With 2014 coming to an end, it’s time to reevaluate actions and decisions that we’re made within the past year. For the maintenance staff, the overall fire safety of your facility should be one of those evaluations. Can you look back within the year and know that your passive fire protection system was properly maintained? If your AHJ visited your facility tomorrow, would your fire and smoke dampers, fire doors, and firestop installations fall within code standards? Do you have a complete barrier management program in place?If not, you not only run the risk of receiving a hefty fine, but most importantly the occupants of your building are not safe.
Just as a 2014 refresher, here are passive fire protection system codes that you need to be aware of:
- Fire doors- NFPA 80 requires annual inspection and repair of fire doors.
- Firestopping- Several Building codes (ICC, ICBO, SBCCI, BOCA) require firestop as well as NFPA 101 and 70.
- One Year Damper Inspections- Both NFPA 80 and 105 require fire and smoke dampers to be tested one year after installation
- NFPA 80 and 105 both require dampers to be tested every 4 years thereafter in non-healthcare facilities and every 6 years in hospitals
- NFPA 80 and 105 both require dampers to repaired “without delay”
- If it’s broken or not working, fix it!- NFPA requires repairs to begin without delay in all of these instances.
