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| TECH Q & A (FAQ's) | ||
"Just the facts please ma'am!" Here's where you can get answers to frequently asked questions, some of which are taken from our discussion boards, Internet search phrases, and telephone inquiries from across North America. We're striving to ensure that this page will continue to represent one of the Internet's best and most responsive resources for answers relating to fire protection, fire equipment technology, emergency systems, and building life safety issues. We've categorized the questions in order to make searching for your answer easier. We welcome your suggestions, critques and comments. We hope that some of the issues raised here will help spark further discussion. Please feel free to email us at the link below, telephone us, or share your thoughts in our general forum. Who's behind the Fire Technicians Network? Can you use the forms provided here in other Canadian Provinces?
What standard do I use in verifying a fire alarm system that was installed thirty years ago? How can a local authority properly vet (authenticate) a fire alarm system verification report? Who has final authority to accept a fire alarm system installation? Who can verify a fire alarm system (in Canada)? What qualifications should they have? How many times is a fire alarm system verified?
What procedure should I follow if the FAS I’m testing doesn’t comply with the installation standard? What is the correct use of a RED TAG? What's the difference between a supervisory alarm and a trouble signal?
What kind of signals should a fire pump provide to a building fire alarm system?
How do you tie in (interconnect) door holders on a fire alarm system? How many sprinkler tampers can you legally hook up to a single fire alarm supervisory zone? Can you review the relevant codes regarding the installation of insuite signalling appliances? Can security wires be run with fire alarm wires in Canada? Does the fire alarm circuit disconnecting means have to be painted "red" and locked "on"? How many initiating devices can you have on a fire alarm system?
What is the correct procedure to use when testing a 347 volt battery pack (emergency light unit)?
1. When connecting the heater of an outdoor fire alarm annunciator, is it acceptable to tie into the fire alarm system’s power supply (circuit disconnecting means)? Most definitely NOT! CAN/ULC-S524 stipulates that the fire alarm system must be serviced by a dedicated circuit. Many technicians (including those that are factory trained on the subject equipment) feel that a tie-in to the fire alarm AC circuit is an acceptable means of ensuring the power to the annunciator heater is not inadvertently compromised. This is not the case! I have seen a number of transformer failures where the secondary windings have “opened” without affecting the primary side and thereby tripping the breaker (some transformers may even employ a fused secondary). The proper way to monitor power to the annunciator heater is through an appropriately rated low voltage relay connected to the secondary output. The fire alarm system can supervise a normally closed contact on the relay (which would trigger “open” – or show as “normal” when energised) through a latching supervisory input on the common control. You could parallel this connection to the same circuit monitoring the building’s “heat trace” if you’ve run out of available zones (just make sure you make the appropriate change to the zone descriptor). Special NOTE: If you come across a fire alarm control that has a transformer (other than the systems primary power supply transformer) installed and which would invariably be paralelled to the system's main AC bus, you must RED TAG the panel. An "after market" installation of this type violates the ULC listing on the panel. Inspector's Tip: If the power to the annunciator heater goes down when you trip the breaker for the fire alarm system, the installation is in violation of ULC/CAN-S524. 2. What procedure should I follow if the FAS I’m testing doesn’t comply with the installation standard? That depends on what standard you’re testing to. If it’s CAN/ULC-S536 (Annual Test) you should make note of any deficient items (as you would normally). Remember, you are testing the devices that are connected to the system, and you are doing so to a different standard from that of the technician that performed the Verification Inspection. Should you “tag off” on the system? By all means do so, but make sure you check (or punch) the part of the tag that states “see log and report”. If you feel the deficiency is substantial enough (the batteries are incorrectly sized for instance), then you should also ensure you check (or punch) the column that states “additional work required”. The example given of the incorrectly sized batteries definitely warrants a RED TAG. You should also provide a copy of your report to the local electrical inspeciton authority or the Fire Department's Fire Prevention Office. 3. What procedure should I follow if the FAS I’m testing was “passed” last year by another technician, but has deficiencies that weren’t noted? Many jurisdictions have established guidelines and procedures to follow in this instance (if you’re testing in a municipality that subscribes to ASTTBC, you can review their Practice Guidelines). The situation can get complicated if you’re working for the same company as the technician who tagged off on the same deficient system you're testing in the previous year. What you should do in this instance is contact your service manager. Under no circumstances should you tag off on a deficient system without ensuring you either check the “see log and report” or “additional work required” columns (as the situation merits). 