Purpose:
To establish a set of guidelines for those building owners and/or managers intending to submit application to the Fire Prevention Bureau for the purpose of review and approval for fire alarm pre-signal verification status.
Policy:
I. Pre-Signal Application:
A. Any building wishing to be considered for pre-signal verification status shall be fully sprinklered and monitored by a UL approved central monitoring station.
B. The building shall have been issued and maintained a Certificate of Occupancy for a period of not less than one year.
C. Upon application for pre-signal status, the building management, owner or designee shall provide to the area Senior Fire Inspector the following information:
1. Methods or procedures that have been followed in the training of all personnel on the building's fire alarm system and equipment.
2. What building personnel will be used in the pre-signal functions (i.e. building engineers, security staff, etc).
3. Written documentation from the building's fire alarm company indicating that the building's fire alarm system has been or is capable of being programmed to meet the required pre-signal functions.
II. Pre-Signal Training Requirements:
A. Once an application for pre-signal status has been received and approved, the building's personnel that will be utilizing the pre-signal functions shall be tested and approved by the appropriate Senior Fire Inspector.
B. This testing for pre-signal approval shall include:
1. A written test.
2. An oral examination.
3. A practical exam with each applicant using the building's fire alarm system.
III. Pre-Signal Functional Sequence:
A. The following types of alarm signal activations and/or sequences shall not be approved for pre-signal utilization:
1. Water flow alarms.
2. Activation of fixed extinguishing systems (i.e. FM 200 systems, hood extinguishing systems, etc).
3. Multiple alarms received simultaneously.
4. Receipt of additional alarms during the initial alarm investigation period.
B. The functional sequence for acknowledging pre-signal alarms shall be as follows.
1. Upon receipt of a pre-signal alarm, the personnel assigned to the Fire Control Center shall have no more than 15 seconds to acknowledge the alarm.
2. Once the alarm is acknowledged, all staff assigned to respond shall be notified via radio of alarm condition. The responding staff shall be notified of the following:
a. A pre-signal alarm has been received. Note: It is important that the staff indicate that it is a "pre-signal" type alarm in order to emphasize to the responding personnel that their response and communication time is limited to 180 seconds.
b. Type of activation (pull station activation, smoke detector activation, etc.)
c. Location of activation.
C. Personnel responding to a pre-signal alarm shall have no more than 180 seconds to investigate the alarm condition, determine if a fire condition exists and communicate back to the Fire Control Center. Exceeding the 180-second time frame shall cause the pre-signal function to automatically cease and the building's evacuation alarms to activate.
D. If during the 180-second period time frame, additional alarms are received, this shall cause the pre-signal function to automatically cease and the building's evacuation alarms activated.
E. Upon responding, if it is determined that a true fire emergency does exists, the responding personnel shall immediately notify the Fire Control Center of the condition. At this time, the pre-signal function shall be by-passed and the building's evacuation alarms shall be activated.
F. The fire alarm system shall provide a means for bypassing and/or overriding the pre-signal function to allow immediate manual activation of alarm system and night and weekend operation.
IV. Duties of Pre-Signal Approved Personnel:
A. The fire alarm condition, whether pre-signal or other, will still cause the fire department to respond. Building personnel are strictly prohibited from resetting the fire alarm system until directed to do so by the Fire Incident Commander on scene.
B. No less than two persons shall staff the building, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week who are pre-signal certified. These persons shall be fully familiar with the layout of the building, the operation of the primary emergency elevator and shall have a complete set of building keys with them at all times.
C. Only persons approved as pre-signal trained may be assigned as the Fire Control Center Officer.
D. Fire drills shall be conducted every six months to familiarize the building's occupants and security staff with evacuation procedures.
