Confidence TestingConfidence Testing

Fire and Life Safety SystemsFire and Life Safety Systems

What is Confidence What is Confidence Testing?Testing?

It is a way to ensure that It is a way to ensure that existing fire and life safety existing fire and life safety

systems are properly systems are properly functioning.functioning.

Why is it important?Why is it important?

It helps protects the public and It helps protects the public and Firefighters in emergency Firefighters in emergency situationssituations

Helps Builders:Helps Builders:-some systems allow -some systems allow

builders to use builders to use fewer exits, less fewer exits, less substantial fire substantial fire separation separation (thinner walls), etc.(thinner walls), etc.

Why is it important? Why is it important? (con’t)(con’t)

Fire and Life Safety Systems:Fire and Life Safety Systems:- - Extinguish the fire or hold it Extinguish the fire or hold it

in checkin check - Triggers evacuation- Triggers evacuation- Assist with - Assist with

water deliverywater delivery - - Removes smokeRemoves smoke

- Assists with access- Assists with access- etc.- etc.

LiabilityLiability

Confidence Testing Confidence Testing SystemsSystems

System Type:System Type:

Fire Alarm - Low-Rise Bldgs: Annually, High-Rise Bldgs: Fire Alarm - Low-Rise Bldgs: Annually, High-Rise Bldgs: QuarterlyQuarterly

Stairway Door Locks - AnnuallyStairway Door Locks - Annually Fire Pumps - AnnuallyFire Pumps - Annually Standpipe and/or Hose Cabinets – Five YearsStandpipe and/or Hose Cabinets – Five Years Automatic Sprinklers - AnnuallyAutomatic Sprinklers - Annually Shaft Pressurization - AnnuallyShaft Pressurization - Annually Emergency Generator - AnnuallyEmergency Generator - Annually Tempered Windows/Smoke removal - AnnuallyTempered Windows/Smoke removal - Annually Sequence Test (High-rise) - AnnuallySequence Test (High-rise) - Annually Foam Systems - AnnuallyFoam Systems - Annually Fire Escapes – Five YearsFire Escapes – Five Years Halon, CO2, Inergen - AnnuallyHalon, CO2, Inergen - Annually Rangehood – Bi-AnnuallyRangehood – Bi-Annually Water TanksWater Tanks - Annually - Annually

Who conducts confidence Who conducts confidence testing?testing?

Private contractors:Private contractors: Who are engaged in the business Who are engaged in the business

of installing, testing and of installing, testing and maintaining Fire and Life Safety maintaining Fire and Life Safety Systems who hold a valid Systems who hold a valid certificate issued by the Seattle certificate issued by the Seattle Fire Department Fire Marshal Fire Department Fire Marshal OfficeOffice

How are the testers How are the testers policed?policed?

Seattle Fire Department Fire Marshal Seattle Fire Department Fire Marshal Office Certification Unit administers Office Certification Unit administers written system specific testswritten system specific tests

Passing demonstrates possession of Passing demonstrates possession of requisite knowledge to work on systemsrequisite knowledge to work on systems

Those who pass are issued a certificate Those who pass are issued a certificate granting conditional permission to work granting conditional permission to work on Fire and Life Safety Systems in the on Fire and Life Safety Systems in the City of SeattleCity of Seattle

CertificationCertification

How is the Confidence How is the Confidence Test documented?Test documented?

The testing company:The testing company: Labels the systemLabels the system Provides building representative a Provides building representative a

copy of the confidence test reportcopy of the confidence test report Submits a confidence test report to Submits a confidence test report to

the Fire Marshal Office Confidence the Fire Marshal Office Confidence Testing Unit Testing Unit

Seattle Fire DepartmentConfidence Test Report206-386-1448 Confidence Testing Officer206-615-1068 (fax)

FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS Certification Given(One System per Report) RED YELLOW WHITE

CONFIDENCE TEST REPAIRS

Occupancy Address: ______________________ Occupancy Name: ___________________

Building Owner: ______________________ Responsible Person: ___________________

Phone Number: ______________________ Phone Number: ___________________

Building Owner Address: ___________________________________________________________

Date of Inspection: __________ Inspection Type: Annual ? Quarterly ? Acceptance ?

