Testing and Commissioning of Fire Alarm System Installation

This testing and commissioning of fire alarm system covers the on-site installation as defined in the project specifications and approved shop drawings.

Scope of work

The scope of work involves the programming, testing, and commissioning of the fire detection systems.

References

Project specifications
Approved fire alarm shop drawings
Manufacturer recommendations/ installations instruction
Project safety plan
Approved material submittals
NFPA codes & standards-Commissioning Fire Protection Systems
Cause and effect matrix
Fire Alarm System Included in the Testing and Commissioning Process
Fire Alarm Control Panel
Fire Alarm Control Panel Internet Interface
Fire Alarm Notification Devices
Firefighter Telephone Communication
Fire Alarm Initiating Devices
Automatic Voice Evacuation
Addressable Manual Pull Stations
Smoke Detectors
Elevator Interface
Duct Mounted Smoke Detectors
Heat Detectors
Magnetic Door Holders
Fire Suppression Flow and Tamper Switches
Remote and Graphic Annunciators

Safety

All safety precautions shall be followed as per the method statement. Ensure all involved persons are aware of the same as briefed on the method statement.

Supervisors to ensure that all tools and equipment are suitable and in good condition.

Ensure that all tradesmen shall leave their working places clean, tidy, and free of rubbish.

Any physical obstruction should be removed and cleared before the start of work to ensure safety on site.

Work shall be instructed by or informed to their respective supervisor before starting installation works (start meeting)

The minimum PPE requirement should always be worn in PPE zones

A trained workforce shall be deployed for this installation work. Hazardous areas, and unsafe acts that may cause danger to the workers shall be reported immediately to their respective supervisor or HSE officer.

The personnel will attend site safety induction courses before carrying out work on site.

Responsible Personnel

The following is a list of personnel who will be responsible for carrying out the testing &
commissioning of fire alarm system.

Safety engineer
Project engineer
QA/QC engineer
Supervisor/Foreman
Testing & commissioning engineer

Tools

A complete set of electrical toolboxes shall be available at the site.
General tools (screwdrivers, pliers, side cutters, etc.)
Continuity tester
Multimeter
Laptop
Smoke and heat tester
*Note: any testing tools which are required to be calibrated as recommended by the manufacturer shall have a valid calibration certificate.

Material Readiness/Preparation

The site engineer and supervisor shall ensure that necessary materials, complete tools, and tackle is available at the site prior to the commencement of works.

The system materials shall be inspected upon delivery to the site. Material inspection form shall be raised and submitted to the consultant for inspection.

The material shall be stored in a clean dry area. All active components should be stored in a storeroom free from dust and water. Equipment should be kept sealed inside their packing while in storage. Storage rooms shall not exceed the temperature and environment conditions as indicated in the material datasheets.

Application

The fire alarm system is a life safety system that is based on a smoke detector, heat detector, manual pull stations, monitor modules, control modules, etc.

Installation Procedure

Check the approved shop drawings to make the arrangement to start the installation.

Check the device location as per the drawing and if any deviation is to be rectified.

Make sure the devices are fitted correctly.

Make sure the device fixing height as per the requirement.

Make sure the control panel location is as per the approved drawing.

Check the cable dressing and ferrule at the panel to identify the loop/sounder circuits.

Check and confirm the correct cables are terminated at the required terminals in the control panel.

Check and confirm the integration with other systems.

Testing and Commissioning Process

Commissioning Procedure

The respective software/logic will be downloaded to the panels.

The functioning of the control logic for all the equipment connected to the system will be checked as per the approved sequence of operation or cause & effect matrix and the corresponding functional test plan for that equipment.

All field devices will be complete and submitted by the main contractor along with a work inspection request to witness the test.

Interface Requirements

Control of any interfaced equipment will be tested in presence of the responsible person for the equipment.

The termination of cables by the main contractor between the interface unit and the system will be as per the recommendation by the system supplier.

Any wiring diagrams applicable for such interfaces will be made available during the installation stage.

