Attachment 10
FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS
Inspections, tests, and maintenance on fire detection and alarm systems shall be performed in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and NFPA 72 (latest edition). The following list
highlights minimum requirements for the essential care of fire alarm systems. This list, however,
is not meant to replace manufacturer's instructions and updated code requirements.
ITEM
ACTIVITY
Alarm Notification Appliances
Inspection
Batteries (Fire Alarm Systems)
Lead-acid type
Inspection
Nickel-cadmium type
Inspection
Primary type (Dry cell)
Inspection
Sealed-lead acid type
Inspection
Control Equipment (FA systems
monitored for alarm, supervisory,
trouble signals)
Fuses
Inspection
Interfaced equipment
Inspection
Lamps and LEDs
Inspection
Primary (main) power supply
Inspection
Control panel trouble signals
Inspection
Emergency voice/Alarm
Inspection
communications equipment
Fiber optic cable connections
Inspection
Initiation devices
Air sampling
Inspection
Duct detectors
Inspection
Electromechanical releasing dev. Inspection
Extinguishing systems switches
Inspection
Fire alarm boxes
Inspection
Heat detectors
Inspection
Radiant energy fire detectors
Inspection
Smoke detectors
Inspection
Supervisory signal devices
Inspection
Waterflow devices
Inspection
35-23
FREQUENCY
NFPA 72,
TABLE 10.3.1 Item #
Semiannually
13
Monthly
Semiannually
Monthly
Semiannually
3
3
3
3
Annually
Annually
Annually
Annually
Semiannually
Semiannually
1
1
1
1
5
7
Annually
6
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
Quarterly
Semiannually
Quarterly
Quarterly
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
ITEM
ACTIVITY
Interface equipment
Remote annunciators
Special procedures
Transient suppressors
Supervising Station FA SystemsTransmitters
DACT
DART
McCulloh
RAT - signal receipt
Supervising Station FA SystemsReceivers
DACR
DARR
McCulloh
Two-way RF
PASSR
RARS
Private Microwave
Inspection
Inspection
Inspection
Inspection
FREQUENCY
NFPA 72
TABLE 10.3.1, Item #
Semiannually
12
Semiannually
8
Semiannually
16
Semiannually
4
Inspection
Inspection
Inspection
Inspection
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
15
15
15
15
Inspection
Inspection
Inspection
Inspection
Inspection
Inspection
Inspection
Monthly
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
17
17
17
17
17
17
17
ITEM
ACTIVITY
Test
Test
Test
FREQUENCY
NFPA 72
TABLE 10.4.4 Item #
19
Annually
Annually
Annually
Test
Test
Test
Test
Annually
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
Test
Test
Test
Annually
Annually
Semiannually
Test
Monthly
Test
Replace
Test
Annually
Every 5 years
Annually
Alarm notification appliances
Audible devices
Audible textual appliances
Visible devices
Batteries (Fire Alarm Systems)
Lead-acid type
Charger test (replace as needed)
Discharge test (30 min.)
Load voltage test
Specific gravity
Nickel-cadmium type
Charger test (replace as needed)
Discharge test (30 min.)
Load voltage test
Primary type (dry cell)
Age test
Sealed lead-acid type
Charger test (replace w/in 5 yrs.)
Replace battery
Discharge test (30 min)
6a
6b
6c
6d
35-24
Attachment 10
Load voltage test
Control Equipment (connected to
supervising station)
Functions
Fuses
Interfaced equipment
Lamps and LEDs
Primary (main) power supply
Transponders
Control Equipment (not connected
to supervising station)
Functions
Fuses
Interfaced equipment
Lamps and LEDs
Primary (main) power supply
Transponders
Engine Driven Generator
Control unit trouble signals
Test
Semiannually
ITEM
ACTIVITY
1
Test
Test
Test
Test
Test
Test
Annually
Annually
Annually
Annually
Annually
Annually
2
Test
Test
Test
Test
Test
Test
Test
Test
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Monthly
Annually
Emergency voice/Alarm
Test
communications equipment
Fiber optic cable power
Test
Initiation devices
Duct detectors
Test
Electromech. releasing devices
Test
Extinguishing systems switches
Test
Fire-gas and other detectors
Test
heat detectors
Test
fire alarm boxes
Test
radiant energy fire detectors
Test
smoke detectors - functional
Test
smoke detectors - sensitivity
Test
(see 10.4.3.2)
single & multi-station smoke
Test
alarms (also see 10.4.4)
single and multi-station heat alarms Test
supervisory signal devices
Test
waterflow devices
Test
valve tamper switches
Test
Interface equipment
Test
Off-premises transmission equip.
Test
3
9
FREQUENCY
NFPA 72
TABLE 10.4.4, Item #
Semi-annually1
12
Annually
8
15
Annually
Annually
Annually
Annually
Annually
Annually
Semiannually
Annually
Biannually
Annually
Annually
Quarterly
Quarterly2
Semiannually
Annually
Quarterly
35-25
18
22
Attachment 10
Remote annunciators
Special hazard equipment
Special procedures
Supervising station fire alarm
systems – Transmitters
DACT
DART
McCulloh
RAT
Supervising station fire alarm
systems – Receivers
DACR
DARR
McCulloh
Two-way RF multiplex
Test
Test
Test
Annually
Annually
Annually
Test
Test
Test
Test
Quarterly3
Quarterly3
Quarterly3
Quarterly3
ITEM
ACTIVITY
Supervising station fire alarm
systems – Receivers (continued)
RASSR
RARSR
Private microwave
Test
Test
Test
1
2
3
14
19
24
23
25
Test
Test
Test
Test
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
FREQUENCY
NFPA 72
TABLE 10.4.4 Item #
25
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Due to frequency of construction and system modifications which occur in the museums, testing was increased
from annually to semi-annually for voice/alarm communications equipment.
Testing frequency adjusted to match NFPA 25 requirements for waterflow devices.
Testing frequency increased to quarterly due to history of trouble contacts being disconnected.
- Data is based on 2007 edition
35-26