| Section
| Description
|
| 7- 1 |
Before the Chief of the Plainville Fire Department or his/her designee performs a final inspection
of a building fire alarm system, the following list of items must be in possession of the fire department.
|
| 7- 1.1 |
The most current set of approved blueprints.
|
| 7- 1.2 |
A side letter stating that the plans and specifications meet the state building code, all applicable
National Fire Protection Association standards, Massachusetts CMR's 527, Chapter 148, and the
Massachusetts Electrical Code as well as all Plainville Fire Department regulations. Both plans and
side letter are to be stamped by a professional fire protection engineer.
|
| 7- 1.3 |
Documentation verifying that all fees have been paid to the Building Inspector, Wire Inspector,
Plumbing Inspector, Water Department, Fire Department and the Town of Plainville.
|
| 7- 1.4 |
A copy of a valid contract between the building owner/owners and an approved alarm company stating
that the alarm company have been retained for a minimum period of one (1) year from the test
date and will be responsible for maintaining all the systems and code mandated inspections as set
forth in this section. The contract will state the names of both the alarm company and the
owner/owners of the building. The building owner/owners will furnish a list of contact personnel
in case of an emergency. The alarm company will furnish the emergency twenty-four (24) hour
telephone number for contact in case of system trouble and/or activation. The Town of Plainville
and the Plainville Fire Department has a minimum of two (2) hours response time for all responses
by all alarm companies.
|
| 7- 1.5 |
Installing contractors, both fire alarm systems and sprinkler systems, shall submit a letter to the
Plainville Fire Ddepartment stating that the systems have been tested at one hundred percent (100%)
and that the systems comply with the National Fire Protection Association, State and Local code
requirements.
|
| 7- 2 |
The installer will be charged for the final inspection. If the building fails then another final
inspection will be scheduled with corresponding fees. Fees are listed in the Chief of Fire
Operations and the Board of Selectmen approved fees schedule.
|
| 7- 3 |
The approved maintenance contractor shall notify the Chief of Plainville Fire Department or his/her
designee that they are ready for a final inspection and have met all the criteria in Section 7-1. An
inspection will be scheduled, but at no time shall the installer expect the inspection within
forty-eight (48) hours excluding weekends and holidays from the time of notification.
|
| 7- 4 |
The installer should allow enough time for complete testing of all devices for both function
and supervsion.
|
| 7- 4.1 |
It will be the installers responsibility to supply sufficient personnel to perform all aspects
of the test.
|
| 7- 4.2 |
The installer will provide a mechanism for performing a "true function test" of each device
according to manufacturers specifications. This means that all smoke detectors will be tested
by some means to show their sensitivity (i.e.: a magnet to draw a filament across the beam or a
test card to obscure a given percentage of light).
|
| 7- 4.3 |
Fusible link heat detectors shall be tested by removing the center link. Under no circumstances
will "canned" smoke be used to test smoke detectors.
|
| 7- 4.4 |
One hundred percent (100%) of the devices in the system will be tested. If any part of the system
fails, the installer will schedule another inspection, at the sole discretion of the Chief of Fire
Operations or his designee.
|
| 7- 5 |
A "KNOX" box shall be in place and all keys and tools needed to access and reset interior systems
turned over to the Fire Department Inspector for placement in the Knox box. The installer shall have
notified the owner of the need for the Fire Department to have the keys to all parts of the
building where any component of the system is located.
|
| 7- 6 |
All sprinkler and standpipe zones shall be testes in the system.
|
| 7- 6.1 |
The Inspectors test valve shall be opened and the zone shall trip within forty-five (45) seconds
for both a dry or wet system to activate the fire alarm control panel. All zones to be tested.
|
| 7- 6.2 |
All tampered valves to be closed to test the alarm activation of the zone.
|
| 7- 6.3 |
Low pressure and main drain test.
|
| 7- 6.4 |
Location and function of water motor gong, and fire department connection.
|
| 7- 7 |
All fire pumps shall be tested in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association #20 to
insure that neither the pump or the suction supply is obstructed.
|
| 7- 8 |
If the owner/owners, for their convenience, wants a test after working hours, he/she shall have
their approved alarm company send a written request to the Chief of the Plainville Fire Department
specifying time, date, location and indication reasons why he/she does not want test during regular
working hours. The owner/owners will bear the Fire Department cost involved at the overtime rate.