Testing & commissioning of Fire Alarm System are to be carried out as per the attached test report
The testing and commissioning shall be done in the presence of the owner’s representative and shall fully convince that the test results are satisfactorily carried out.

Test report for field devices, such as heat detector, smoke detector, manual pull stations, monitoring module, and control module.

The functionality will be checked with alarm response time, interface condition, etc. Test report for the panel to check the led status and manual/automatic operations.

Cable Testing

Cable testing will be carried out as per the attached sheet. The test has been carried out as follows:

• Identify the cable loop number, connecting to the devices (address), and location of the cable that needs to be tested.
• One end of the cable (Positive, negative & Earth) has to be kept open, and test the cable resistance value in the other end. This insulation test value should be more than 1 megaohm.
• Make a short circuit in one end of all cables (Positive, negative & Earth). Test the cable resistive value on the other end.
• This shows the continuity test value near zero ohms.
• These tests show the circuit reference number, location between the devices, insulation tests, and continuity tests.
• Normally this shows the cable should not be any open or short circuit between the wires.

Main Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)

The following steps test the electrical condition of the panel and then prepare the panel for testing:

Visual Inspection

Visually inspect the front panel displays and controls to satisfy the following:

1. LCD display
2. LED status
3. Phone handset
4. Verify power sources.
5. Conduct battery testing.
   Ensure no power fault indicator is ON
   Switch off the main AC power supply.
   Power fault led – ON
   Test input & output voltages
   Switch on the main power
   The power fault will disappear automatically.
   Disconnect the battery terminal.
   The system will detect battery fault.
   Place back the battery terminals.
   The panel should return to the normal stage.
6. Check fuses.
7. Restore the system to normal.

Alarm

1. Initiate an evacuation alarm by manually activating detectors, MCP, or any other input devices.
2. Check for device response time.
3. Check panel display, LED status, and buzzer on alarm activation.
4. Check for sounders activation at the field in different zones.
5. Silence the alarm.
6. Reset the panel.

Fault

Fire Loop Fault

1. Fire loop fault detection testing is possible by removing any loop device or breaking loop continuity.
2. Check panel display, LED status, and buzzer on fault condition.
3. Rectify the fault and reset the panel.

Smoke Detector/Heat Detector

1. Note the device labeling.
2. Make sure all input devices are in normal condition.
3. Activate the Smoke/ Heat detectors using testing equipment.
4. Note the time to reach the alarm condition.
5. Notify appliances in an alarm condition.
   Verify the notification appliances which should activate on alarm by the tested of detectors such as sounders and output interfaces.
6. Check the status on the panel display
   Panel buzzer
   Led display
   Match the Detector label with a display message on the panel.
7. Reset the panel.
8. Check de-activation after alarm reset

Manual Pull Station (MPS)

1. Note the device labeling.
2. Make sure all input devices are in normal condition.
3. Activate the MPS as instructed on it. (Push then pulls).
4. Note the time to reach the alarm condition.
5. Notify appliances in an alarm condition.
   Verify the notification appliances which should activate on the alarm such as sounders and output interfaces
6. Check the status on the panel display
   Panel buzzer
   Led display
   Match the MPS label with the display message on the panel
7. Restore the MPS then reset the panel.
8. Check de-activation after alarm reset.

Monitor Module-Hardware integration from the system with Fire Fighting System

Note the device labeling.
Make sure all output devices are in normal condition.
Activate any of the following third-party systems for the required interface sequence of activation.
Note the time to reach the alarm condition.
Notify appliances of an alarm condition.
Verify the notification appliances which should activate on evacuating on tested interface unit Sounders and output interfaces.
Check the status on the panel display
Panel buzzer
LED display
Match the label on the monitor module (MM) with a displayed message on the panel.
Wait until the third-party system is restored, then reset the fire alarm control panel. Check de-activation after alarm reset.

Relay Control Module (RCM)-This is to provide relay output to activate a third-party system.

