Douglas Fisher, PE, LEED AP BD+CPrincipal Fire Protection EngineerFisher Engineering, Inc.

Fire Protection and Life Safety Commissioning

Cecil Bilbo, President Academy of Fire Sprinkler Technology, Inc.

AIA Quality Assurance

The Building Commissioning Association is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

A brief discussion regarding the specific challenges found incommissioning various fire protection and life safety systems, including

the difference between commissioning and acceptance testing. This discussion will center on NFPA 3, Recommended Practice on

Commissioning and Integrated Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems, which was developed by the National Fire

Protection Association and released in January 2012.

Course Description

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the purpose of NFPA 32. Explain the recommendations for Commissioning found in

NFPA 3.3. Identify and Describe the roles of the Fire Cx Team Members.4. Understand the difference between Commissioning and

Acceptance Testing.

Learning Objectives

Why NFPA?

• 2005: NFPA Standard Council discusses need for more technical information on commissioning• Staff Project Wrote “Commissioning Fire Protection

Systems”• 2006: NIBS Submitted Proposal to NFPA

Standards Council• Requested NFPA Become Involved in FP Systems

Commissioning• 2007: Standards Council Approved Technical

Committee on Commissioning FP Systems

Tech Committee on Commissioning FP & LS

• Scope• This committee shall have primary responsibility

for documents that pertain to commissioning activities and tasks for fire and life safety systems.

• (Approved August 2008)• Committee made up of cross section of fire

protection community• Consultants, Installers, Manufacturers, AHJs, Cx

Providers

NFPA 3 – What is it?

Guideline for images:

Please add 1 pt. green (R119G152B35) rule around each image

• Modeled after ASHRAE Guideline 0

• Three year development process

• Recommended practice, not a standard or code.

NFPA 3 - OrganizationTable of ContentsChapter 1 AdministrationChapter 2 Referenced PublicationsChapter 3 DefinitionsChapter 4 Qualifications of Commissioning PersonnelChapter 5 CommissioningChapter 6 Integrated Systems CommissioningChapter 7 Integrated System TestingChapter 8 Re-commissioning (Re-Cx) and

Retro-commissioning (RCx)Chapter 9 Commissioning Documentation and FormsAnnex A thru Annex D

NFPA 3 - Scope

1.3.1 This recommended practice applies to passive and activefire protection and life safety equipment and systemsincluding, but not limited to, the following:1) Infrastructure supporting the building fire protection andlife safety systems within the boundaries of the project2) Fixed fire suppression and control systems3) Fire alarm systems4) Emergency communications systems (ECS)5) Smoke control and management systems6) Normal, emergency and standby power systems

NFPA 3 - Scope

1.3.1 (continued)7) Explosion prevention and control systems8) Fire-resistant and smoke-resistant assemblies9) Firestopping10) Systems associated with commercial cooking operations11) Elevator systems12) Means of egress systems and components13) Other systems or installations integrated orconnected to a fire or life safety system, such as, butnot limited to, access control, critical processes, andhazardous operations

NFPA 3 Cx Defined

• 3.3.3.1* Commissioning (Cx). o A systematic process that provides documented

confirmation that specific and interconnected systems function according to the intended design.

• A.3.3.1.1 Commissioning (Cx). o Commissioning is achieved by documenting the

design intent and oversight throughout construction and acceptance, and ends with the warranty period.

Chapter 5.1 and 5.2 – The Planning Phases

• Establish the FCx Team.• Develop the OPR.• Identify the commissioning scope.• Develop the preliminary commissioning plan.• Review the planning documents.• Develop regulatory code analysis.• Initiate the commissioning plan.

Chapter 5.3 – The Design Phase• Develop the BOD• Establish sequence of operation• Review of project documents• Document FCx Scope • Document FCx Procedures• Develop FCx Schedule• Verify construction documents comply with BOD• Identify qualified specialists and their responsibilities• Document FCx team meetings and progress reports• Document issues and changes• Update the FCx plan• Develop construction checklists

Chapter 5.4 – The Construction Phase• Confirm FCx schedule and update as needed.• Verify that submittals comply with the BOD.• Verify that materials, construction, and installation

comply with the BOD.• Confirm specialists are performing FCx activities. • Document FCx team meetings and progress reports.• Document issues and changes, and update the FCx

Plan.• Complete FCx (QC) construction checklists.• Ensure performance of QC observation procedures.• Update all FCx documents.• Verify and document testing.

