QUESTIONS_AND_ANSWERS.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

IFBP012016000001

UPGRADE FIRE ALARM PANELS

USP MCCREARY - PROJECT 1B5K

Questions from Grot, Incorporated:

1. Section 1.3 Summary, Item A – The contractor shall be responsible for…….and certified to meet all federal, state, local or other codes. Our question is – the scope of this project is to replace annunciators and fire alarm panels, are we responsible for any code related issue that may affect existing field device installation (i.e. mounting height, placement too close to AC registers, etc.)

CLARIFICATION: YES. The contractor is responsible for supplying panels and annunciators that are of CURRENT code.

2. Section 1.3 Summary, Item B.1 – Remove existing annunciator panels. Our question is – what is the model number of the existing annunciator panels?

CLARIFICATION: Remote Display Annunciator panel model # SMDN-C

3. Section 1.3 Summary, Item B.6 – Provide any appurtenances… required to integrate new and old components, ensuring complete compatibility. Clarification request – we have spoken with the manufacturer of the existing horn/strobes. The existing horn strobes are currently synchronized by using a model #AVS44 Synchronization module for each Notification Appliance Circuit. The AVS44 modules are obsolete and no replacement modules are available. Any existing sync module that is found to be defective or which may be damaged via lightning currently or in the future would require replacement of all notification appliances and sync modules for the entire building to achieve strobe sync.

Please confirm that condition is acceptable to the owner.

CLARIFICATION: This strobe condition is acceptable under the current scope of this project.

4. Section 1.6 Action Submittals, Item E – The drawings shall show the location of each initiating device, notification appliance, and all fire alarm panels and annunciators. Our question is – will the owner provide drawings with existing fire alarm field devices shown or will we be required to walk each building and document existing device locations?

CLARIFICATION: Drawings will be supplied per requests.

5. Section 1.7 Closeout submittal, Item 7.D – Each affidavit shall certify that the fire alarm system was installed and tested in accordance with the……… Our question is – are we only going to certify new Fire Alarm Control Panels and Annunciators are installed per code or does this include all existing field devices that are not included in this scope of work?

CLARIFICATION: Anything new, MUST meet the current code, the contractor will only be certifying what is NEWLY installed.

6. Section 1.8 Quality Assurance, Item E – 3 Product Installation – Comply with the latest edition of the following codes and standards, at minimum: This section lists all of the fire alarm related code references, which would include field device placement, spacing, mounting height, existing wiring, etc. Our question is – will the installing contractor be held responsible for any fire alarm device or field wiring that is not directly related to the installation of the new FireWorks Command Computer, new Fire Alarm Control Panels and Remote Fire Alarm Annunciators?

CLARIFICATION: The Contractor will NOT be responsible for any field wiring or devices not directly related to the removal, replacement, and installation of the new panels and annunciators as long as there is communication back to the Fireworks Command Computer.

7. Section 1.10 Sequencing and Scheduling, Item A – Existing Fire-Alarm Equipment: This section asks the installing contractor to maintain existing equipment fully operational until the new equipment has been tested and accepted.

Our question is – will the new system test consist of only the new fire panel and the associated annunciator and communication to the new FireWorks Command Computer? The field devices will still be connected to the existing Fire Control Panel until such time that we transfer the existing field devices from the existing fire panel to the new fire panel.

CLARIFICATION: The existing field devices should remain connected to the current FACP's until new equipment is ready to be commissioned with minimal down time and approval of the COR.

8. Section 1.10 Sequencing and Scheduling, Item B – Equipment removal – remove existing disconnected fire alarm equipment and wiring. Our question is – does the contractor need to make provisions to dispose of the existing fire panels and annunciators?

CLARIFICATION: USP McCreary will be responsible for disposal of old equipment.

9. Section 1.12 Performance Requirements, Item H – Data and communications circuits between network cables shall be fiber optic. Our question is – will the owner provide and install four strands of multi-mode fiber (2 strands incoming and 2 strands outgoing to the next panel)?

CLARIFICATION: The new installed equipment will be connected to our existing local network switches via CAT 6.

