GSA_Region_10_-_Fire_Alarm_Design__Installation_and_Testing_Policy_3.31.16.pdf

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GSA Region 10 – Fire Alarm Design, Installation and Testing Policy (New and Existing Upgrade System)

Applicable Publications:

In addition to this document, provide a system conforming to the requirements of the following latest publications including all amendments to these publications:

A. PBS-P100 (Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service) B. PBS-140 (Child Care Center Design Guide)(where applicable) C. USMS Pub 64 (United States Marshall Service)(where applicable) D. NFPA – National Fire Protection Association E. ANSI A17.1 – Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators F. ADA & ABAAG – Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act

Accessibility Guidelines G. Guidelines for Fire Watches During Sprinkler and/or Fire Alarm System

Impairment in Federal Buildings (attachment #1) H. IBC – International Building Code I. IFC – International Fire Code J. ASME – American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Design

All new fire alarm system(s) shall be addressable unless the requirement is waived by the GSA Regional Fire Protection Engineer.

All new fire alarm system(s) shall be voice systems unless the requirement is waived by the GSA Regional Fire Protection Engineer.

If the project's Scope of Work (SOW) includes providing a New Fire Alarm Control

Panel (FACP), this must also include a new Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter

(DACT) and a UL listed printer for this application compatible with the new fire alarm system. If the FACP is capable of providing, the DACT must be an integrated component of the FACP system and located within the FACP’s enclosure. Unless stated otherwise, all reporting via the DACT must be a “point” type reporting.

The audible sound for notifying the tenants of the buildings whenever the fire alarm system is in an alarm condition is a slow whoop, unless it is by floors and a specific message will be provide where applicable. All messages (including the slow whoop) must be submitted by the contractor for review and approval (a maximum of 15 business days review time will be required by the GSA FPE) by the GSA FPE prior incorporation into the fire alarm system. If contractor fails to submit this before acceptance test, GSA FPE reserves the right to change the message (including the slow whoop) at no cost to the Government.

Visual fire alarm notification devices (only) will be permitted within a holding room or jail https://www.asme.org/

G S A R e g i o n 1 0 P a g e | 2 room or equivalent type of occupancy. No fire alarm audio notification devices will be permitted within the prisoner cell or equivalent areas. No exposed conduits, junction boxes, connectors, etc will be permitted within the holding room or jail room or equivalent type of occupancy. If exposed materials are required to be provided within the rooms mentioned, all materials must be UL listed for this type of application.

The following FACP by pass switches must be provided (where applicable):

- Alarm Notification Deactivation Switches. Provide a means for turning off the activated alarm notification appliances at the FACP that will silence the audible alarm notification (only), but not extinguish the visual indicator. These switches shall be overridden upon activation of a subsequent alarm.

- Exterior door(s).

- Interior door(s).

- Elevator recall(s).

- Smoke control or smoke management.

- Exterior water flow bell(s) activation.

The following FACP switches must be provided for the following (where applicable):

- Live voice message broadcast to each floor level (independently) except elevator(s) and exit stair(s).

- Live voice message broadcast to elevator(s) and exit stair(s).

- Live voice message broadcast to all (“All Call”) including elevator(s) and exit stair(s).

The notification appliances shall deliver a minimum of 70 dBA throughout the building with no exception. When required by the code, fire alarm visual notification device(s) must be located within the room(s) that it is serving.

If alarm initiating devices from different floors are activated when there is already an alarm condition, the general evacuation alarm shall activate using the slow whoop or voice message depending what is being provided.

Notification Appliances for the stairwells and elevators shall be speakers that are on independent circuits from the circuits serving the floors. The speakers within the stairwells and elevator cabs shall be operable only when a microphone is operated.

Fire alarm systems shall not be integrated with other building systems such as building automation, energy management, security, etc. Fire alarm systems shall be self-contained, stand alone systems able to function independently of other building systems.

Fire alarm systems shall be installed within a room separated from the remainder of the building by not less than a 1-hour fire resistance rated fire barrier. The location shall be agreed to by the GSA Property Manager and the GSA Regional Architect prior final approval from the GSA Regional Fire Protection Engineer. Each fire command center/room must be provided with appropriate lighting, ventilation, and emergency

G S A R e g i o n 1 0 P a g e | 3 lighting. Each fire command center/room must have a way to operate the room’s lighting.

In addition to meeting the requirements of NFPA, where provided, fire alarm system and all of their components shall be provided with emergency power from an emergency generator.

All fire alarm system secondary battery backup power shall provide a minimum 24 hours of standby with 15 minutes in alarm.

Smoke detectors in elevator lobbies, elevator machine rooms other than the primary floor shall recall the elevators to the primary floor. Waterflow alarms shall also recall the elevators to the primary floor. Smoke detectors at the primary floor elevator lobby shall recall the elevators to the secondary floor. Fire alarm initiating devices located in the elevator machine room, control space, control room, and/or elevator hoistway shall illuminate the fire hat only in a car(s) that is serving. Heat detectors in the elevator machine rooms shall cause the elevator to go to the nearest floor, open the doors and then cut off the power (seismic feature).