at the discretion of the Chief of the Plainville Fire Department.
|
| 7- 9 |
Upon acceptance of the fire protective system by the Chief of the Plainville Fire Department, the
owner/owners of the building where the system is installed will maintain the system in one hundred
percent (100%) operating condition at all times.
|
| 7-10 |
The owner/owners of the building where the fire alarm system is installed will provide evidence to
the Chief of the Plainville Fire Department that there is a maintenance contract in force for the
system with an alarm contractor. The alarm contractor will provide code mandated testing of the system
and submit and submit the results to the Chief of the Plainville Fire Department.
|
| 7-11 |
All systems with master boxes will be tested at least once every three (3) months with one quarter
(1/4) of all manual stations, heat nad smoke detectors operated each test. A different twenty-five
percent (25%) of the above mentioned devices will be operated at each inspection so that the entire
system will have been tested at the end of each year.
|
| 7-12 |
All systems will be tested at one hundred percent (100%) annually.
|
| 7-13 |
Any existing unaltered fire protective systems installed in accordance with any previous codes or
regulations will be maintained in accordance with this regulation.
|
| 7-14 |
All smoke detectors will be cleaned at least four (4) times per year. All smoke detectors shall be
replaced every five (5) years or according to manufacturer specifications.
|
| 7-15 |
On fusible link detectors the center shall be removed from their holders to test alarm initiation
capability. One heat detector on each circuit shall be tested quarterly. That detector shall be the
one furthest on that circuit.
|
| 7-16 |
All sprinkler systems shall be tested quarterly. The test for a sprinkler zone shall be the same
as in section 7-6.
|
| 7-17 |
Two times per year the master box shall be transmitted to the fire alarm dispatch center. The
operation of the master box shall be caused by the operation of one alarm initiating device
connected to the system.
|
| 7-18 |
All building control, control functions, such as smoke dampers, elevator recall, etc., shall be
tested at least once in a twelve (12) month period.
|
| 7-19 |
Each dry pipe system shall be cleaned and reset at least once each year.
|
| 7-20 |
When a syatem is to be removed from service due to repairs or testing, the Plainville Fire Department
shall be notified twenty-four (24) hours before that disconnection, except in emergency cases. Only
personnel from the fire department are allowed to disconnect the system.
|
| 7-21 |
When a system is to be restored to service, only personnel from the Plainville Fire Department are allowed to
restore the system. All repairs shall be tested by contractor with fire department personnel on scene before
system is put back in service.
|
| 7-22 |
No portion of a system is to remain out of service overnight without a fire watch posted. Fire watch shall be
Fire Department personnel.
|
| 7-23 |
Restoring of a fire protective system in the Town of Plainville, from an alarm condition to a normal
condition shall be completed within two (2) hours of an alarm activation. The approved fire
alarm contractor is responsible for this action as stated in
Section 7-1.D.
|
| 7-24 |
The owner/owners shall notify an approved contractor in the case of any repairs needed to the
system. Response time will be from the time of notification to the time system is restored.
|
| 7-25 |
All parties involved with the layout, installation and maintenance of fire alarm system should be
aware that the Fire Department Inspector is allowed to make judgments within a specific range of
authority to accommodate construction problems on a case by case basis.
|
| 7-26 |
All prescribed maintenance procedures and code mandated tests required for fire alarm systems shall
be performed only by persons with assigned "Identifying Signature" and on record with the
Plainville Fire Department as being presently employed by the authorized alarm service company under
contractual agreement for that purpose.
|
| 7-27 |
The Chief of the Plainville Fire Department or his/her designee shall be notified immediately by the service
company regarding any change in status of employees with "Identifying Signatures".
|
| 7-28 |
The Plainville Fire Department shall be notified at least thirty (30) days prior to cancellation of
a maintenance agreement for a master box connected system. Such notice shall be in writing stating
the date and time such cancellation is to take effect. In the event that the service company, due to
unforseen emergency conditions, cannot comply with the thirty (30) days notice provision, notice of
cancellation shall be by telephone to the Chief of the Plainville Fire Department or his/her designee
followed by a letter. It shall be the responsibility of both the authorized fire alarm service companies
involved and the owner/owners of the protected property to notify the Chief of Fire Operations or his/her
designee regarding cancellations and/or procurement of contractual agreeements relating to fire alarm service.
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