4. What procedure should I follow if I discover that the smoke detectors supplied by my company in previous years are not ULC cross-listed to the control panel? See the previous answer. In this instance, you MUST RED TAG the system (alternatively you can replace the affected units with ones that are compatible). You can check if the smoke detectors on the system you're testing are compatible here. 5. What is the correct use of a RED TAG? This happens to be the subject of an ongoing discussion in our General Forum. The answer isn't as simple as the requirement stipulated in ASTTBC's Practice Guildeline and the reason is that there are two inspection standards in Canada which ASTTBC has now been mandated with, the annual inspection standard (which is CAN/ULC-S536), and the verificaiton standard (which is CAN/ULC-S537). Under the former, a RED TAG should be applied to any system that does not provide an adequate level of protection to the occupants and where the building owner has demonstrated reluctance (or has outright refused) to perform the necessary repairs. The exact wording in the Practice Guideline published by ASTTBC is: "For major deficiencies red tags shall be used by the FPT to indicate that the fire protection system or piece of equipment was serviced but does not provide the level of protection for which it was originally designed and installed or the system or piece of equipment has deficiencies that may cause it, during activation, not to operate in the manner to which it was intended. A red tag shall be used to advise and alert the Owner and
AHJ that, although the system has been serviced, there are
deficiencies that remain on the system or piece of equipment. The
tag shall be defaced using a large (preferably red) ‘X’ across the When major deficiencies exist on the fire protection system(s) or piece of equipment or a combination of major deficiencies are identified by the FPT, and • The Owner, after being advised by the FPT does not take appropriate action, and • When in the FPT’s opinion the public is placed in imminent danger, the FPT shall initiate notification to the Local Assistant to the Fire Commissioner by telephone or in person and document that notification in writing." Examples of the type of deficiency that would merit immediate attention (or a RED TAG if the building owner refused the repair) would include a non-functional bell circuit, incorrectly terminated AC power, inadequately sized stand-by batteries, non-functional initiating devices (i.e. smoke detectors, manual stations, heat detectors, flow switches, etc.), a defective battery charger, use of non-cross listed smoke detectors, improperly labelled annunciator. Under the verification standard however, a RED TAG isn't used on new installations because deficiencies must be corrected (usually by the installing electrical contractor) before a clear Appendix "A" (in some jurisdictions it's a "C") can be issued. A RED TAG could be used on an existing system that exhibits violations such as are noted in questions 1, 4, and above where you are verifying an upgrade or addition. My "test" for use has always defaulted to the LIFE SAFETY aspect and when put in this context, I believe a RED TAG is the "safer choice". 6. What standard do you use when verifying a fire alarm system that was installed thirty years ago? Most of the manual stations are installed well above 1400mm and there are heat detectors mounted on the wall. In Canada, there is only one installation "Standard". It's called CAN/ULC-S524. The Verificaiton Standard (CAN/ULC-S537) is the testing standard. It references the former. You MUST test to both these standards and ensure that you note any "deficiences" or deviations from them. It is not within your job description to "amend" or "interpret" what you see in the field to "fit" the situation. You must not ignore deviations from the standards. Your job is to VERIFY TO THE STANDARDS indicated above (and any appropriate sections of the building and electrical codes). In many older structures, the back boxes were not individually bonded to ground (only two wires - often two conductor 18AWG LVT - was run). Some buildings still utilize a three-wire unsupervised 12 (or 24) volt relay box as a fire alarm control. This unit almost invariably "self resets" when the alarm inititating device is restored to "normal". One manufacturer's senior service rep once advised me that they "verify" to the engineer's drawings. CAN/ULC-S537 does not reference engineer's drawings. Keep in mind that the Verification is the single most important test a fire alarm SYSTEM will have to undergo in its lifetime. It ensures that the SYSTEM has been installed correctly and identifies those deviations from code in older systems that will help the local authority make recommendations (or draft orders) for improvement. TIP: As an approved Verification agency (or an indivdiual recognized by the local authority), you (and you alone) have the final say (and must shoulder the responsibility for) the correct installation of a fire alarm system. If you know you are going to be involved in performing a verification on a particular project, you should contact the contractor installing the system and make yourself available to review the drawings, guide them through the wiring & termination, and make yourself available to answer any questions they might have. In this way, you can also involve the electrical engineer and architect in the consultive process to finalize detector placement and make recommendations with respect to any additional protection that might be required by either the local codes or the Installation Standard. 7. What do you do when you discover a non-compliant system that was installed only recently and verified by the manufacturer (or an individual that was approved by the local authority)? You must notify the local electrical authority and the Fire Department's Fire Prevention Office. Here are examples of some of the installation deviations we've come across recently (keep in mind that in each instance a Verification was conducted by an individual "approved" by the local authority):
