VANCOUVER MOVES ON NON-COMPLIANT VERIFICATION!

Vancouver Electrical Inspections Branch has initiated a review of the fire alarm verification report in a newly renovated building following the discovery that the recently installed system did not meet the requirements of CAN/ULC 524 (Installation Standard for Fire Alarm Systems). Typically a verification "Appendix C" submitted by an approved individual is sufficient to clear the way for a final occupancy permit (all other aspects being in compliance as well). In this case, the interconnection of a new kitchen suppression system to a recently installed (and manufacturer verified) fire alarm system raised some serious concerns.

The transformer for the annunciator heater was installed inside the common control cabinet with the primary leads paralleled to the fire alarm's primary circuit disconnect means. To compound an already questionable installation, the AC power was routed into the top of common control cabinet which is reserved for power limited and the SLC loop wiring. The AC was then run down the inside of the can and tie-wrapped to the cable supplying DC power to an expansion module. The manufacturer's trained technician also missed the fact that the annunciator heater wiring was run in the same conduit as the RS-485 wiring for the remote annunciator and that the latter was not shielded as required by the manufacturer's own installation instructions.

The outcome of all this could mean some changes in the way the City of Vancouver deals with a fire alarm verification report. Keep watching for new updates or bulletins here.

As approved verification agencies we must remain vigilant and ensure that any new system (or addition) meets the requirements of Code, the manufacturer's installation parameters, and the applicable Standards. We must also ensure we have the knowledge required to properly assess an installation and be aware of the procedures involved in bringing any deficiencies to the attention of the local authority. Does this make us proponents of professional practice or (as one individual once termed us) "troublemakers"? Up to now, the answer to that depends on which side of the line you happen to be standing on.

How does a local authority properly evaluate a verification report? There are several ways this can be accomplished:

 

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About fire alarm communicators (but were afraid to ask). Read more here.

 

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TECH-NEWS & VIEWS

June, 2009

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