Applies to: (examples; Faculty,Staff, Students, etc)
Staff , Contractors_Vendors
Staff , Contractors_Vendors
There are times when it is necessary to disable fire sprinkler, fire suppression, or fire alarm systems on campus. The probability of a fire or explosion causing major damage is increased whenever a system, alarm, or device is impaired. The longer the protection is impaired the greater the probability becomes. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize the duration and scope of any impairment or provide for an alternate protection system. The purpose of this procedure is to provide guidance on when and how these fire systems and their components are to be disabled and re-enabled.
Applies to Facilities and Maintenance Personnel, UHSP Public Safety Department Personnel, and any Third-Party Contractors hired by the University to perform fire system maintenance.
Term |
Definition |
Authorized Person |
Any UHSP personnel or approved vendor by EH&S who has specialized knowledge of fire alarm systems, fire extinguisher operation and has completed fire watch training. This person is permitted to initiate an impairment permit application to work on the University fire alarm and fire protection systems. |
Central Monitoring Company |
Approved third party monitoring company (this is not UHSP Public Safety dispatch) |
Contractor |
A person or persons who is performing work under a contract and is managing fire system activities, which require the modification of the University building’s fire alarm or fire protection system. |
Disabling Devices |
Disabling or “turning off” specific alarm initiating devices and/or signals by using the fire alarm control panel function keys, while allowing the rest of the alarm system to remain active. |
Disabling Panel |
Any panel alteration that prevent it from receiving inputs or communicating alarms. Disabling an entire panel is not permitted without EH&S authorization. |
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) |
Emergency Management Coordinator or VP Operations |
Emergency Impairment |
An unexpected system failure. |
Fire Alarm System |
A system, or portion of a combination system consisting of devices (i.e. smoke and heat detectors) arranged to monitor and annunciate the status of a fire emergency and then to initiate the appropriate response to those signals. |
Fire Protection System |
Approved devices, equipment and systems or combinations of systems used to detect a fire, activate an alarm, extinguish or control a fire, control or manage smoke and products of a fire, or any combination thereof. |
Fire Watch |
UHSP Public Safety or designated person(s) who sole responsibility is to look for fires within a designated area or areas. He or she must have specialized training on fire alarm systems activation, fire extinguisher operation and fire watch training. |
Impairment |
Any loss of the fire alarm system functionality. Examples of impairments include: 1. Pump testing, 2. Maintenance and repair, 3. Disconnecting, bypass, or disabling signal circuits, 4. Deactivating Alarm initiating devices, 5. System testing, 6. Emergencies, 7. Impaired fire alarm and fire protection equipment, 8. Powering down the fire alarm control panel, 9. A system “on hold” with the Central Monitoring Station, or 10. Maintenance.
|
Red Tag Permit |
A document completed and issued by EH&S to an authorized person. The permit provides permission to impair whole or part of a fire alarm system. |
Name |
Contact Information |
Carlin Harp |