The Fire Technicians Network

FIRE ALARM VERIFICATION BASICS (CAN/ULC-S537)

A CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE - A SPECIAL SERIES TO HELP RAISE THE BAR

Surrey, British Columbia - Over the course of many years in which I’ve performed and witnessed innumerable fire alarm Verifications, some fairly disturbing practices continue to manifest which challenge the ability of the local authorities and the Engineering community to recognize, let alone deal with.

This series is designed to inform, document, and raise the bar on Canadian Verification practice.  We will be providing examples of substandard work that has been stripped of all references to both the Jurisdiction, the service companies, and technicians involved.  Unfortunately, as has been common practice in the past, Verifications are often performed by trained technicians in the employ of a manufacturer which means that the correlation between the panel make and model may suggest an inference to the culpable agency.  It is not our intention to single out a particular agency, manufacturer’s service department, or technician.  We are not going to sponsor or resurrect the Burning Brick Awards despite what some readers will likely think.

The Fire Technicians Network is dedicated to the education of individuals involved in the fire equipment service community and the sharing of knowledge that will help mitigate the risk to public safety and raise the bar on professional practice.

Updated fire alarm Verification reports can be downloaded on our FORMS page.

Frank Kurz
November 6, 2016

PART ONE - Documentation - What is a Verification?

PART TWO - Documenting a Verification - The Appendix C6.1 - The Device Test Record

You can read more concerning technician practices, testing methods, etc. by clicking on:

Our October Editorial
Our Special Report on ASTTBC’s Fire Protection Technician Certification Program
Our Editorial EXTRA! (April 2015) - The Wolf on the Board!
Our Open Letter to ASTTBC (March 2014 Editorial)
Our September 2014 Editorial
Our August 2014 Editorial
More comments concerning ASTTBC technicians are in in our May 2012 Editorial
ASTTBC Complaint Outcomes (This actually makes for some pretty scary reading.)
CAN/ULC-S536 DO’S AND DON’T’S - Special Reports

AHJ Training Courses are being offered by two (2) National Associations:

The Canadian Fire Alarm Association (CFAA - Please visit their website for information on one being held in your area.
You can also visit our own Training Centre for available AHJ Course dates and cities!

QUICK LINKS!

AHJ Training Courses are being offered by two (2) Canadian national associations:

• The Canadian Fire Alarm Association (CFAA) - Please visit their website (link below) for information on one being held in your area.
• The Fire Technicians Network (FTN) - Feel free to visit our Training Centre for available dates and cities!  To make arrangements for us to present our two day Course Programme in YOUR municipality, please Contact Us for details!

Canadian Fire Alarm Technician Certification:

• The Canadian Fire Alarm Association (CFAA) website is located at http://www.cfaa.ca .
• Learn more about a Fire Protection Technician Certification Programme that sets a new Canadian Benchmark for our industry!

Fire Protection Equipment Technicians (Extinguisher Service):

• Transport Canada website  is located at http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/3/fdr-rici/cylinder/requalifier.aspx
• Warnock Hersey (Intertek) website is located at http://www.intertek.com/iqp/ahj/

Fire Protection Equipment Technicians (Provincial):

• The Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC) website is located at http://www.fireprotection.asttbc.org
   

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