AHJ PERSPECTIVE

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

Eddy La Rocque

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

WHAT There are new Code requirements for the Commissioning of Life Safety and Fire Protection Systems.

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

WHERE do we find this / Code Ref: 2014 ABC Part 3 & Part 9 3.2.4.6. Commissioning of Life Safety and Fire Protection Systems. 9.10.1.2. Commissioning of Life Safety and Fire Protection Systems. 2014 AFC Part 2 2.1.3.8. Commissioning of Life Safety and Fire Protection Systems. One of the rare instances where a requirement is in both Fire and Building Codes. Clue: Fire Code = Retro IST & Periodic IST.

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

WHAT is Commissioning: Is an Owner driven Process A process to ensure that the finished Facility operates in accordance with the Owner’s project requirements and the construction documents.

Applies: To all building systems and components

WHAT is Integrated Systems Testing: Is a Code requirement. A methodology for verifying / documenting that Interconnections between fire protection and life safety systems are installed and operating in conformance with their design criteria. Applies: To Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems only. WE ARE PRIMARELY CONCERNED WITH INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING (IST) AND NOT WITH COMMISSIONING

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING WHAT does AFC & ABC APPENDIX say and WHY do we need this: A-2.1.3.8. & A-3.2.4.6. (1). When commissioning a building, the owner must ensure that the life safety systems and their components are functioning according to the intent of their design. The commissioning provides the documented confirmation that building systems satisfy the intent of the Code. Ultimately, someone will have to ensure that the interconnected operation of all life safety systems within the building has been confirmed: this may fall on the designer, owner, contractor or a commissioning body. The AFC does not specify who must fulfill this role as this is an administrative issue.

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING WHAT are the Standards/Guides REFERENCED STANDARD IN 2014 AFC & ABC NONE REFERENCED STANDARD IN 2015 NFC/NBC Will be CAN/ULC S1001-11 Standard For Integrated Systems Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems. For Alberta 2017 expect: •AFC: New Section 6.8 on testing of Integrations, will ref CAN/ULC S-1001. •ABC: New subsection 3.2.9 will replace 3.2.4.6., will ref CAN/ULC S-1001.

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

WHERE do we go from here: LEGALLY: We are in a code vacuum. GIVEN: That there is currently no AFC/ABC referenced document GIVEN: That we need to apply/enforce the requirement NOW GIVEN: That this requirement is an important step forward in life safety GIVEN: That there will be a ULC Standard referenced in the next edition of the Codes GALGARY : Apply CAN/ULC S-1001 as a guide until next Code cycle RECOMMENDATION : Develop a STANDATA. *Must cover both Codes*

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

WHAT is CAN/ULC S1001-11. Standard For Integrated Systems Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems. Scope: It represents the process of integrated systems testing and is the first ULC standard related to Commissioning. Developed: To meet the needs of the NBC and the NFC for integrated systems testing of fire protection and life safety systems and the fire protection and life safety functions of other systems.

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

WHAT is in CAN/ULC S1001-11. Prescribes: Methodology for verifying and documenting that all interconnections between systems provided for fire protection and life safety functions are installed and operating in conformance with their design criteria; A. Integrated systems testing qualifications; B. Integrated systems testing process; C. Integrated systems testing requirements; D. Integrated systems testing documentation; E. Periodic integrated systems testing; F. Retro-integrated systems testing; G. Integrated systems testing for modifications.

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

WHAT other CAN/ULC documents provide guidance in this area In development ULC-S1002: Guideline on the Fire Commissioning Process ULC-S1003: Acceptance Testing for Active Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems ULC-S1004: Acceptance Testing for Passive Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems Other documents/references NFPA 3 – 2015 Edition. Recommended Practice - Commissioning of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems. NFPA 4 – 2015 Edition. Standard For Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing.

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING PATHWAY FORWARD = DIALOGUE CREATE : ad-hoc working group. Lets be pragmatic. Calgary/Alberta APPROVAL OF STANDATA: promulgated my Municipal Affairs. IST QUALIFICATIONS: Determine what is considered knowledgeable and experienced. IST PROCESS: Determine parameters for New, Periodic, Retro, and testing for Modifications. Determine testing protocols and procedures. Determine site specific test scenarios, Develop Plans. IST DOCUMENTATION Develop standard documentation.

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

PATHWAY FORWARD

MONKEY Put the monkey where it belongs

Owner responsibility = delivery by professionals and industry

Fire alarm system is building central nervous system

Take the lead

IST will be enforced

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

PATHWAY FORWARD

DIALOGUE AND CONSENSUS

COLLECTIVELY WE HAVE ONE SHOT AT GETTING THIS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

PATHWAY FORWARD

FINAL THOUGHTS ON AHJ EXPECTATIONS

Fire Alarm System Design, Installation, Maintenance and Testing / VI’s

by Qualified Personnel & Professionals Correct Documentation

and Reporting Deficiencies to CFD

& IST

WILL be enforced

INTEGRATED SYSTEM TESTING

PATHWAY FORWARD

QUESTIONS ?

Fire Alarm Reporting CFD and Industry Collaboration

Introduction

• Fire Enforcement & Compliance Team

– 4 member team of 3 SCO’s and a Legal Assistant

– Addressing large scale files, issues and/or projects

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

• AFC 6.1.1.3.(2) – If a person who carries out the maintenance of fire protection installations, including but not limited to portable fire extinguishers, fire extinguishing systems, fire alarm systems or fire alarm devices, discovers that a device or system is inoperative or defective and the owner or their authorized agent is unwilling or unable to correct the defect, the person carrying out the maintenance shall forthwith notify, in writing, the fire department and the owner or their authorized agent of that notification.

Reporting of Systems

• At this Time 311 Notification of Deficient Fire Alarm Systems

Proposed Reporting of Systems

• Future

Notification of all Systems

FORMATING REPORTS & CERTIFICATES

• Consistency of Information

• Consistency when Issued

Deficiencies vs. Recommendations

• Should be separated in Report – Confusing to Owner and SCO’s – SCO may reject reports with

“Recommendations” listed with deficiencies.

• System cannot be Code Compliant with Deficiencies Present.

Annual Testing Standards

• Fire Alarm – CAN/ULC S536 • Sprinkler System – NFPA 25 • Emergency Generators – CSA C282 • Fire Pumps – NFPA 25 • Special Suppression Systems – NFPA (multi)

• Kitchen Suppression – NFPA 17A and 96

Questions or

Comments

Communication List Advanced Fire & Safety Systems Inc. Alberta Building Maintenance Ltd. Alberta Onsite Fire and Saftey Inspection Aon Fire Protection Engineering Corporation CentratechTechnical Services Ltd Certifire Inc CFAA - Canadian Fire Alarm Association Chub Edwards Commercial Mechanical service Concept electric Fahrenheit 451 Fore & Security Fire Saftey Services (Calgary) Ltd. FIS Four Alarm IFP Solutions Jas Electrical Contractors inc.

Levitt Safety MGK Safety Solutions Inc. Mircom Engineered Systems NorthStar PDS Fire Protection Pro-Tech Fire & Safety Riverstar Fire Protection Riviera Electric Ltd Tyco (SimplexGrinnell) Sprouse Fire & Safety The Recharge Centre Troy* U of C Viking* Vipond Fire Protection