In addition to the code compliance requirements of NFPA and ANSI, ALL elevator(s) and/or lift(s) serving the facility must be provided individual addressable fire alarm monitors and/or relays for the following fire alarm system related functions:

- Primary Recall.

- Secondary Recall.

- Power Monitoring.

- Shunt Trip.

- Fire Hat.

If the existing elevator system is not provided with these capabilities, only the fire alarm infrastructure shall be required and fully installed for future use (i.e. fully installed conduit, wire, FACP programming, and fire alarm component). The installation contractor's team will be fully responsible for providing all related physical electrical connections and integration to ensure fully functional and code compliant system. In addition, the installing contractor will be responsible for all tests meeting the requirements of the code to ensure full functionality of the system to meet the requirements as stated above.

Smoke detector(s) serving fire alarm control unit(s), notification appliance circuit power extenders, and supervising station transmitting equipments are not required to be provided if the fire alarm system’s equipment is located within a sprinkler protected location that is monitored by a UL listed Central Station.

Duct smoke detectors (if provided), provide detectors with approved duct housing, mounted to the exterior of the duct, and with perforated sampling tubes extending across the width of the duct in accordance with manufacturer’s requirements. Provide detectors that are rated for the air velocity expected. Provide a remote LED and remote test station with key to indicate the operation and location of the all duct detectors

G S A R e g i o n 1 0 P a g e | 4 installed (if the duct detector is located within the “drop ceiling” area, the remote LED must be located in a visible area without removing the ceiling tile(s)). The test station with key must be provided per detector; in addition, they must be mounted at a minimum height of 48 inches from the finished floor level and located inside (at the entrance) of the room that is serving. If multiple access points to the room are provided, GSA’s Building Management will determine the final location of the test station(s).

All circuits shall be Class A circuits. (PBS-P100 requires the notification appliance circuits to be Class B circuits; however there has to be a minimum of 2 circuits for every area with the notification appliances alternating between the circuits so if one appliance on a Class B circuit is out of commission because of an open circuit or ground fault in the circuit, the notification appliance next to the one that is inoperable will operate. GSA Region 10 uses Class A instead because a single open circuit or ground fault will not prevent any appliance form operating and the same amount of wire is run).

Any notification circuit (audio and/or visual) serving the building shall not feed more than one (1) floor level per circuit. In other words, circuits serving the second floor level shall not feed to devices serving any other floor levels.

A 10% test is required and shall be witnessed by the GSA Regional Fire Protection Engineer before the last month of the warranty period for the fire alarm system (i.e. 11th month in a 12th month warranty period). The contractor shall correct any items that are found as deficient during the 10% test at no additional cost to the government. The test coordination will be provided by the contractor, the warranty will only be completed after this test has been successfully passed regardless of the warranty period.

Emergency generator’s (if provided) supervision devices (i.e. run, trouble, etc), manual start, and transfer features must be monitored by the fire alarm system. Additional existing monitoring points of the existing fire alarm system must also be monitored by the new fire alarm system.

The Contractor, with the assistance of the Property Manager, shall make all arrangements to set up accounts for transmitting fire alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals over leased telephone lines to a UL listed Central Station Service. It is the intent of this paragraph to assure the Contractor has installed, made operational, and tested all external fire alarm connections from the building to a U.L. listed Central Station Service prior to final acceptance testing.

System Monitoring (Where Applicable) A. Valves: all and each valve affecting the proper operation of a fire protection system whether supplied under this contract or existing, shall be monitored to ensure its proper position. Each tamper switch shall be provided with a separate address.

B. Independent Systems: Each existing independent smoke detection sub-system and fire extinguishing system shall be monitored for the presence of alarm, G S A R e g i o n 1 0 P a g e | 5 trouble, and supervisory conditions. Each monitored condition shall be provided with a separate address.

Over-Voltage and Surge Protection A. Circuit Surge Protection: For systems having initiating, notification, signaling and communication circuits located outdoors, all communications equipment shall be protected against surges induced on all circuits. All cables and conductors, which serve as communication links, shall also be provided with surge protection.

Surge protection shall meet the requirements of Article 760 of the NEC and be UL listed for this purpose.

B. Over-voltage and surge protection equipment shall be installed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Notification Circuit Calculations A. Provide calculations on each circuit to indicate that there is at least 25% spare power capacity for visual notification appliances, 25% spare capacity for audible notification appliances, and 25% spare capacity for notification device circuits.

Note that this is spare power capacity and not spare programming capacity.

B. Provide calculations showing that no individual notification circuit is loaded beyond 75% of its full load capacity. Provide calculations that show that the total load for each remote power supply or FACP power supply is 75% or less of its full load capacity.

