Fire System Inspections

All components of a fire alarm system must receive regular inspection and testing. All systems should receive a visual inspection each quarter. Each automatic system should be tested and/ or inspected on an annual basis. Ensure inclusion of fire components and systems in an organizational preventive maintenance plan. Ensure the testing of all supervisory signal devices on a quarterly basis. Test valve tamper switches, water flow devices, duct detectors, electromechanical releasing devices, heat detectors, manual fire alarm boxes, and smoke detectors on a semiannual basis. Test occupant alarm notification devices to include audible and visible devices at least annually. Maintain appropriate testing documentation on all fire-related systems. 

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Fire system inspections, testing, calibration, and maintenance... 

Water-Based Fire Protection Systems Inspection and Testing Requirements... 

Fire Protection Systems Inspection, Test, and Maintenance Manual Wayne G. Carson and Richard L Klinker, National Fire Protection Association, Item No. NB-FPS-93,230pages, 49.50. 

Are weekly/monthly documented inspections being conducted on all phases of the fire system ... 

Fire protection system inspected and tested with regular frequency 1 Building and equipment provided with capability to isolate and control fire... 

Fire protections systems inspected, acceptance-tested documentation provided ... 

Inspect and test fire station communications 2.2 Inspect and test site fixed fire systems 3.2 Working safely 4.2 Fixed systems/fire tender work in incident... 

Even if not required by OSHA, one way to demonstrate compliance with the required monthly inspection is to document it. The agency allows employers to use what ever type of recording system, either paper or electronic, which works for their facility. Typically, inspections are recorded via a tag attached to each fire extinguisher. Also, under NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, monthly fire extinguisher inspections are required and states at 6.2.1 that This inspection shall be noted on a tag or label attached to the fire extinguisher and shall include the date of the inspection and the initials of the Individual doing the inspection. ... 

OSHAsays in 1910.157(e)(3) that, The employer shall record the annual maintenance date and retain this record for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. OSHA does not require that records of monthly fire extinguisher inspections be retained. However, as a best practice employers should establish an associated recordkeeping system to demonstrate compliance with the monthly inspection requirement. 

It is often the case that a fire safety inspection will not identify issues such as the control of contractors as being a risk, unless contractors and maintenance operations are being undertaken at the time of inspection. This issue must be included in a risk assessment as it is reasonably foreseeable that contractors may either compromise the safety of those on site while undertaking their operations, or compromise fire safety compartments or other control systems. 

Fire systems have to be properly designed by professionals, installation of fire systems must be completed according to NFPA codes, and storage and handling of flammables and combustibles must be given the proper attention. Emergency planning, facility inspection, and an adherence to OSHA codes and practices will help to protect the property. 

In a conventional expert system, the only rules to fire are those for which the condition is met. In a fuzzy system, all of the rules fire because all are expressed in terms of membership, not the Boolean values of true and false. Some rules may involve membership values only of zero, so have no effect, but they must still be inspected. Implicitly, we assume an or between every pair of rules, so the whole rule base is... 

Leakages from CO2 fire suppression systems are considered extremely rare. With adequate inspection and maintenance procedures a leak on the system should generally not be expected to occur. Installed pressure gages on the CO2 cylinders should be frequently checked against the initial pressure readings. If they are found to be different, immediate action should be taken to investigate possible leakages. 

Facility personnel who perform inspections on fixed fire protection systems must be knowledgeable of the systems and have received training on the inspection protocols. Facility personnel may be operations personnel, maintenance personnel, security personnel, fire protection personnel, or others assigned by management. 

The last two applications, while convenient and initially appealing, require more maintenance and inspection than a simple, ground level monitor. Significant reactive forces can be generated and, therefore, the support structures must be properly engineered. Elevated monitors also require support and hydraulics to be protected by a water spray system if exposed to fires. An elevated monitor is shown in Eigure 7-12. 

When a gas and vapor detection system is used either for fire protection or for personnel exposure protection, the system should be managed, inspected and tested on a scheduled basis, and maintained similar to any other major element of the fire protection system or any process safety interlock or safety instrumented system. 

The project manager should assign either inspection staff for new facilities, the facility fire protection staff, or appropriate personnel at existing facilities the responsibility of monitoringthe activities of the contractor installingthe system. These duties should include ... 

The inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire protection systems by qualified personnel is essential to ensure the operability of the systems during an emergency. 

Establishing ownership for the inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire protection systems. 

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