Existing Fire Alarm Systems STANDATA now available on the Government of Alberta website

May 15, 2019

The purpose of this bulletin is to identify requirements where a building fire alarm system, regardless of age, requires inspection, testing, maintenance, and installation of devices or other equipment (e.g. maglocks) in order to provide or maintain an expected level of protection for occupants.

In addition, this bulletin will define who is able to inspect, test, maintain and install fire alarm systems.

DISCUSSION

There are four types of activities that are conducted on a fire alarm system – inspection, testing, maintenance and installation.

Inspection is a visual examination to determine that the device or system will apparently perform in accordance with its intended function.

Testing is the operation of a device or system to determine that it will perform in accordance with its intended operation or function.

Maintenance is the removal, replacement or servicing of devices or equipment found inoperative during an inspection and test of the fire alarm system or due to an inoperative device at any other time.

Installation includes a new install or additions, modifications and renovations (changes).

There are factors that influence the degree of work that may be necessary to a building fire alarm system in order for it to provide the expected level of protection. The factors take into consideration the need for maintaining or changing systems that had been installed to “good engineering practice” prior to established codes and standards.

The factors also reflect how fire alarm systems installed under established codes and standards should be regarded when maintenance or changes are contemplated and to what degree the requirements of the most current codes and standards apply in maintenance and changes to the systems.

Aside from the specific requirements of the Alberta Building Code 2014 (ABC 2014), Alberta Fire Code 2014 (AFC 2014) and the Canadian Electrical Code 2018.

The main referenced standards for the installation, verification, inspection and testing of fire alarm systems are:

• CAN/ULC – S524 Installation of Fire Alarm Systems
• CAN/ULC – S536 Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm
• CAN/ULC – S537 Verification of Fire Alarm Systems
• CAN/ULC – S1001 Integrated Systems of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems

Read the full bulletin HERE