Voice Evacuation Speaker Calculations A. Provide calculations to indicate that the system has sufficient capacity to simultaneously drive all fire alarm speakers at their required sound output plus 25%spare capacity.

B. Provide calculations that show that no individual speaker circuit is loaded beyond 75% of its capacity. A speaker circuit’s capacity is defined as no more than one

(1) dBA loss or the wattage limitation of the speaker notification module, whichever is less.

C. Provide calculations that show that the total load for each amplifier is 75% or less of its full load capacity.

D. A minimum of one (1) backup amplifier must be provided per system.

Voltage Drop Calculations A. Provide voltage drop calculations by the use of either a lumped load calculation

(all devices assumed at the end of the circuit) or by the distributive load calculation method whereby voltage drops are calculated for each device. If the distributive method is chosen then use the UL max current rating of the device at its lowest voltage rating. If the lumped load method is chosen then use the UL average RMS current rating of the device at 24 volts.

B. Provide calculations such that with a supply voltage of 24.0 volts, the last device shall have no less than 21.6 volts measured across its terminals.

Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manuals

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A. Provide complete installation manuals for the system installed. The manuals shall be used during the instruction period hereinafter specified. The manual shall include an index, copies of all approved shop drawings and submittal materials, and a complete parts list of all components. The manual shall also include, for each item, the manufacturer's name, the serial number of the part, an ordering number, if appropriate, and a physical and electrical description of the part. Following the final acceptance test, all copies of the drawings and submittal materials shall be updated as necessary to reflect as-built conditions.

Permanent Records A. Provide an electronic record copy of the site specific software.

Shop Drawings

As a minimum, the shop drawing submittal shall include the following (this must be provided in small as well as large projects):

A. All information contained in the shop drawings must be field based and verified.

B. All field verified conduit and/or raceway runs must be shown.

C. Point-to-point-wiring diagrams showing the points of connection and terminals used for all electrical field connections in the system, including all interconnections between the equipment or systems that are supervised or controlled by the system. Diagrams shall show all connections from field devices to the FACP and remote fire alarm control units, initiating circuits, switches, relays and terminals.

D. Drawings showing device locations, terminal cabinet locations, and all circuit layouts for all floors. All wiring sizes, types, and number in each conduit. Sizes and types of all conduit. All addressable devices shall have their digital addresses indicated on the shop drawing at the appropriate location. All visual notification appliances shall have their candela ratings indicated. All audible notification appliances shall have their wattage taps indicated.

E. Detailed drawings showing the layout of the Fire Alarm Control Panel including power supply, battery location, CPU, displays, modules, circuit boards, tone generators, amplifiers, NAC output devices including synchronization modules, terminal wiring scheme, add on terminals and any other functional component of the Fire Alarm Control Panel. All internal wiring details of the panel, including jumper positions must be shown.

F. Complete riser diagrams indicating the wiring sequence of all devices and their connections to the control equipment. Provide floor plans showing the location of all devices and equipment.

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G. Detailed drawings of the fire alarm annunciator (if provided) including power supply, terminal connections, circuit boards, modules, and communication scheme to the FACP.

H. A complete description of the system operation (cause and effect matrix).

I. A complete list of device addresses and corresponding English language descriptors.

Submittal Requirements (this applies to all new upgrade type of submittal regardless of their project size)

A. Contractor shall submit contract required design drawings.

B. Contractor shall submit shop drawings. Construction will not start until GSA’s

Regional Fire Protection Engineer approves the submittal.

C. Contractor shall submit construction “redlines” drawings prior scheduling system acceptance. Ten (10) business days (minimum) will be provided for revision time.

D. Once construction “redlines” are approved by the GSA’s Regional Fire Protection Engineer, the acceptance of the system can be scheduled.

E. Once the GSA’s Regional Fire Protection Engineer accepts the system, as-built drawings must be submitted within fifteen (15) business days. A minimum review time of ten (10) business days will be required for GSA’s Regional Fire Protection Engineer for approval.

Fire Alarm Speaker Notification Message – Recorded Message

A. Full building evacuation:

General alarm condition will be a slow whoop.

B. Partial evacuation message:

1. A First Floor alarm shall transmit a “Fire Zone” message to all below grade floors. Any “basement level” alarm shall transmit a “Fire Zone” message to all below grade floors in addition to the First Floor. For fire alarms originating from the 5th floor or below, the “Fire Zone” message shall be broadcast on all floors from the 6th floor and below.

The “Fire Zone” message shall state:

“May I have your attention, please! May I have your attention, please! A fire has been reported in the building. Please walk to the nearest exit and leave the building. Please do not use the elevators.”

The message shall be repeated as follows:

- One (1) cycle of the “Fire Zone” message followed by one (1) cycle of slow

G S A R e g i o n 1 0 P a g e | 8 whoop.