8. Should a Verification or an Annual Inspection be carried out on a system that you know to be non-compliant (or that you know will "fail" even before you start)? Where should you "draw the line" (call it a day) and re-schedule? Someone once said "there are no dumb questions, just obvious answers". There are several things that should preclude a reasonable person (or in this case a trained professional) from even starting a Verification or an Annual Test. Obviously if there isn't any power to the panel (or it was displaying a "ground fault") you wouldn't (shouldn't) commence testing until the problem has been rectified. If the panel won't "reset" properly, or is completely unresponsive, testing should be curtailed. You should also not test devices that have been identified as non-compliant such as smoke detectors that aren't cross-listed to the control, or manual stations that do not have (or have never met) ULC Listing requirements. Examples of the latter would include pull stations that only bear a "CSA" mark or that use the round breakable disks which are often replaced with metal washers (Yes, I've actually seen this done!) by building owners because the disks are no longer available or are difficult to source. Performing a Verification on a panel with an active trouble such as an "open" zone or signal circuit is certainly do-able, as long as the Verification doesn't extend to the affected circuit. Should you pass such a system? No! In the example given in question 7 the "approved individual" showed up on the site ready to commence a Verification on three new Notifier fire alarm systems. The common controls all displayed a "ground fault" trouble, yet a decision to proceed with the inspection was made regardless. He also failed to perform the requisite battery tests, didn't identify missing dead-front panels on the power supplies and a number of other errors that actually compromised the LIFE SAFETY of the building's occupants. To add insult to injury, the Strata was billed for a Verification and the company performing the annual servicing succeeded in burying the report for four (4) years before they lost the contract. It was when a new service agency was appointed to perform the annual testing that all of these deficiencies were finally addressed. 9. How can a local authority properly vet (authenticate) a verification report? There are several ways this can be accomplished:
10. What's the correct procedure to use when testing a 347 volt battery pack (emergency light unit)? NOTE: This question is featured on ASTTBC's latest "SUPPRESS" newsletter (issue #11). ASTTBC has our full permission for it's use. This question stems from a discussion I had with another technician recently. WorkSafe BC (and similar organizations in a number of other jurisdictions) stipulate that you may NOT work on live circuitry above 250VAC without their express written consent. In BC, OHS Regulation Section 19.10 (3) states: "Work must not be done on energized parts of electrical equipment associated with lighting circuits operating at more than 250 volts-to-ground without the prior written permission of the Board." What does this mean? Simple. You cannot work on a 347 volt pack while under power. You must use the circuit disconnecting means (turn OFF the circuit breaker) to initiate the standard thirty minute test. You should not attempt to disconnect one of the live leads as I've seen many techs do. This means you must identify those packs that are part of a 347 Volt circuit, and coordinate with building management to shut down power to those areas which are serviced by the equipment while testing or repair is underway. What are the consequences of your not following this direction? Your employer may be held liable for any injuries you might suffer in which case WorkSafe BC may levy a very hefty fine. In addition, your claim for any injuries sustained could be adversely affected. The two important things to remember here is: STAY SAFE! WORK SAFE! 11. How do you tie in (interconnect) door holders on a fire alarm system? Most modern fire alarm common controls manufactured today utilize common "on board" relay contacts that are rated at 24 volts DC. They are designed to interface with a fire alarm communicator for off-site monitoring of trouble, alarm, and supervisory conditions. In many instances, you must provide additional relay contacts to handle things like fan shutdown, fire dampers, etc. 110VAC door holders - Must utilize a 24VDC relay contactor that is triggered by a relay on the fire alarm's common control. Under no circumstances should you run the 110VAC for the door holder into the common control cabinet (although there are a number of older systems out there in which this was perfectly acceptable, electrical codes have changed). You must install the relay contactor into a separate box and ensure you maintain a physical separation between the high voltage and low voltage terminals. The door holders must utilize a 110VAC source that is separate from the fire alarm system. 