Fire protection service companies

Many facilities outsource either all or part of the inspection, testing, and maintenance functions to fire protection service companies. These companies perform a variety of services, including inspection of portable and fixed systems, flow test of water systems, operational test of portable equipment, testing of 

It is important that the outside service company meet the facility pre-qualification criteria. As part of the review, the facility pre-qualification must determine if the service company is knowledgeable and experienced in the types of fire protection systems they will be servicing. Some states have licensing laws that require the service company designate a responsible managing employee who is licensed by the state. The service company should be able to provide evidence that the personnel performing inspections, testing, and maintenance are qualified to perform the work. 

The qualification may include licenses and craft certification certificates issued by a recognized issuing authority. 

Before any fire protection service company is selected to perform inspecting, testing, and maintenance on fire protection systems at the facility, they should be qualified. The service company qualifications may include  

Refer to API RP 2220, Improving Owner and Contractor Safety Performance and API RP 2221, A Manager s Guide to Implementing a Contractor Safety and Health Program for information on the evaluation of all service contractors. 

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Fire protection service companies should have a NICET certified person on staff. A registered fire protection engineer should be available to the service company, especially if design is being performed. 

Qualify fire protection service companies to perform work at the facility. 

In the private sector, many large industrial companies have their own firefighting forces, especially companies in the oil, chemical, aircraft , and aerospace industries. Other employers include airports, shipyards, and military bases. A growing number of companies are in the business of providing fire protection services—including on-call or on-site firefighting teams—to other businesses and institutions. 

A loss prevention and control service organization maintained for the policyholders of three major industrial and commercial property insurance companies Allendale Insurance, Arkwright, and Protection Mutual Insurance. Factory Mutual provides loss control engineering, loss adjustment, insurance appraisals, building plan review, research, and education services. Fire and loss prevention equipment that has passed specific FM testing standards are considered acceptable for fire protection service and are provided with an FM listing or label. 

In the context of fire protection system design, approved or listed equipment for fire service is generally understood to mean acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). The AHJ includes organizations or individuals that are responsible for accepting equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure. In other words, the AHJ could be a fire marshal, insurance company, owner, or some other organization. 

The company or facility should make use of the services of an engineer knowledgeable and trained in fire protection. Ideally, a registered fire protection engineer should be available to review fire protection designs. Fire safety, loss prevention, or process safety engineers should assist in the analysis of hazards, selection of protection system specifications, approval of the system, and acceptance testing. 

The Fire Protection Focal Point may utilize a service company to conduct periodic inspections, flow testing, repairs, and maintenance of the systems. 

This section deals with the qualifications of personnel who manage the fire protection equipment and systems and conduct the inspections, testing, and maintenance. This includes qualifying service companies and qualification of service company employees. 

A nonprofit association of insurance companies that provides services for participating companies. It provides statistical, actuarial, and underwriting information for numerous affiliated insurance companies and more than a dozen lines of insurance. It maintains one of the largest private databases in the world for insurance premiums and losses paid. Included in these lines is liability, automobile, boiler and machinery, homeowners, farm, and commercial fire insurance. ISO is a voluntary, nonprofit, unincorporated association of insurers. Previous to 1971, the functions performed by ISO were undertaken by various insurance organizations in different states. ISO gathers data that are used to establish rates for fire protection policies for residential and commercial properties. ISO developed the municipal grading schedule, which is commonly used to establish a basis of insurance rates for municipalities. It is an evaluation of the fire protection features of cities and towns based on seven factors climatic conditions, water supply, fire department, fire service communications, fire safety control, building codes, and a survey report. 

Insurance Organizations. Many important groups perform varied fire protection and inspection services on behalf of the insurance industry and its insureds. For example, the Association of Mill and Elevator Mutual Insurance Companies serves the mill and elevator industry s needs the American Institute of Marine Underwriters is organized to serve marine underwriters and to promote, advance, and protect their interests. 

Few chemical reactors are operated without any pressure relief system, but it is not uncommon for the relief system to be sized only to deal with overpressures from service fluids or fire engulfment. In such situations, where the relief system does not protect against the consequences of a runaway reaction, the safety of the reactor system must be assessed thoroughly to demonstrate compliance with legal requirements and recommended standards. The company operating the process should be able to justify its decision not to provide adequate overpressure relief. ... 

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