2. The “Fire Zone” message shall be broadcast through speakers on the floor of alarm origin, the floor immediately above the floor of origin, and two (2) floors immediately below the floor of origin.

For alarms originating from the 6th Floor or above, the “Fire Zone” message shall be:

“May I have your attention, please! May I have your attention, please! A fire has been reported which may affect your floor. Please walk to the nearest exit, walk down four (4) floors, re-enter the building, walk onto the floor, and await further instructions. Please do not use the elevators.”

The message shall be repeated as follows:

- One (1) cycle of the “Fire Zone” message followed by one (1) cycle of slow whoop.

3. The “Safe Area Zone” message shall simultaneously be broadcast to all other building floors in which no alarm conditions are present. “Safe Area Zone” Message shall state:

“May I have your attention, please! May I have your attention, please! A fire has been reported in another area of the building. You are in a safe area. There may be people from other floors that will be relocated to your floor. Please do not use the elevators.”

The message shall be repeated as follows:

- One (1) cycle of the “Safe Area Zone” message followed by one (1) cycle of slow whoop.

4. If two (2) alarms are detected in two (2) different floors, the “Fire Zone” message shall be broadcast through speakers on all floor levels and state:

“May I have your attention, please! May I have your attention, please! A fire has been reported in the building. Please walk to the nearest exit and leave the building. Please do not use the elevators.”

Spare Parts

Unless provided in a different section of the project specifications or contract, the following (where applicable) shall be provided (applicable to new fire alarm system and/or full fire alarm system upgrade):

4 Combination audio/visual appliances 4 Independent audio appliances 4 Independent visual appliances 4 Fuses for each fused circuit

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4 Manual fire alarm stations 4 Spare reams of paper for the system printer (2,000 pages), plus sufficient paper for all fire alarm acceptance tests 4 Area smoke detectors with bases 4 Heat detectors with bases 4 Complete set of Beam type smoke detectors 4 Duct smoke detectors with bases/housing enclosures/key siwtches 4 Monitor modules 4 Control modules 4 Auxiliary relays 4 Waterflow switches 4 Tamper switches

Installation

All Existing fire alarm equipment shall be maintained fully operational until the new equipment has been tested and accepted by the Government. As new fire alarm initiating equipment that is installed, they shall be tagged "NOT IN SERVICE" until the new equipment is accepted. All new equipment that has been placed in service shall have tags removed immediately and tags stating “NOT IN SERVICE” shall be placed on existing initiating equipment that is no longer in service until such equipment is removed from the building. The “NOT IN SERVICE” sign must be placed across of the device that is serving.

Wiring within Cabinets, Enclosures, Boxes, and Junction Boxes: Provide wiring installed in a neat and workmanlike manner and installed parallel with or at right angles to the sides and back of any box, enclosure or cabinet. All conductors that are terminated, spliced, or otherwise interrupted in any enclosure, cabinet, mounting or junction box shall be connected to terminal blocks which must be securely mounted and easily accessible. Mark each terminal in accordance with the wiring diagrams of the system.

The use of wire nuts or similar devices shall be prohibited.

Installation of terminal cabinets or any fire alarm system’s equipment within stairwells will not be allowed. However, GSA will consider the installation of terminal cabinets in stairwells if and only if all other alternative installations have been deemed impossible for installation. Approval (if allowed) by GSA will be required prior installation.

Visual fire alarm notification devices (only) will be permitted within a holding room or jail room or equivalent type of occupancy. No fire alarm audio notification devices will be permitted within the prisoner cell or equivalent areas. No exposed conduits, junction boxes, connectors, etc will be permitted within the holding room or jail room or equivalent type of occupancy. If exposed materials are required to be provided within the rooms mentioned, the contractor must get approval from GSA prior installation and all materials must be UL listed for this type of application.

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All fire alarm system wiring shall be solid copper and installed in conduit. Stranded wiring shall not be allowed. T-tapping is not allowed.

Conduit shall be rigid metal or electrical metallic tubing, with a minimum inside diameter of 3/4 inch that utilizes compression type fittings and couplings with a maximum fill to 40% conduit capacity.

Flex or greenfield conduits when utilized as a “drop” to fire alarm device(s) shall not be longer than 6 feet when a single flex or greenfield conduit is serving/connected to a single junction box unless previously approved by the GSA FPE. If more than one (1) flex or greenfield conduits are leaving the same junction box, flex or greenfield conduits when utilized as a “drop” to a fire alarm device(s) shall not be longer than 3 feet unless previously approved by the GSA FPE.

Conductor Terminations: No specific color coding is required for any circuit; however, labeling of any circuit at terminal blocks in terminal cabinets, FACP, remote fire alarm control units and at field devices shall be provided at each conductor connection. Each conductor or cable shall have a heat shrink-wrap label to provide a unique and specific designation. Each terminal cabinet, FACP and remote fire alarm control unit shall contain a laminated drawing that indicates each conductor, its label, circuit and terminal.