24VAC door holders - Must utilize a 24VDC relay contactor that is triggered through the fire alarm's common alarm relay as well. You can install a relay block into the common control cabinet, but the door holders must be powered by a 24VAC source that is independent of the fire alarm system. Ensure that the cable entry for the 24VAC into the fire alarm common control enclosure complies with the manufacturer's instructions for non-power limited wires. Signal Circuit Relays - For retro-fit installations (where it may not be possible to run wires all the way back to the common control), Edwards (GE Security) manufactures the only UL/ULC listed signal (NAC) circuit relay module for use on any conventional supervised signal (NAC) circuit. The unit is listed as a "6554 Series Fire Alarm Relay". The relay contacts are rated at 120VAC or 30 VDC, 5 amps inductive, 3 amps resistive. The unit mounts inside a standard two gang (4x4) deep box and comes complete with a appropriately labelled stainless steel cover. You must exercise caution when employing this relay to trip anything other than a door holder. Most new signal appliances don't ring continuously, but are set to pulse temporarly, and some are programmed to silence manually. When either of these circumstances occur, the relay will "follow" the operation of the NAC circuit (in which case things like fan shutdown, elevator recall, fire dampers may not function in the manner required by code). There is a "work-around" for this however. You can employ a latching relay contactor on the circuit. This will require the operator to manually reset the device once the fire alarm system has been restored. In this scenario, appropriate instructions must be posted on the fire alarm control (and/or remote annunciator). 12. How many sprinkler tamper switches can you terminate to a single initiating zone on a fire alarm panel? The magic number is set by your local AHJ, applicable building codes, and standards but averages around eight. Most AHJ's would like to see separate annunciation for each switch or valve within a common sprinkler room and this is often possible with an addressable panel's liquid crystal display (LCD). At the very least, they will insist on having a separate zone for the back-flow preventer which often utilizes two switches (one on the inlet side and one on the outlet side) or the main water entry valve. You must use common sense when laying out your sprinkler zones and the same applies to the control valves inside a common sprinkler room. Identifying a mis-aligned valve (or defective switch) can become more time consuming when they're commoned to a single zone. 13. What procedure should I follow if I am disatisfied with the service or testing of a fire alarm system or fire protection equipment? This is a very complex question because a number of local, Provincial (or State), and professional agencies may be involved in approving or designating an individual (or company) to perform testing and service of life safety equipment. Filing a complaint with the servicing agency is the logical "first step". Typically, deviations in testing procedures are not discovered until an inspection by the local fire prevention office or a verification/audit "uncovers" them, but it must be made clear that you cannot place 100% reliance on either of these methods. If you have concerns regarding a test or service performed by a fire protection company, contacting the professional association under which the technician (or service agency) may be certified is also an option. In British Columbia's Lower Mainland (Vancouver and surrounding environs) this is ASTTBC. In several jurisdictions in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Province of Ontario, it's CFAA. In the US, most technicians are required to be certified through NICET. 14. Can you review the relevant codes regarding installation of insuite signalling appliances? The British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) reflects a good deal of the Canadian Building Code with a few "twists" here and there (usually for the better). In Vancouver you also have to deal with the Vancouver Building By-Law (VBBL). Then there's CAN/ULC-S524 (The Installation Standard for Fire Alarm Systems). Let's examine some of these codes. Section 3.3.1.5 of CAN/ULC-S524 states that "opens" or "ground faults" on one circuit shall not interfere with the operation of other circuits in the same system. Clearly, the intent of the authors of this section was to preserve the functionality of the system as a whole even if one device (or circuit) was compromised by either of the forgoing fault conditions. This becomes more complicated when it involves signalling appliances located in a suite. The BCBC has relaxed the requirement to employ isolator modules on signal circuits serving residential suites as long as a Class "A" loop is employed and the circuit servicing the suites is separate from the one serving the common hallways. An "open" anywhere in the loop will still allow the other signalling appliances on the same circuit to sound. On the surface this is considered "better practice" as an individual would have to compromise all of the buzzers/speakers in his suite to effectively silence any alarm or announcement tone. If, for instance, he just removed one, any others in the same suite served by the Class "A" circuit would still be fully functional. BCBC (2006) Section 3.2.4.18(10): "Audible signal devices within a dwelling unit or a suite of a residential occupancy shall be connected to the fire alarm system
BCBC (2006) Section 3.2.4.18(11): "In a building or part thereof classified as a residential occupancy,
Unfortunately a "short" condition on the circuit will compromise the entire circuit unless isolators are employed. While BCBC and the Installation Standard doesn't take this scenario into consideration, the VBBL does. Section 3.2.4.18(10) states: "An audible signal device located within a dwelling unit or suite of a residential occupancy shall be connected to the fire alarm system