10. Section 1.13 Fire Alarm Control Panels, Item B – the fire alarm panels specified are the EST3 control panel. EST has a newer version of fire alarm panel as model #EST3X with some capacities slightly reduced and some enhancements over the EST3 panel. Due to the quantity of panels included with this project, the network would require a minimum of one EST3 panel to allow for up to 64 nodes on the network. The EST3 panel could be located in the Communications Room (Comm Tech Room) and the rest of the fire panels could be EST3X, which would provide the owner with reduced cost of the project. The EST3X is more cost effective than the EST3 panel and the EST3X would provide more capacity than required for this project with future expansion considered. We will provide a data sheet for your consideration. Our clarification request – we are requesting your approval to allow the use of the EST3X panels in conjunction with one EST3 panel to help lower the cost of this project.

CHANGE: Refer to amendment issued 7-29-2016.

11. Section 1.13 Fire Alarm Control Panels, Item E – Circuits – 1 Notification- Appliance Circuits, Class A with proper end-of-line devices. We have three questions – first question is – will the installing contractor be responsible for any existing notification appliance circuit wiring that may be required to create a Class A circuit (scope asks for panel only replacement)? Second question is –

Class A notification-appliance circuits do not require an end-of-line device – will the installing contractor be required to modify the existing notification appliance circuits? Third question is – if existing strobe appliances are not capable of producing strobe synchronization with the new fire control panels – will the owner approve a modification to the contract for resolution of the strobe sync (if this is an issue)?

CLARIFICATION: 1) No. NAC circuit is CLASS B with EOL device.

2) No. Just ensure it is a complete and working CLASS B circuit.

3) This strobe condition is acceptable under the current scope of this project.

12. Section 1.13 Fire Alarm Control Panels, Item H-1, Silencing-switch operation halts alarm operation of audible notification appliances while continuing visual notification appliances. Our question is – will the installing contractor be required to provide strobe operation after the audible appliances are silenced (even if the current fire code does not allow this function)?

CLARIFICATION: The current programming allows this function, if current code dis-allows, then the answer is no.

13. Section 1.13 Fire Alarm Control Panels, Item M.2 – each system power supply shall be individually supervised. Our question is – does this apply to all of the existing Notification Appliance Power Supplies that are existing and are not replaced within the scope of this project?

CLARIFICATION: Yes, the NAC Power is currently monitored.

14. Section 1.13 Fire Alarm Control Panels, Item M-6 - Size batteries to support operation of the fire alarm system for 60 hours of supervision followed by five minutes of alarm, as minimum. Our question is – will 60 hours of supervision be required if code only requires 24 hours?

CLARIFICATION: New code for panels calls for 24 hours, then per the SOW, the new code requirement is all that needs to be met.

15. Section 1.14 Network Interface Module, Item B – new fire alarm panels will interface existing LAN infrastructure via CAT5/Cat6 ethernet cable. Our question is – are we installing the new fire panels on a fiber or copper network configuration? A previous section of the scope indicates the fire alarm network will be fiber optic cable.

CLARIFICATION: The new installed equipment will be connected to our existing local network switches via CAT 6.

16. Section 1.16 Remote Annunciators, Item D – contractor shall furnish and install EST Model 3LCDANN or approved equal. Our question is – if the EST3X panels are approved as acceptable for this project, would you approve the RLCD Style annunciators (data sheet attached) for all buildings that would have the EST3X panels installed? One additional question in reference to this same section is – “utilizing existing PLC circuit” – what does this mean?

CHANGE: 1. Refer to amendment issued 7-29-2016.

2. The new system will be connected to existing PLC, notification loop.

17. Section 1.17 Maintenance Software, Section A – provide maintenance software with required workstation to connect to Admin Bldg fire panel via the owner’s LAN. We understood during the pre-bid walk through – the FireWorks computer (to be furnished as part of this scope of work) and software would be installed in the Comm Tech Room to be connected via the RS232 connection in the fire panel.

Our question is – will the FireWorks software be installed at a different location on campus using the owner LAN for connection?

CLARIFICATION: Fireworks computer and Software will be installed in the Comm Tech Room. LAN connections will be available if necessary.