Life Safety


Life safety systems are building components and systems that help protect building occupants during fires and other emergencies. In order to provide the level of protection they were designed for, these systems need to be inspected, tested and maintained on a regular basis.

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In general, the term “inspection” refers to visual checks of the system, “testing” refers to functional or operational tests and “maintenance” refers to repair or replacement of components.

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Portable fire extinguishers

Portable fire extinguishers are often times our first line of defense against small fires and chances are you aren't too far from one right now. Like any lifesaving equipment you want to ensure that it is operable at all times so it will work when you need it most. With proper inspection, testing and maintenance (ITM) protocols fire extinguishers can be long lasting, reliable options for combating a small fire early on. This blog will address the NFPA 10, Standard on the Installation or Portable Fire Extinguishers requirements that help ensure your extinguisher is ready.

The requirements are broken down into three different sections on inspection, maintenance and testing. In each section there is information on what needs to be done (Procedures), who is allowed to perform the work (Qualifications), how often each step needs to be done (Frequency) and how to document the work (Recordkeeping).

Inspection Procedures

Performing an inspection is the easiest thing you can do to ensure your extinguisher can be used reliably and effectively in an emergency. At a minimum, inspection needs to consist of the following steps:

  • Make sure it is located in its designated place
  • Make sure the extinguisher is visible or that there is signage indicating where the extinguisher is located
  • Make sure you can easily access the extinguisher
  • Ensure the pressure gauge is in the operable range or position
  • Make sure it is full, this can be done by just lifting the extinguisher or you can weigh it
  • For wheeled extinguishers, make sure the condition of tires, wheels, carriage, hose, and nozzle are acceptable
  • For nonrechargeable extinguishers, operate the push-to-test pressure indicators

Qualifications

You are not required to be certified in order to perform an inspection; any knowledgeable, competent person should be able to do it.

Frequency

NFPA 10 requires extinguishers be inspected when they are initially installed and once a month after that. You should inspect extinguishers more frequently if they are installed in locations where they are more prone to rust, impact or tampering.


 Emergency lighting

ITM requirements for emergency lighting equipment are found in NFPA Code 101. Each emergency lighting fixture is required to be operationally tested for at least 30 seconds, at least once every 30 days. During this test, it should be verified that the bulbs are operational and properly aimed. In addition, it is suggested that each battery operated fixture be tested for 1 ½ hours at least once per year. Self-testing/self-diagnostic emergency lighting equipment is available for automation of these tests.

Batteries used to power emergency lighting fixtures should receive ITM per the manufacturer’s instructions. If a central battery system is used, rather than individual battery packs on the fixtures, a weekly ITM schedule should be established as detailed in NFPA Code 111.

For emergency lighting that is powered by a generator, the annual 1 ½ hour test noted above is replaced by more extensive operational testing outlined in NFPA Code 110. Some of the ITM requirements in NFPA 110 include:

Weekly

  • Inspection and scheduled maintenance of generator per manufacturer’s instructions
  • Inspection of generator starter battery

Monthly

  • Specific gravity test for traditional (flooded) lead-acid starter batteries
  • Exercising of generator under load, with the duration and loading dependent on various conditions outlined in NFPA 110
  • Operation of transfer switch

Quarterly

  • ITM of transfer switch as detailed in NFPA 110
  • Load test of generator starter battery

Semiannual

  • Exercising of circuit breakers

Annual

  • Fuel quality test of generator fuel
  • Thermographic inspection of transfer switch

Biennial

  • Simulated overload of circuit breakers



 Lighted exit signs

Exit signs must be illuminated per the specifications in NFPA Code 101. Various options are available:

  • Illumination by the regular building lighting (this may be the only source of illumination if the building is not required to have emergency lighting)
  • External illumination by emergency lighting fixtures
  • Internal illumination by emergency lighting fixtures built into the signs
  • Self-luminous signs, powered by a low-level nuclear radiation source
  • Photoluminescent signs, which absorb and re-radiate light from the regular building fixtures

All of the above types of exit signs have some common ITM requirements: they must be physically present, clearly visible, indicating the correct direction of travel, and adequately lighted under non-emergency conditions. Exit signs can often become damaged over time, removable sections can fall out and therefore indicate an incorrect direction of travel, and signs can become blocked. Regular (non-emergency) lights near the signs can also burn out or be accidentally turned off. All types of signs require adequate illumination levels during non-emergency situations. For photoluminescent signs this is especially important, since they will not “glow” with adequate brightness if they do not receive sufficient light during non-emergency periods.

All of the above items should be inspected on a regular basis, for instance as part of a daily pre-opening inspection of the building. Even if the building is continuously occupied rather than being opened and closed each day, periodic self-inspections should be performed at least monthly. For signs that are internally or externally illuminated by emergency lighting fixtures, the ITM program must also include the emergency lights as outlined in the previous section.


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