Chapter 5.5 – The Occupancy Phase• Document and complete acceptance testing and

inspections• Complete additional testing because of modifications or

seasonal deferrals• Submit systems manuals, O&M manuals, and vendor

emergency contact list• Owner Training• Deliver record drawings and documents• Deliver of the test and inspection records• Deliver digital copy of site-specific software• Deliver warranties• Submit recommended preventative maintenance program• Deliver list of required inspections, tests, and maintenance

FCx Team(1) Owner(2) Commissioning Authority(3) Fire Commissioning Agent (FCxA)(4) Installation Contractor(s)(5) Manufacturer’s Representatives(6) Registered Design Professional(s)(7) Construction Manager/General Contractor(8) Owner’s Technical Support Personnel(9) Facility Manager or Operations Personnel(10) Insurance Representative(11)* AHJ

Fire Commissioning Agent (FCxA) The FCxA should be responsible for

the following:

(1) Organize and lead the Cx Team,(2) Coordinate Cx Team meetings, (3) Facilitate the development of the

OPR(4) Verify Cx Process scope of work,(5) Integrate Cx into project schedule,(6) Prepare the Cx Plan, (7) Prepare Cx Process specs, (8) Execute the Cx Process, (9) Review the plans and specs, (10) Attend pre-bid meeting, (11) Approve Systems Manual,

(12) Track and document issues, (13) Prepare Cx Progress Reports(14) Organize & Coordinate system

testing(15) Witness system testing(16) Review installation & record docs, (17) Recommend acceptance(18) Track compliance with sequence

of operation(19) Compile and submit final Cx Team

report to owner(20) Compile and submit all Cx

documents required by AHJ.

FCxA Qualifications

4.2.1.1.1 The FCxA should be knowledgeable and experienced in the proper application of commissioning recommendations of this recommended practice and general industry practices.

4.2.1.1.2 The FCxA should be individually identified on the specifications or other enabling documentation.

4.2.1.1.3 The FCxA should provide an objective and unbiased point of view.

FCxA Qualifications

A.4.2.1.1 Examples of qualified individuals can include, but are not limited to:

(1) & (2) Registered professional engineers with sufficient knowledge

(3) Experienced Facility Professionals

(4) Experienced System Professionals

FCxA Qualifications

A.4.2.1.1 The FCxA should have no financial interest (owner, division or subsidiary, partner, operating officer, distributor, salesman, or technical representative) in any fire protection or life safety equipment manufacturers, suppliers, or installers for any such equipment provided as part of this project. As such, qualified independent third-party firms or individuals should be considered for designation as the FCxA. The FCxA should have a minimum of five years’ experience in facility construction,inspection, acceptance testing, or commissioning as itrelates to fire protection and life safety.

What Commissioning Isn’t

Commissioning (Cx)IS NOT

Integrated Testing

What is Integrated Testing?

3.18.2* Integrated Testing. • Performance verification of the interaction and

coordination of multiple and separate fire and life safety systems.

Integrated Testing – Goals and Objectives

Compliance w/ OPR & BODSequence of operationPerformance – Codes & Standards

Integrated Testing – When?

(7.2.1) In new construction, after:• Verification of completeness and integrity

of building construction• Individual system functional and

acceptance tests• Completion of pre-functional tests

Periodic Integrated Testing – How Often?

• Existing fire protection and life safety systems should have periodic integrated testing. (7.2.2)

• Integrated systems that were commissioned upon installation in accordance with Chapter 6 should have integrated testing at the interval specified in the commissioning plan.

NFPA 4 - Integrated Testing

October 2011 – Newly assembled Committee for NFPA 3 and a new document:

NFPA 4, The Standard on Integrated Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems

Scheduled for release in 2015. Initial draft available for public input now.

www.nfpa.org/4

Doug Fisher, PE LEED AP BD+CPrincipal Fire Protection Engineer

Fisher Engineering, Inc.Johns Creek, GA 30097

770-495-7770 x 120 (office)doug.fisher@feifire.com

Cecil BilboSprinkler System Technology Program

Parkland CollegeChampaign, IL

217.607.0325 officececil@sprinkleracademy.com