The laminated drawing shall be neat, using 12 point lettering minimum size, and mounted within each cabinet, panel or unit so that it does not interfere with the wiring or terminals.

Firestop all holes for conduit, piping, or other penetrations which pass through floor slabs, fire-rated walls, partitions with fire-rated doors, vertical service shafts, any fire-rated assemblies, or any non-fire rated assemblies. Existing holes through which new conduit for this project passes shall be totally firestopped in a manner that restores the fire protection rating of the penetrated wall, floor, ceiling or other structure.

All fire alarm exposed conduits (including flex or greenfield conduits) and junction boxes located in non-public areas (mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, parking garages, etc), within walls/ceilings and drop ceilings, shall be painted completely red unless otherwise directed. All fire alarm exposed conduits (including flex or greenfield conduits) and junction boxes located in public areas must be painted to match existing background unless otherwise directed.

All fire alarm junction box’s face or cover plates must be painted red unless otherwise directed regardless of their location.

All patch and paint work must match the existing background and finish.

All fire alarm system panels (i.e. fire alarm control panel(s), notification appliance circuit panel(s), terminal cabinet(s), etc) must be provided with an engraved laminated phenolic resin nameplate which will identify the enclosure. The lettering on the nameplate shall not be less than 1-inch high, white letters with red background. In

G S A R e g i o n 1 0 P a g e | 11 addition, the nameplate for the main fire alarm control panel shall include the year and month of its installation. In addition, information of the circuit breakers feeding the fire alarm system panels must be written on the back of each (and all) panel’s door (i.e.

using permanent markers).

All addressable fire alarm devices (i.e. initiating, notification, etc) shall be labeled using a label maker (laminated label). The label must show the address of the device and must be located so it is clearly visible without using any tools or open the device.

If allowed by the AHJ, the existing conduits that will remain in place and they must be code compliant (current codes), a pull string must be installed for future use and located/recorded on a separate as-built drawing(s) as “Existing for Future Use.”

Before any wire is installed, insulated throats or bushings shall be installed in all conduits fittings including flexible conduits. Rigid conduits shall have insulated bushings, unless grounding bushings are required by NEC. Grounding bushings shall have insulated throats.

Testing

Before any pre-test and/or acceptance test of the fire alarm system, the contractor will be responsible to provide enough notification to the GSA project team and GSA building management office, so this information is distributed to the building tenants. Prior any fire alarm test, a minimum of three (3) week notice to GSA will be required unless stated otherwise.

If a “speaker” type fire alarm notification system is available (existing or new), prior fire alarm pre-testing and/or acceptance testing, the following message must be announced:

“May I have your attention please? May I have your attention please?

GSA will be conducting testing of the building emergency evacuation system.

This is only a test. Please disregard all visual and audible alarm notification until further notice. Once all testing has been completed further instructions will provided.

I repeat, GSA will be conducting testing of the building emergency evacuation system. This is only a test. Please disregard any visual and audible alarm and notification until further notice. Once all testing has been completed further instructions will provided.

Thank you for your cooperation and we appreciate your patience.”

If a “speaker” type fire alarm notification system is available (existing or new), after the fire alarm pre-testing and/or acceptance testing is completed, the following message must be announced:

“May I have your attention please? May I have your attention please?

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GSA has completed all testing of the building emergency evacuation system.

Following this message, please respond appropriately to all visual and audible alarms and voice evacuation messages.

I repeat. GSA has completed all testing of the building emergency evacuation system. Following this message, please respond appropriately to all visual and audible alarms and voice evacuation messages.

Thank you for your cooperation and we apologize for any inconvenience.”

If a “speaker” type fire alarm notification system is not available (existing or new), the contractor will be responsible to provide enough notification to the GSA project team and GSA building management office, so this information is distributed to the building tenants. Prior any test, a minimum of three (3) weeks notice to GSA will be required unless stated otherwise.

The contractor is fully responsible to provide all “red-line” drawings of the installed (this will be applicable for complete upgrades or small upgrades for the system(s)) and all applicable tools to conduct the test. These tools include but not limited to smoke cans or equivalent UL equipment (magnets will not be permitted), heat guns or equivalent equipment, screwdrivers with flat, tamper resistant, philips, etc drives, two-way radios, etc. Failure to provide any or all of these materials during an acceptance test may be classified as a Test “FAILED” by the GSA FPE .

Loop Resistance Tests: Measure and record the resistance of each circuit with each pair of conductors in the circuit short-circuited at the farthest point from the circuit origin.

Measure resistance of circuit with no devices installed. The test results shall be recorded and submitted ten (10) business days prior the acceptance test.