Testers Name(Please Print):

______________________ SFD Certification Number: SCP-_______

Central station monitoring? Yes No Monitoring company name: ______________________

Control panel manufacturer: ___________ Model Number: ______________________

Problems Found: (If additional room is needed, please add a separate sheet)

Corrections Made: Date Corrected: __________ Corrected By: ____________(If additional room is needed, please add a separate sheet)

This certifies that this fire and life safety system has been properly inspected for reliability to cover theItems listed in this report and is consistent with Seattle Fire Department Fire Code standards, discrepanciesare noted and have reported to the building Owner/Manager for corrective action.

Signature of Tester: _________________ Phone # _______________________Testing Agency: _____________________________________________________Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________

AttachTestCompanyLabelHere

Confidence Testing Color Confidence Testing Color Code SystemCode System

RED TAGRED TAG: System out of service : System out of service and/or whose operation is seriously and/or whose operation is seriously impaired.impaired.

The technician reports the red tag The technician reports the red tag system immediately to the system immediately to the Confidence Testing Unit (same Confidence Testing Unit (same day)day)

Confidence Testing Color Confidence Testing Color Code SystemCode System

YELLOW TAGYELLOW TAG: Systems that are : Systems that are functioning, but have deficienciesfunctioning, but have deficiencies

The Confidence Testing report is The Confidence Testing report is faxed, mailed or delivered for faxed, mailed or delivered for receipt by Confidence Testing Unit receipt by Confidence Testing Unit within 15 days of the date of the within 15 days of the date of the testtest

Confidence Testing Color Confidence Testing Color Code SystemCode System

WHITE TAGWHITE TAG: Systems with no : Systems with no deficiencies deficiencies

The Confidence Testing report is The Confidence Testing report is faxed, mailed or delivered for faxed, mailed or delivered for receipt by Confidence Testing Unit receipt by Confidence Testing Unit within 30 days of the date of the within 30 days of the date of the testtest

How does Seattle Fire Department How does Seattle Fire Department track and enforce Confidence track and enforce Confidence

Testing?Testing?

Code enforcementCode enforcement Regular Building InspectionsRegular Building Inspections AlarmsAlarms Special InspectionsSpecial Inspections DatabaseDatabase Confidence Testing ReportsConfidence Testing Reports Citizen ComplaintsCitizen Complaints

What actions does S.F.D. take when What actions does S.F.D. take when we find a system less than fully we find a system less than fully

functional?functional?

Document : Notice of Violation or Document : Notice of Violation or Form 6AForm 6A

Fire WatchFire Watch

Which Fire and Life Safety System Which Fire and Life Safety System Confidence Test is the most important to Confidence Test is the most important to

perform?perform? System Type:System Type: Fire AlarmFire Alarm Stairway Door LocksStairway Door Locks Fire PumpsFire Pumps Standpipe and/or Hose Standpipe and/or Hose

CabinetsCabinets Automatic SprinklersAutomatic Sprinklers Shaft PressurizationShaft Pressurization Emergency GeneratorEmergency Generator Tempered Windows/Smoke Tempered Windows/Smoke

removalremoval Sequence Test (High-rise)Sequence Test (High-rise) Foam SystemsFoam Systems Fire EscapesFire Escapes Halon, CO2, InergenHalon, CO2, Inergen RangehoodRangehood

All of themAll of them Which Fire and Life Which Fire and Life

Safety System Safety System Confidence Test, Confidence Test, simulates the simulates the buildings systems buildings systems under a fire under a fire emergency emergency incident?incident?

Sequence TestSequence Test

Seattle Fire Department Seattle Fire Department Confidence Testing Unit Confidence Testing Unit

ContactsContacts

Confidence Testing Unit:Confidence Testing Unit:

Lt. Jon Olson, (206) 386-1448Lt. Jon Olson, (206) 386-1448Confidence Testing OfficerConfidence Testing OfficerJon.Olson@Seattle.GovJon.Olson@Seattle.Gov

Agnes Ducay, (206) 386-Agnes Ducay, (206) 386-1352 1352 Administrative Assistant Administrative Assistant

Agnes.Ducay@Seattle.GovAgnes.Ducay@Seattle.Gov

The EndThe End