We’re not a sprinkler contractor, but we frequently coordinate sprinker installations with fire alarm installations. Many design professionals want a single point of contact to ask life safety questions, so I get asked a lot of questions regarding sprinkler requirements. Here’s one that I researched the answer for: Q: Are sprinklers required above false ceilings? I have read through [Read More]
Defining Generator Testing Frequency Requirements
I recently received a question regarding emergency generator testing in a medical facility that touched on testing frequency and what defines a method of off site monitoring. Here’s the question: My local AHJ expects my Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) to run the generator weekly. They utilize NFPA 1 (2012) and NFPA 72 (2010). Both NFPA 1 in [Read More]
Fire Alarm and Emergency Voice System Testing and Inspection
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In our last post, we talked about why it’s important to use a third party to test a smoke detector’s sensitivity level. In this post, we’ll cover another area of concern: verification of outputs. In a simple system that just activates the horn/strobes, that may seem to be an easy task. However, there is always more than [Read More]
Testing & Inspecting Fire Alarm & Emergency Voice Systems
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A fire alarm system is required to be tested regularly, the results of which are reviewed by the fire department. When scheduling a test of a facility’s fire alarm system, property managers have a vested interest in maintaining safety compliance and limiting their liability exposure while keeping an eye on operating costs. Operating cost reduction might seem [Read More]
Smoke Detector Testing
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At Affiliated Fire Systems, we often get asked about a smoke detector’s lifespan . Specifically, when should a building manager replace smoke detectors? There is no hard and fast lifespan for a commercial smoke detector. To be clear, commercial smoke detectors are connected to a fire alarm panel, not the battery operated devices you can [Read More]
Elevator Recall Activation
I recently had a question asked about whether two smoke detectors are required to activate simultaneously in a single elevator lobby in order for cab recall to be initiated. The answer is there is no current national code that requires two detectors to activate before recall occurs. The two detector activation is what we call ‘cross zoning’, and [Read More]
High Rise Fire Safety in Chicago, Part IV
As a recap, in our first post on this subject, we defined how the Chicago High Rise Ordinance originated. In our second post, we looked at why the compliancy rate was low. In our previous post, we discussed how a residential high rise life safety score is determined. Let’s now look at what the impact [Read More]
High Rise Fire Safety in Chicago, Part III
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In our last post on the Chicago Life Safety Ordinance, commonly referred to as the Chicago High Rise Ordinance, we looked at some of the reasons a majority of residential high rises in Chicago are not compliant with the ordinance. Let’s now look at what the owners & managers of these buildings are up against [Read More]
Fire Alarm System Testing & Inspection, Part II
In our last post, we discussed why regular testing and inspection of a facility’s life safe system is both required and in a property manager’s best interest. What, then, should a proper test and inspection consist of? In this post, we’ll address proper smoke detector testing. A true test of a fire alarm system ensures the system will [Read More]
Fire Alarm System Testing & Inspection, Part I
Commercial fire alarm systems are a lot like referees. You really shouldn’t notice them until they are needed. How does a property owner or manager keep it that way, plus know that it will work when needed? A proper test and inspection of the system is the answer. Most municipalities require an annual test and [Read More]
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