Loop Capacitance Tests: Measure and record the capacitance of each signaling line circuit. Measure capacitance between +loop and –loop, between +loop and shield or conduit, and between –loop and shield and conduit. Measure capacitance of circuit with no devices installed. The test results shall be recorded and submitted ten (10) business days prior the acceptance test.

In addition, prior to asking for a final acceptance test, the contractor shall conduct a test of every alarm initiating device, every supervisory device and every notification appliance to ensure the Class A features work as required and the minimum audible levels shall be met everywhere in the building. A copy of the test results shall be forwarded to the GSA FPE at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled date for the final acceptance test

Final Testing: Notify the Contracting Officer and Project Manager in writing when the system is ready for final acceptance testing. Submit request for test at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the test date. Provide the following at the job site:

A. Marked-up red line drawings of the system as actually installed B. Complete program printout including all input/output addresses

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The contractor shall coordinate that representatives of all installing contractors, manufacturers, designers, GSA associates, and tenants necessary to perform any and all testing are present for the final acceptance testing. Any delays or additional costs in testing or repeated testing necessary to complete this requirement because representatives were not on site for testing shall not be the responsibility of the Government.

The GSA Fire Protection Engineer shall witness the final test(s). At this time, any and all test(s) required to confirm system operation in compliance with the contract documents shall be repeated at the discretion of the Government.

Should the fire alarm system or any of its components or interfaces to not operate as required, the GSA Fire Protection Engineer may cancel the final test and require the final test to be repeated when deficiencies are resolved to the satisfaction of the GSA Fire Protection Engineer. Any such repeated test, as required by the Government, shall be done at no additional expense to the Government. The repeated test(s) expenses shall be borne by the contractor and shall include but not be limited to, contractor’s direct and indirect expenses for repeating the testing, travel and professional expenses for project Architects and Engineers related to final acceptance testing, travel and professional expenses for GSA fire protection engineers, technicians, contracting officers, contracting officer’s representatives, project managers and property managers and any other expense necessary to repeat final acceptance testing as required by this contract.

The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, meters, ladders, and communication devices necessary for the performance of all tests. Materials such as simulated smoke, heat-producing devices for heat detectors, extension poles for introducing smoke into detectors, etc shall be provided entirely by the Contractor. The GSA Fire Protection Engineer may confirm sound levels and air velocities with Government furnished equipment. The Contractor shall provide communications devices for Government representatives observing the testing so that they may communicate with the members of the testing team.

Prior to conducting the acceptance test the fire alarm control panel shall be checked to confirm there are no trouble conditions or ground faults on the panel. If there is a trouble condition or ground fault on the panel, the test is stopped until the contractor fixes the problem. If the problem cannot be fixed immediately, it is up to the GSA FPE to determine if the test will have to be rescheduled. If the trouble or ground fault is cleared, the contractor shall make the arraignments to inform the fire alarm monitoring company and place the system on standby while the test is occurring.

The contractor shall operate the microphone for a voice system to inform the occupants in the building that there is going to be a test, be sure to thank the tenants for their patience.

The fire alarm tech and the GSA Fire Protection Engineer will stay at the Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) while the electrician/fire alarm tech and the GSA’s representative

G S A R e g i o n 1 0 P a g e | 14 will go to each new device, one at a time and test each new device for the Class A features:

Alarm Initiating Device: Remove the device from where it is mounted, if a smoke or heat detector this may require removing the head from the base. Choose either the positive or negative side to remove only one wire to cause an open circuit. The FACP should receive a trouble condition for the open circuit or it might Class A trouble, depending on the manufacturer. When the signal is received at the FACP and the FPE tells the GSA PM that an open circuit has been received, the contractor shall restore the circuit to normal and the fire alarm tech will reset the panel if necessary to clear the panel of the trouble condition.

When the trouble condition is cleared on the FACP, the contractor shall cause another open circuit on the opposite leg as the first one. When the FPE tells the GSA PM the second open circuit is received, the contractor shall cause the device to be alarmed. The alarm condition is supposed to operate with the open circuit, if it doesn’t the test did not pass. If it did operate as it is supposed to operate, the ground fault portion of the test will be conducted. The ground fault portion of the test for the device is the same procedure as the open circuit portion. The contractor shall cause a ground fault on either the positive or negative side and leave it there until the FPE says the ground fault has been received at the FACP. The contractor may then remove the ground fault and wait for it clear from the FACP. After the ground fault clears from the FACP, the contractor shall cause a ground fault on the opposite side and leave it there.

When the ground fault is received at the FACP, the contractor shall place the device in an alarm mode with the ground fault in place. If the alarm operates as it is supposed to, the device has passed. The contractor can proceed to the next device and repeat the same process for each new device until all new devices have been tested. If at any time a device does not operate correctly, the test is a failure. Assuming the test is being conducted by the installing contractor, the installing contractor will have to determine why the system is not operating correctly and correct the problem. When the problem is corrected, the contractor can reschedule another test and the test will start at the beginning. If the test for the alarm initiating devices passes, the contractor can proceed to test any new notification appliances as the next step.

