Checklist for Fire Protection System Plans

Our engagement in standards setting for educational settlements dates back to the early 1990s at the University of Michigan, when our Safer–Simpler–Lower Cost–Longer Lasting agenda was established. Today, at the usual hour, we revisit some of those “code wins” and examine the state of the art in fire protection across the wide range of occupancy classes found in on-campus and off-campus facilities.

Consider the following questions. We have answers—or opinions—on all of them.

1. Who owns institutional policy for the inspection, testing and maintenance of sprinkler, standpipe and fire pump systems—Facilities, EH&S, the fire marshal or some combination?
2. To what degree should on-campus facilities maintenance extend its services to off-campus student housing, including fraternity and sorority houses?
3. When a developer proposes a student high-rise apartment building, how much of the municipal water and fire protection infrastructure should be upgraded to assure code-required standpipe pressure?
4. What are the labor classifications, licensing requirements and scopes of work of the various fire protection technicians?
5. How closely are fire alarm technicians and wet- and dry-pipe sprinkler technicians coordinated?
6. Which fire protection work should be performed by in-house staff and which should be contracted to specialty firms?
7. How should deferred maintenance and capital renewal of aging sprinkler piping, valves, fire pumps and associated water infrastructure be prioritized against other life-safety work?
8. Who is responsible for managing impairments when a sprinkler, standpipe or fire pump system must be taken out of service, particularly in continuously occupied buildings?
9. How should facilities management coordinate sprinkler-system records, inspection results and correction of deficiencies with the local fire department and authority having jurisdiction?
10. When an existing building is renovated or repurposed, who determines whether the existing fire protection infrastructure remains adequate for its new occupancy and use?
11. How is sprinkler water managed—during testing, flushing, draining and system maintenance—and where does that water ultimately go?
12. Would you like to see a copy of the 8′ x 8′ “Compliance Chart” developed by University of Michigan Plant Operations to coordinate the work of fire alarm and wet/dry extinguishment system technicians?

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