NFPA 72:Chapter 14: Inspection and Maintenance

NFPA 72 establishes the frequency of inspection and testing◦ Initial installation◦ Monthly: Supervising station receivers (ie: DACT

test signals), batteries◦ Quarterly: Supervisory signal equipment◦ Semi-annually◦ Annually: Initiating devices, supervisory station

equipment

Inspection Frequencies

NFPA has established methods for testing components of a fire alarm system◦ Lights◦ Fuses◦ Power supplies◦ Batteries◦ Initiating devices◦ Notification devices◦ Transmission equipment

Test Methods

Service personnel shall be qualified and experienced in the inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems.

Examples of qualified personnel shall be permitted to include, but shall not be limited to, individuals with the following qualifications: ◦ (1) Factory trained and certified◦ (2) National Institute for Certification in Engineering

Technologies fire alarm certified◦ (3) International Municipal Signal Association fire alarm certified◦ (4) Certified by a state or local authority◦ (5) Trained and qualified personnel employed by an organization

listed by a national testing laboratory for the servicing of fire alarm systems

Service Personnel Conducting Tests and Inspections

A fire alarm system can have one of a number of different types of transmission systems

Alarm Type Transmission

This method uses a "party line" that connects several businesses to a monitoring facility. When an alarm signal is received via the dedicated party line, the monitoring facility checks a code to identify which business was compromised.

McCulloh Transmitter

This system also operates like a "party line," using one dedicated telephone line to connect several businesses to a monitoring facility.

Multiplex

The alarm signal is transmitted over the business's regular telephone lines (rather than over a dedicated line), which transmit them to the monitoring facility. The system can be compromised by cutting the line.◦ Digital alarm communicator transmitter (DACT)◦ Digital alarm radio transmitter (DART)◦ Digital alarm communicator receiver (DACR)◦ Digital alarm radio receiver (DARR)

Digital

A Reverse Polarity Signaling Module communicates system conditions (alarm, trouble, and supervisory) from a compatible control panel to a monitoring station by reversing or interrupting the polarity of a steady signal it sends over leased telephone company lines.

Reverse Polarity

This system transmits status signals via radio wave to a receiving antenna, which relays the signal to the monitoring facility. In a two-way radio system, the monitoring facility can receive the alarm system's status signal as well as send a signal to ask for the status or confirm an alarm condition, thus, providing line security.

Radio Frequency

Manual Fire Alarm Boxes Ionization Smoke Detectors Photoelectric Smoke Detectors Duct Detectors Heat Detectors Waterflow Switches Supervisory Switches

Initiating Devices

Bells Horns Chimes Strobes Speakers

Alarm Notification Appliances

Building Temp Site Water Temp Site Water Level Fire Pump Power Fire Pump Running Fire Pump Auto Position Fire Pump or Pump Controller Trouble Fire Pump Running Generator in Auto Position Generator or Controller Trouble Switch Transfer Generator Engine Running

Supervisory Signal-Initiating Devices

Quantity and style of signaling line circuits connected to system

SIGNALING LINE CIRCUITS

Primary ◦ Voltage◦ Amps◦ Over current Protection

Secondary◦ Second line◦ Generators◦ Battery

SYSTEM POWER SUPPLIES

Used as a backup to primary power supply, instead of using a secondary power supply◦ Examples:

Battery

Emergency or Standby System

Alarm Signal Alarm Restoration Trouble Signal Trouble Signal Restoration Supervisory Signal Supervisory Restoration

SUPERVISING STATION MONITORING

Fire alarm system equipment shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Maintenance

A set of reproducible as-built installation drawings, operation and maintenance manuals, and a written sequence of operation shall be provided to the building owner or the owner’s designated representative.

For software-based systems, a copy of the site-specific software shall be provided to the owner or owner’s designated representative.

The owner shall be responsible for maintaining these records for the life of the system for examination by any authority having jurisdiction.

Paper or electronic media shall be permitted.

Permanent Records

Records shall be retained until the next test and for 1 year thereafter

Maintenance, Inspection, and Testing Records