Vancouver is one of the only Lower Mainland communities to address this very important issue. I believe it is "good practice" to ensure a Life Safety System remains as secure from compromise as we can make it. Clearly, suite isolators should be utilized to ensure the proper functioning of the fire alarm system. You may wish to read a bulletin issued by the City of Vancouver which clarifies their position on the subject here. 15. I work for a national company as an HVAC technician in Vancouver, B.C. We do work for a cellular communications provider that has numerous cell sites on the tops of apartment buildings across the city. Along with the HVAC work, we are also to test the fire alarm systems in these shelters which are monitored by a central control centre in Ontario. I have three questions for you: 1) What kind of personal liability would I take on by performing this work without proper certification? 2) What kind of personal liability would I take on by performing this work with proper certification? 3) What courses are required to do this kind of inspection work in Vancouver? NOTE: This question was originally posted to the CFAA website but wasn't answered correctly. We've decided to publish the correct answer here. CFAA's Webmaster was informed of the error on June 27th, 2009, but as of March 9th, 2010, no correction has been posted. To perform annual inspection work (to ULC/CAN-S536-04) on any fire alarm system in Vancouver, you're required to be ASTTBC certified in the FA (Fire Alarm) discipline and utilize the approved forms (more comprehensive, alternate forms can be downloaded from our site - located here). The Vancouver By-Law mandating ASTTBC certification has been in effect since 1996. ASTTBC's Practice Guideline should be reviewed as it clearly defines the issue of "liability" as it relates to your job. In order to obtain ASTTBC certification you are required to meet their registration criteria (also outlined in the above referenced Practice Guideline). Vancouver also requires any facility that receives/processes signals from listed fire alarm equipment to be ULC Listed for the purpose AND to be on their list of approved monitoring stations. To perform a Verification Inspection in the City of Vancouver you are required to be an Approved Agency (or individual) and you must follow the procedures established in Bulletin 2000-021-EL. This question brings up another issue, however. In numerous instalaltions of this type the "fire alarm system" amounts to nothing more than a communicator and connected smoke (or heat) detection devices, is usually installed without proper permits, and as a consequence has not been verified to CAN/ULC-S537-04. In many such installations there is NO PHYSICAL CONNECTION to the building's fire alarm system. This is a major concern as most alarms generated by these cell sites are transmitted to proprietory monitoring centres (as indicated in the original question) that are often NOT ULC Listed either. The typical "response" involves the dispatch of a service technician to "confirm" the alarm with NO NOTIFICATION to the building's occupants until this occurs. Should you pass such a system? NO!! (I would go so far as to suggest you read the FAQ involving RED TAGS!) Should an interconnection to the building's fire alarm system be provided? Most definitely (and in every instance), YES! 16. Who's behind the Fire Technicians Network? My name is Frank Kurz. This is my 29th year in the fire prevention & alarm industries. I've done it all. Kitchen system installation & inspections (when I started in the business they still had dry chem systems - blechh-h), fire extinguisher recharges, hydro-testing, computer room Halon system installation & inspections, fire alarm service, inspection & verification, security system installations, inspections & service. For the last fourteen years, I've been running a fire alarm service/verifcation company in Surrey, British Columbia. I sub out my services to electrical contractors and fire prevention companies where my expertise in CCTV, access control, apartment intercom gives them an advantage over single service companies. I've been on Vancouver's list of approved verification agencies since 2001. I've mentored a number of outstanding technicians in my day, and I'm grateful to all those individuals that have shared their knowledge with me as well. I'm always looking for ways to improve on what I do. I figure if I can help my fellow technicians at the same time, then it's a "win, win" situation. This website is an ongoing project of mine. There are no fire alarm manufacturers or other outside agencies involved here (either as sponsors or advertisers). My goal here is to provide a one-stop resource for technicians engaged in the service, testing, and maintenance of fire protection and life safety equipment. The Internet is a powerful tool and I intend to take full advantage of all it has to offer. One such tool is our new RSS Feed which will help you keep abreast of the latest news and developments. The technology to host webinars (online learning seminars) is also something I'm exploring. Feel free to call me ANYTIME if you have questions or concerns, need manuals, or just want to talk. 17. Can you use the forms you can download from this site in other Canadian Provinces? All our forms are based on current Canadian Standards. They are CAN/ULC-S536-04 (Inspection Standard for Fire Alarm Systems), and CAN/ULC-S537-04 (Verification Standard for Fire Alarm Systems). These standards clearly define the minimum acceptable testing criteria and provide the means to document those tests. What I've done is simply format the reports a little differently and add some key sections based on my experience and the frequent questions I get asked from various jurisidictional authorities. I DO NOT believe that anyone engaged in this profession should have to pay for forms although I understand that it's important to STANDARDIZE on a format to make it easy for a building owner (or fire prevention officer) to determine the exact level of protection that's available which will assist them in developing strategies to help improve a project's life safety systems. We are working with various levels of Government to promote our testing format. Don't be surprised when you're referred to this site to get your forms! 