Note the device labeling.
Initiate an evacuation alarm by manually activating the detector, MCP, or any other input devices.
Note the activation time on the control module.
If RCM activates (LED status: Steady RED), check the response on third-party systems.
Silence the alarm. Clear fire & reset the fire alarm control panel.
Make sure the third-party system should return back to the normal condition after the reset only.

Horn/Strobe

Note the device (Control Module) labeling.
Activate any input device (smoke/heat detector, manual call point) or evacuate from the panel.
After a few seconds sounders will respond. Note the response time for activation.
Silence the sounder/flasher & reset the system.

Elevator Interface

Demonstrate Phase 1 emergency elevator recall operation as defined in ASME 17.1.

Field test and verify all smoke detectors in the lobbies, machine rooms, and hoistways initiate Phase 1 emergency elevator recall operation.

Fire Alarm Remote Annunciator

Demonstrate fire alarm remote annunciator conformance to the project contract documents and prevailing code requirements.

Field test and verify all initiating devices connected to the fire alarm system, documenting the date, type of device, device location, response time, and sensitivity.

Automatic Voice Evacuation

Demonstrate the automatic voice evacuation conformance to the project contract documents and prevailing code requirements.

Field test and verify all speaker devices connected to the fire alarm system, documenting the date, type of device, device location, response time, and sensitivity.

Field test for correct labeling of circuits and equipment by breaking current and observing the loss of power at circuits or equipment.

Fire Suppression Flow and Tamper Switches

Field test all tamper and flow switch fire suppression devices.

Initiate the tamper switch by rotating the position of each fire protection valve.

Verify each magnetic is dropped and the door is released.

Fire Alarm Notification Devices

Demonstrate a simple and systematic check-off documentation approach whereby the system is activated and confirmation of specified notification devices at each location is documented.

Magnetic Door Holders

Field test all magnetic door holder devices.

Initiate the fire alarm system.

Simulate the water flow through an inspector’s test connection indicating flow equal to a single sprinkler head orifice installed in the system. Each fire suppression device will be tested and its actuation verified at the fire alarm control panel.

Heat Detectors

Furnish and use a heat gun to test the rate-of-rise portion of the heat detector following the manufacturer’s recommended temperature setting and distance between the heat gun and detector head.

Demonstrate this test for all heat detector devices, verifying and documenting actuation at the fire alarm control panel.

Duct-Mounted Smoke Detectors

Field-test all duct-mounted smoke detectors by inducing smoke directly into the sampling tube within the ductwork in which the detector is installed or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Devices equipped with test buttons will not be acceptance tested (functional performance tested) with the test buttons, which are provided for future reinspections after the test methods approved have been demonstrated.

Every duct-mounted smoke detector will be tested and its actuation verified at the fire alarm control panel.

Smoke Detectors

Field test all smoke detectors using either a listed canned aerosol smoke approved by the manufacturer or other method approved by the manufacturer.

The method used in field testing will be as determined by project documents.

Every smoke detector will be tested and its actuation verified at the fire alarm control panel. Verify wiring trouble indications and smoke detector head removal at the fire alarm panel.

Addressable Manual Pull Stations
Demonstrate a simple and systematic check-off documentation approach whereby each manual pull station is activated and subsequently reset following confirmation of specified notification at the alarm panel and any other specified alarm recipient locations.

For the special case of “break-glass” manual pull stations, remove all glass rods before functional performance testing.

Fire Alarm Initiation Devices

Field test and verify all initiating devices connected to the fire alarm system, documenting the date, type of device, device location, response time, and sensitivity.

Field test for correct labeling of circuits and equipment by breaking current and observing the loss of power at circuits or equipment.

Fire Alarm Control Panel Internet Interface

Demonstrate fire alarm control panel internet interface conformance to the project contract documents and prevailing code requirements.

Field test and verify all initiating devices connected to the fire alarm system are recorded.

Fire Fighter’s Telephone Communication System

Test the operation of each phone at each jack location to demonstrate conformance to the project documents.

Test each location by demonstrating two-way communications between the Main Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) and each remote location.

Attachments

Test Sheets