The Office of the State Fire Marshal has passed along information from CMS about testing and maintenance in regards to fire alarm system.
Testing & Maintenance:
All devices connected to your fire alarm system need to have evidence that each individual device was tested. That means you also need an accurate inventory of every device, complete with a description as to where it is located. The test report needs to list each and every individual device (individually itemized), a description of where it is located, and whether it passed or failed its test.
Get those fire alarm interface relay included in the fire alarm testing process and document each one individually, with “Pass” or a “Fail” notation. Here is a list of the most common interface relays used in healthcare fire alarm systems:
- Magnetic hold-open devices
- Air handler shutdown
- Kitchen hood suppression system
- Elevator recall
- Magnetic locks
- Fire Pumps
- Smoke Dampers
- Clean agent suppression systems
- Sprinkler dry pipe/pre-action systems
- Overhead rolling fire doors
If the company that completes the fire alarm ITM is different than the range hood and sprinkler company vendors, then the range hood and sprinkler company vendors, then provide a copy of that report to the fire alarm company and they can write in the comments section that these devices were tested by “vendor” on “date”, and pass/fail.
Don’t forget to keep a disposition of the devices that failed or had a comment regarding how the system is not to code with your semi-annual inspection and testing. That way we know corrections were made and you don’t have to search for paperwork during a survey.
A note about dampers: Electric fire and smoke dampers must be tested annually with the fire alarm system. Fusible link dampers are required to be exercised and lubricated once every four years in LTC/once every six years in hospital. Electric fire/smoke dampers are required to be tested annually with the fire alarm
References: NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.