18. Can security wires be run with fire alarm wires in Canada? We interpret this question to mean: Can you run fire alarm wire and security alarm wire in the same wire raceway? It’s not common practice for security alarm installers to “mess with” other wiring that’s already in place in a building. That’s not to say that I haven’t seen lots of security wire tie-wrapped to existing conduit runs (or even run alongside the TV cable guy’s wire). Current Electrical Code doesn't allow you to mix the two in the same raceway, however. Keep in mind that many fire alarm systems sold today have the ability to provide zones and circuits programmed for building security components and the new mass notification technology will more than likely result in some significant changes to the Codes on both sides of the border. Always follow good wiring practice when installing/running cable! 19. What kind of signals should a fire pump provide to a building's fire alarm system? Many modern high rise buildings employ fire pumps to augment normal municipal water pressures so that the sprinkler system is able to provide the rated design flow at each sprinkler head. Most modern codes dictate that two conditions regarding the status of the fire pump be monitored by the fire alarm system. They are "trouble" and "activation" (or "run"). The first condition should monitor several aspects: "Overspeed", "power failure" (or bypass/off) amongst them. The second is pretty well self-explanatory. Most "trouble" conditions on a fire alarm system "clear" when the device (or circuit) is restored to normal. When it comes to a fire pump or generator trouble however, this , as well as "activation" (or "run") should be monitored by a latching supervisory circuit as it prompts the user to physically attend the mechanical room and ensure an all clear condition exists (that there isn't an excessive amount of water pooling under or near the pump for instance) and that all the attendant valves and fixtures are in a "normal" condition. 20. Who has final authority to accept a fire alarm system installation? The answer to this question can be abreviated into three simple initals: A H J (short for the "Authority Having Jurisdiction"). In Canada, on new installations, that is the Building Inspector, the Electrical Inspection Authority (or a combination of both). On renovation/upgrades, it's the municipal Fire Chief (usually in cooperation with the Electrical Inspector). All of these agencies however, rely on one individual's report and written comments before an occupancy permit can be issued. On new installations, not even the Design Engineer will sign off without this all important report. The onerous task of determining whether-or-not a fire alarm system (or a component added to it) meets all the installation and performance criteria is the trained professional technician performing the verification. This individual is the acknowledged expert upon which everything hinges. He is the one charged with ensuring that all aspects of the installation meet the code requirements, applicable standards, and the manufacturer's testing criteria. The verification technician's job is pretty cut and dried. There is no "grey area" in any of the codes or standards that reference a fire alarm system installation. As a verifying authority, it is extremely important for the technician to understand that. No AHJ will dispute your decision to reject an installation that doesn't conform to the standard regardless of whether an Engineer has "designed" it that way, or a municipal "plan checker" has accepted it. Hopefully you will have had an opportunity to discuss what you perceive are issues that may hinder your acceptance of the system well before the final nail is driven and the painting completed. It is for this reason I have always advocated a verificaiton agency gets involved at the start of a job (even as early as the plan acceptance process). Nobody likes "surprises" at the end of a job. Not only are they costly in terms of "correction", the delays they represent could wind up costing the contractor penalties and other associated costs. Additional information can be found here and here! 21. What's the code requirement for battery backup in a fire alarm system that's tied into a a building's emergency generator? Canadian relevent codes/standards are CSA C282, CAN/ULC-S524-01. The answer to this question isn't as straight forward as it would seem. CAN/ULC-524 accepts a "listed" emergency power generator as long as it can provide the requisite twenty-four (24) hour stand-by (or supervisory) current and then power they system in "full alarm" for the time required as it applies to the building's height and occupancy class. This means that it would be perfectly acceptable to provide only enough stand-by battery capacity to power the system during the "start-up" and "full power transfer" phases of the generator. That's the legal code requirement IF certain other criteria are met. These include the fact that the generator must be monitored for "trouble" and "operation" by the fire alarm system and that the equipment must be listed/certified by an acceptable agency and be installed, maintained and tested in accordance with the code requirements and the manufacturers instructions. The forgoing represents the "correct" answer to the question but let's not "stop" there.. Can you depend entirely on this method? There are a number of other considerations that must must be factored into this answer which often creates the "confusion" people encounter when they get different "interpretations" from individuals that represent the various agencies and stakeholders involved. Some will go strictly with the code/standard requirements while those of us in the LIFE SAFETY profession tend to go with something called "best practice". You'll often see these two words used when a particular code or standard lends itself to more than one interpretation, and you'll also see them used when a question has more than one "right answer". "Best practice" simply means utilizing the best, safest, and most effective method (or solution). Let's look at some basic facts. An engine driven generator comprises a miriad