Alarm Initiating Devices that are Connected to an Interface Module: This would typically apply to a waterflow alarm and a tamper switch, however there other devices that this might apply. Remove the cover from the interface module where it is mounted. Choose either the positive or negative side on the side of the interface module that is connected to the Class A circuit to remove only one wire to cause an open circuit. The FACP should receive a trouble condition for the open circuit. When the signal is received at the FACP and the FPE tells the GSA PM that an open circuit has been received, the contractor shall restore the circuit to normal. When the trouble condition is cleared on the FACP, the contractor shall cause another open circuit on the opposite leg as the first one.

When the FPE tells the GSA PM the second open circuit is received, the contractor shall cause the device to be alarmed. The alarm condition is supposed to operate with the open circuit, if it doesn’t the test did not pass. If it

G S A R e g i o n 1 0 P a g e | 15 did operate as it is supposed to operate, the ground fault portion of the test will be conducted. The ground fault portion of the test for the device is the same procedure as the open circuit portion. The contractor shall cause a ground fault on either the positive or negative side and leave it there until the FPE says the ground fault has been received at the FACP. The contractor may then remove the ground fault and wait for it clear from the FACP. After the ground fault clears from the FACP, the contractor shall cause a ground fault on the opposite side and leave it there. When the ground fault is received at the FACP, the contractor shall place the device in an alarm mode with the ground fault in place. If the alarm operates as it is supposed to, the device has passed. The contractor can proceed to the next device and repeat the same process for each new device until all new devices have been tested. If at any time a device does not operate correctly, the test is a failure. Assuming the test is being conducted by the installing contractor, the installing contractor will have to determine why the system is not operating correctly and correct the problem. When the problem is corrected, the contractor can reschedule another test and the test will start at the beginning. The same procedure will be conducted for tamper switches for the sprinkler system and any supervisory devices connected to an interface module.

Notification Appliances: Remove the notification appliance from where it is mounted. Choose either the positive or negative side to remove only one wire to cause an open circuit. The FACP should receive a trouble condition for the open circuit. When the signal is received at the FACP and the FPE tells the GSA PM that an open circuit has been received, the contractor shall restore the circuit to normal. When the trouble condition is cleared on the FACP, the contractor shall cause another open circuit on the opposite leg as the first one. When the FPE tells the GSA PM the second open circuit is received, the contractor shall cause an alarm in the fire alarm system and check each notification appliance on the circuit being tested to ensure every notification appliance is working with the open circuit on the circuit. Each notification appliance on the circuit with the open circuit is supposed to operate with the open circuit, if they do not the test did not pass. If it did operate as it is supposed to operate, the ground fault portion of the test will be conducted. The ground fault portion of the test for the notification appliance is the same procedure as the open circuit portion. The contractor shall cause a ground fault on either the positive or negative side and leave it there until the FPE says the ground fault has been received at the FACP. The contractor may then remove the ground fault and wait for it clear from the FACP. After the ground fault clears from the FACP, the contractor shall cause a ground fault on the opposite side and leave it there. When the ground fault is received at the FACP, the contractor shall cause an alarm in the fire alarm system and check each notification appliance on the circuit being tested to ensure every notification appliance is working with the ground fault on the circuit. Each notification appliance on the circuit with the ground fault is supposed to operate with the ground fault, if they do not the test did not pass. Assuming the test is being conducted by the installing contractor; the installing contractor will have to determine why the system is not operating correctly and correct the problem.

When the problem is corrected, the contractor can reschedule another test and

G S A R e g i o n 1 0 P a g e | 16 the test will start at the beginning. If it did pass for that appliance circuit, the contractor can proceed to the next notification appliance circuit and repeat the same process for each new notification appliance until all new notification appliance circuits have been tested. If at any time a notification appliance or notification appliance circuit does not operate correctly, the test is a failure. If the test was successful for that appliance, the contractor can go to the next notification appliance circuit. The test for notification appliances can be different than the test for alarm initiating devices in that the GSA FPE can choose to test only one or two notification appliances for each circuit affected if the test is going well, otherwise each new notification appliance may be tested if the GSA FPE determines in his capacity as the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) that is in the interest of the government.

If all the steps listed above have been passed, the notification appliances will be tested to ensure the minimum audile levels are met throughout the space and if the system is a voice system, the intelligibility will be tested.

All panels (that includes any power booster panels) that have been installed shall have the Class A features between panels tested using the same method listed above.

Prior the acceptance test is fully completed, if the system is a programmable system and at any time the fire alarm tech entered into the program during the test, a 10% test is required by NFPA 72 Inspection, Testing and Maintenance Chapter. The 10% test will include testing 10% of all alarm initiating and supervisory devices for the fire alarm system by activating them only for alarm or supervisory conditions and ensuring that all actions that are supposed to occur for any alarm or supervisory condition do occur.

