Fire Alarms and Sprinklers

 

WHEN IS A FIRE ALARM VERIFICATION REQUIRED ?

Fire alarm verification is required in all new buildings equiped with fire alarms systems.

When an existing FAS in the building is subjected to an addition or alteration (replacement of components, addition, modification, repair, adjustment to system hardware, or any change to software), then the extent of the FAS re-verification must be provided as follows:

  1. When a control unit, CACF or an annunciator has been replaced, repaired or modified on the existing FAS the entire FAS must be re-verified.
  2. When a component or components of the existing single zone fire alarm system have been subjected to an addition or modification the entire FAS must be re-verified.
  3. When fire alarm initiating devices have been added or modified in a fire alarm initiating zone (a manual station, a smoke detector, a flow switch or a heat detector), then that entire fire alarm initiating zone shall be re-verified. (See Notes).
  4. When audible signal devices have been added or modified in a fire alarm signalling zone (speakers, bells, vibrating gongs, etc.) then that entire fire alarm signalling zone shall be reverified.
    (See Notes).
  5. When an existing fire alarm system component (a field device, voice communication module, a control unit, annunciator, etc.) has been modified or replaced with a component from a different manufacturer, all existing and new/modified devices must be compatible. The requirement of Clause 3.1.4 of the Standard ULC S524-01 states that “All devices incorporated in a fire alarm system shall be compatible”.

Verification must be completed and submitted to the Shuswap Developmentand Building Department prior to the Shuswap Developmentand Building Department issuing any form of Occupancy.

VERIFICATION OF FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

The Shuswap Development and Building Department requires that fire alarm systems
installed in buildings must be verified to ensure satisfactory operation in conformance with CAN/ULCS537.

The Shuswap Development and Building Department acceptance criteria for organizations involved in verification of fire alarm systems is described in REQUIREMENTS FOR VERIFICATION OF FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS.

Upon completion of the verification procedure, a verification report must be submitted to the Shuswap Development and Building Department by an acceptable fire alarm verification organization. The fire alarm verification report must be provided with the form

ULC-S537-04 (FIRE ALARM SYSTEM VERIFICATION REPORT)

completed and signed by a qualified person employed by the acceptable fire alarm verification organization.

All fire alarm systems on Shuswap Band Land, as of May 1st, 2009, are required to be connected to a Central Monitoring Station. For example, an alarm monitoring company.

When a fire alarm system (FAS) is connected to an acceptable central monitoring station (24 hour monitoring company) a ULC Certificate “Central Station Fire Protective Signalling Service” must be completed as a part of verification report.

 

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