>Vi Kee Safety, Inc., Buffalo, NY >Ê£näänx£x£n£ÊUÊ6ÃÌÊÜÜÜ° ii Õ>À`°V Safety at the Highest LevelSM meet the intended objectives of fi re and life safety systems — life safety, property protection, and continuity of operations. Inspec- tion of your systems will reduce failure rates and down time for all devices, ensuring reliable performance of the system. CPM Mike Halligan is the associate director of Environmental Health and Safety at the University of Utah and is responsible for Fire Preven- tion and Special Events Life Safety. He frequently speaks about performance-based code solutions for campus building projects, is recognized as an expert on residence hall fi re safety programs, and conducts school fi re prevention program audits/strategic planning. He can be reached at 801/585-9327 or at mike.halligan@ehs.utah.edu. 54 COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / JUNE 2012 WWW.PLANNING4EDUCATION.COM

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