of moving parts that are all required to work in concert to achieve the end result. A failure of any one part could mean that the generator won't start, or will fail to deliver the rated power to the transfer switch. The transfer switch is another mechanical device in the line to the emergency power distribution centre. The generator depends on a source of fuel which could comprise a large storage tank for diesel fuel or a direct connection to a local gas main (if the engine has been set up to use natural gas). The quality of the maintenance, age of the equipment, servicability of the charging system, starter batteries, quality and quantity of available fuel... The list goes on. A breakdown anywhere in this "chain" will result in the failure of the emergency power system to deliver the the required stand-by capacity stipulated by the standard. The "clincher" in all of this is that most emergency power systems (unless they are in a health care environment) only provide sufficient capacity to meet the Building Code requirement of "at least two hours" - Section 3.2.7.9 of BCBC 2006 - "Emergency Power for Building Services" (other Provincial Codes should have similar wording). The fire alarm system is seldom factored into the equation. "Best practice" would favour a simpler solution and eliminate the "assumptions" you are often forced to make surrounding the proper care, maintenance, and operational readiness of the generator (a "trouble free" annunciator should never be the basis for assuming the generator will work). The stand-by battery - properly sized - affords the most cost effective, simplest, and SAFEST method of ensuring the fire alarm system meets the requirements of the standard. 22. Does the fire alarm circuit breaker have to be painted red and "locked"? In many cases this is a jurisidictional requirement. There is nothing in either the Provincial building code or CAN/ULC-S524 (Installation Standard for Fire Alarm Systems) that actually stipulates it must be painted "red". You have to look in the Canadian Electrical Code to find it (specifically Rule 32-108). The fire alarm system's circuit disconnecting means must be easy to identify. There are several reasons for this, the most important being that we don't want it inadvertently turned "off". 23. An Electrical Engineer is insisting on locating conduit entries for the common control data, communication, and addressible field devices into an area of the cabinet that the manufacturer's installation instructions stipulate is reserved for non-power limited wire (AC and municipal tie). Can you review the requirements of CAN/ULC-S524 (and relevant codes) and advise? Sure. There are a couple of standards this Engineer should reference: CAN/ULC-S527 and CAN/ULC-S524. The latter's section 3.4.9 states: "Field wiring entry points for the various circuits and required circut separations, shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions". The "manufacturer's installation instructions" are presented in the documentation accompanying the fire alarm panel and usually references diagrams indicating specific wiring entry points and termination procedures. The concern here is that power limited wire will enter an area of the common control which has been designated for non-power limited wire. It is doubtful that a panel terminated in this fashion will pass the verification. What you should do: Suggest to the Engineer that wire entry points into listed control equipment must be in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions. I would suggest that you do this IN WRITING and back it up by attaching the relevant sections of the code/standard and any other supporting documentation (i.e. copy and include the pages from the installation manual that indicate the proper cable entry locations). This way, when the "doo-doo" does hit the fan, nothing should wind up "sticking" to YOU! 24. How many initiating devices can you have on a fire alarm system? For the answer to this question, we'll have to deal with a number of different factors. Wire size, type of devices (i.e. whether they derive power from the circuit as is the case with two wire type smoke detectors), distance to the end of line resistor, whether or not the cable you're using is shielded, etc. As you can see, the answer isn't as cut and dried as you might have thought. The manufacturer usually imposes limits on the number of two-wire smoke detectors you can wire to an initiating circuit. In my experience that usually averages between 20 and 30. Contact type devices such as manual pull stations, heat detectors, flow switches, sprinkler valve tampers, etc. don't draw power from the panel so (in Canada) you're only limited by CAN/ULC-S524 Section 3.4.3 "The voltage drop and power dissipation on any circuit shall not prevent the proper operation of that circuit and shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions." Keep in mind that "best practice" may suggest you consider adding additional initiating zones along with those extra detectors (particularly if the job involves new construction). Not only will this help you trouble-shoot a potential problem, the responding authority will have an easier time as well. 25. What's the difference between a supervisory alarm and a trouble signal? A "trouble" indication on a fire alarm system represents a problem that may adversely affect the operation of the system (as a whole). In most cases, this must be addressed by trained service personnel. Examples of a "trouble" signal are: AC power failure, battery trouble, ground fault, indicating circuit "open", signal circuit "short" or "open". A "supervisory" signal is an "off normal" indication of a monitored device. In most cases this type of signal doesn't require the response of trained service personnel. Restoring the monitored device to "normal" and resetting the fire alarm system usually clears this type of indication. Examples would be: sprinkler "low air", sprinkler "low water", generator "trouble", fire pump "trouble", movement of a sprinkler valve handle, heat trace power failure (or common trouble), etc. It is important to remember that a supervisory signal often triggers a relay in the fire alarm's common control that is separate from the "trouble" contact. You must ensure that any off-site monitoring connections take this into account. 