Open circuits and ground fault conditions do not have to be retested for the 10% test.

The devices that will be tested will be as determined by the GSA FPE in the capacity as the AHJ.

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Attachment 1 - Guidelines for Fire Watches During Sprinkler or Fire Alarm System Impairment in Federal Buildings

Note:

- The GSA Fire Protection Engineer shall witness the final test(s). At this time, any and all test(s) required to confirm system operation in compliance with the contract documents shall be repeated at the discretion of the Government. Should the fire alarm system or any of its components or interfaces to not operate as required, the GSA Fire Protection Engineer may cancel the final test and require the final test to be repeated when deficiencies are resolved to the satisfaction of the GSA Fire Protection Engineer. Any such repeated test, as required by the Government, shall be done at no additional expense to the Government. The repeated test(s) expenses shall be borne by the contractor and shall include but not be limited to, contractor’s direct and indirect expenses for repeating the testing, travel and professional expenses for project Architects and Engineers related to final acceptance testing, travel and professional expenses for GSA fire protection engineers, technicians, contracting officers, contracting officer’s representatives, project managers and property managers and any other expense necessary to repeat final acceptance testing as required by this contract.

Applicability

In the event that a required fire alarm or sprinkler system is determined to be out of service, the International Fire Code (IFC), which is applicable in federal facilities, requires that the building be evacuated, or an approved fire watch be established. In addition, property protection and continuity of operations are important in federal facilities, and a fire watch serves as a means of minimizing the risk when fire protection systems are impaired.

Whenever a fire protection system is impaired for any reason, the local fire department shall be notified immediately.

When a fire protection system, or portion of a system, must be shut down for any scheduled repairs or alterations the contractor will required to provide a fire watch at all times and the contractor will be responsible for all cost associated for this service for the entire duration unless the Building/Property Management is culpable for this requirement. For such impairments, the fire watch shall be in accordance with applicable contract documents.

Where the impairment is unscheduled – generally resulting from failure of system components – the GSA regional fire protection engineer shall be notified of the system, or portion thereof that is impaired, the reason for the impairment and a point of contact at the facility. An approved fire watch shall be established for all areas left unprotected by the shutdown. For scheduled or unscheduled outages, a fire watch shall be established when a fire alarm or sprinkler system is out of service for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period.

The GSA Fire Protection Engineer is the only personnel authorized to approve fire

G S A R e g i o n 1 0 P a g e | 18 watch.

Roles and Responsibilities (where applicable)

A. Point of contact personnel (POC) - Building/Property Management or

Contractor's Representative

The POCP shall immediately notify the GSA regional fire protection engineer, local fire department, and tenant agencies that the fire alarm or sprinkler system is not operational. Where the fire alarm system is monitored by an alarm-receiving facility (e.g., central station and/or GSA Regional Emergency Management & Communication Center), the facility(s) that monitors the fire alarm shall also be notified. The notification shall include the purpose of the shutdown, the extent of the impairment (system or component involved), and estimated time of shutdown.

The POCP shall assign an impairment coordinator to comply with these guidelines. The POCP shall oversee all repairs or modification to the fire protection system, and shall be responsible for making all notifications.

The POCP shall establish a temporary fire watch by responsible individuals who are dedicated solely to fire watch duty and provide fire watch personnel with a means of identifying themselves as authorized representatives of the facility.

The contractor with the building/property management shall designate the route to be covered by fire watch personnel. The route shall be explicitly defined to ensure that the fire watch personnel patrols the correct area(s).

The impairment coordinator shall provide fire watch personnel assigned to each route with instructions, all details regarding the route, and the functions to be carried out in covering the route.

The contractor with the building/property management shall establish procedures for orderly conduct of the operations at the property, including procedures for fire loss prevention both by employees and by outside contractors, and the prompt reporting of any fires discovered by notifying the local fire department. In addition to notifying the local fire department, the predefined emergency building notification and evacuation procedures shall be initiated.

The POCP shall inform the fire watch personnel to ensure they are familiar with the property being protected, and procedures, including:

Occupancies and hazards.

Fire suppression systems.

Manual and automatic detection and alarm systems.

Portable fire extinguishers.

G S A R e g i o n 1 0 P a g e | 19

The building occupant emergency plans (e.g., evacuation or relocation of building occupants) for dealing with fires and other emergencies.

Hazards to look for including, poor housekeeping, improper use or storage of hazardous materials, electrical hazards, etc.

The impairment coordinator shall ensure that fire watch personnel are familiar with the procedures to follow in the recognition and reporting of an emergency, including:

When and how to use the telephone, or radio equipment to summon aid.

How to notify the local fire department, and the Federal Protective Service

GSA personnel to be…