S02_Attachment 07 (FSSDC)_36C24123R0177.pdf

ATTACHMENT 07

Fire Systems Protection During Construction

3 pages

22 August 2023

Providence, Rhode Island VA Health Care System (650)

“Site Prep: Room 277”

Design-Build

Attachment F Fire Systems Protection During Construction

1. Preventing False Fire Alarms by Smoke Detectors During

Construction

Construction and building maintenance activities can potentially generate sufficient airborne dust to activate a fire alarm through nearby smoke detectors. An alarm activated by a smoke detector is immediately transmitted to the municipal fire department, which responds to the hospital with equipment and personnel. In order to prevent false fire alarms from smoke detectors during construction or other maintenance activities, it has been the practice of construction personnel to place a cover over nearby smoke detectors to prevent airborne dust from entering the detector. This practice has been effective in preventing false fire alarms; however this practice has also led to undocumented impairments to the fire alarm system when these covers are not removed when no longer needed to prevent a false alarm.

The following measures will be taken to prevent false fire alarms through smoke detectors during construction while maintaining effective control over impairments to the fire alarm system:

-When it is determined that a smoke detector may be activated by construction dust, the contractor or project manager shall direct a request to one of the hospital’s electronics technicians to disable the smoke detector or any other device of the fire alarm system.

The request shall include the Node, Loop, and Address of the device(s) to be disabled, the duration, and the specific types of construction or maintenance activities that are planned.

The electronics technician will disable the smoke detector until notified by either the contractor or project manager that construction has ended for the day. When notified that construction has ended for the day, the electronics technician will re-enable the smoke detector. The smoke detector that is disabled will indicate a “trouble” condition at the fire alarm control panel and serve as an active indication that a smoke detector or multiple detectors have been impaired. The “trouble” indication will also serve as a continuous reminder to hospital staff that the smoke detector(s) must be restored to normal service.

--Contractors or project managers shall provide at least 48 hours’ notice to the electronics technicians for disabling of a smoke detector or any other fire alarm system device.

Email is the preferred method of notification.

--In no case will the smoke detector(s) be disabled for more than 8 hours in a single 24 hour period. If any smoke detector or any other fire alarm system device is disabled for more than 4 hours in a 24 hour period, the project manager will prepare an ILSM risk assessment and a fire watch will be provided by the construction contractor as specified in the contract documents, or by hospital staff as designated by the project manager.

--Covers shall not be used on a smoke detector at any time. If found, covers shall be immediately removed from smoke detectors.

2. Sprinkler System Shutdowns during Construction

Construction and building maintenance may require the removal, modification, or relocation of sprinkler heads or piping. In order to prevent false fire alarms as a result of this sprinkler work, a procedure has been implemented for sprinkler system shutdowns. The following measures will be taken to prevent false fire alarms as a result of sprinkler work that maintains effective control over impairments to the installed sprinkler system:

When it is determined that the facility’s sprinkler system must be shut down for system modifications, the contractor or project manager shall direct a request for shutdown to the VA.

The request shall identify the specific area of the hospital impacted by the shutdown and the shutdown duration. The shutdown will be performed by VA staff. The VA staff will disable the fire alarm system points necessary to prevent false annunciation of a sprinkler system discharge.

The VA staff, or the sprinkler system contractor when authorized in writing by the hospital, will close the appropriate riser valve(s) to isolate that portion of the sprinkler system that is being worked on or that needs to be isolated. The closed sprinkler valve(s) shall be identified with a sprinkler valve “SHUT” tag by the party that closed the valve(s). The closed sprinkler valve(s) will indicate a “trouble” condition at the fire alarm control panel to serve as an active indication that the sprinkler system has been impaired. The “trouble” indication will also serve as a continuous reminder to hospital staff that the sprinkler system must be restored to service.

If a section of the sprinkler system is to be drained for piping or sprinkler head replacement work, the VA staff will notify the City of Providence fire alarm division that the master box will be out of service and disable the appropriate sprinkler flow switches and/or fire main. Once the system is drained in the specific area, the VA staff can reinstall all sprinkler system flow switch devices and the master box so that they are not required to be present in the fire alarm room as a fire watch for the system. At the completion of the sprinkler system work, the contractor is responsible for notifying the VA staff that the construction activity has ended for the day and that the sprinkler system is to be refilled and restored to normal operation. The VA staff must take out all flow switches, fire alarm annunciating devices, and possibly main fire pump prior to recharging of the system. Once the appropriate devices are disabled the VA staff, or the contractor when authorized in writing by the hospital, can then start filling the system and bleeding air out the Inspector Test Valve (ITV) until the sprinkler system is completely refilled in the specific area of the facility. The contractor must stay in the impacted area for a minimum of 15 minutes after the system is refilled to ensure there are no leaks in or abnormalities to the fire and sprinkler systems.

--Contractors shall provide at least 48 hours’ notice to the VA for sprinkler system shutdown.

Email is the preferred method of notification.

--In no case will the sprinkler system be disabled on two consecutive floors or in multiple areas at the same time in the main hospital building.

--In no case will the sprinkler system be disabled while smoke detectors or other fire alarm initiating devices are disabled in the same area.

--In no case will sprinkler systems be shut down except for portions of the sprinkler system under renovation, modification or construction, or for new connections to the sprinkler system.

Sprinkler systems will not be shut down to avoid accidental discharge of the sprinkler system caused by unintentional damage to the sprinkler system from construction activity. Provide metal head guards at each sprinkler head within the limits of work.

--In no case will the sprinkler system be disabled for more than 8 hours in a single 24 hour period.

If the sprinkler system must be disabled for more than 4 hours in a 24 hour period, the project manager will prepare an ILSM risk assessment and a fire watch shall be provided by the construction contractor as specified in the contract documents.