26. Which code references CAN/ULC-S537 (Standard for Verification of Fire Alarm Systems) thereby making it a legal document? First of all, the referenced standard (as well as the other applicable standards) represents the collaborative effort of several committed individuals that hail from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Some work for fire alarm manufacturers, engineering firms and local building inspection authorities. CAN/ULC-S537 represents the minimum acceptable criteria for the testing and commissioning of a fire alarm system. In Canada, Provincial Building Codes primarily reference both CAN/ULC-S524 and CAN/ULC-S537 in their requirements for the installation of a fire alarm system (which also demonstrates how a "standard" becomes "accepted" or "legal"). In British Columbia, BCBC (2006) Section 3.2.4.5 is titled "Installation and Verification of Fire Alarm Systems". BCBC (2006) 3.2.4.5 (1) "Fire alarm systems including the voice communication capability where provided, shall be installed in conformance with CAN/ULC-S524, 'Installation of Fire Alarm Systems'." BCBC (2006) 3.2.4.5 (2) "Fire alarm systems shall be verified in conformance with CAN/ULC-S537, 'Verification of Fire Alarm Systems', to ensure they are operating satisfactorily." 27. Who can verify a fire alarm system (in Canada)? What qualifications should they have? AHJ's all across Canada have been deliberating over the definitive answer to this question for years. CAN/ULC-S537-04 states that the verification must be carried out by an agency (or individual) acceptable to the Authority Having Jurisdiction and who is not the installing contractor or involved in the design of the fire alarm system. CFAA has published a position paper on the subject which attempts to establish the means by which an AHJ might formulate their own criteria, but it relies heavily on promoting expansion of their own organisation across Canada (which may not actually be a "bad thing"). It is a sad fact that some manufacturer trained technicians are often ill prepared to actually identify even their own incorrectly installed fire alarm equipment (or the required wiring), let alone flag an installation as "unacceptable" which might jeopardize an established business relationship with the contractor (or Professional Engineer). It has been our experience that a good proportion of them are more concerned with ensuring the system is properly programmed (the software required has become even more complex with the introduction of "mass notification" requirements and the firmware changes this has prompted). Many local authorities have adopted their own criteria when it comes to designating approved verification agencies and "acceptable" individuals. The City of Vancouver has taken the lead in this issue and defined not only the minimum acceptance criteria, but have actually listed individuals and organizations whom they deem to be acceptable to provide commissioning and verification of fire alarm systems in their Bulletin 2003-009-EL. We however view this list as the necessary "first step" in the journey towards establishing acceptance and professional certification. Membership in a professional organization like CFAA or ASTTBC may provide some addtional recognition, but until these organisations start supporting the individuals they certify through the "continuing education" which they promise (but seldom deliver) and provide the means to rigorously police their membership, verification inspections will continue to fall short of the standard. We've suggested several means to help an AHJ in determining the means to "vet" a verification test report. You can explore these options here and here. ULC has also issued a Standards Bulletin which may prove helpful as well. 28. How many times is a fire alarm system verified? A fire alarm verification inspection is normally conducted when a newly installed fire alarm system is commissioned. There are some additional provisions within CAN/ULC-S537 (Verification Standard for Fire Alarm Systems) and Provincial Fire Codes that will trigger the requirement for a verification or special audit however. These can include additions or modifications to an existing fire alarm system, replacement of components such as booster power supplies, the common control's motherboard, zone expansion modules, control circuits, annunciators, and initiating or indicating appliance modules. Replacement or repair of any system wiring will also trigger a verification but this is usually limited to the affected devices on that zone or circuit. On rare occasions an order by the Authority Having Jurisdiction may require the building owner to have the fire alarm system verified. Help us to encourage a higher standard of practice, while at the same time, enjoying the benefits of knowing you've taken a step up on the ladder of professional development and personal success! Individual members will receive a Fire Technicians Network shoulder patch which they can wear as a visible demonstration of their commitment to that higher standard. You'll also enjoy access to manuals and the resources you need to shift your career into high gear. Our goal is help you improve your knowledge and skillset and, ultimately, your own community's LIFE SAFETY standards. Remember: We are not a professional union, but together, we are a union of professionals! |
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Updated Mar. 5, 2010 |
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