Re: Church told to hang own fire panel

[JoeRaisin <joeraisin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Robert L Bass wrote:

> BTW, speaking of fire alarm system testing and
> maintenance, NFPA 72 actually places the
> responsibility on the building owner or his
> designee. (cf. NFPA72 7-1.2)
>
> A building owner should do his own testing but
> if he desires code allows him to designate
> a qualified alarm company to handle the work
> for him as long as they sign a written contract
> to do the work in accordance with code.
> (cf. NFPA72 7-1.2.1)
>
> Code requires that a paid third party (alarm
> company tech) be trained and certified before
> doing inspections.  A building owner is not
> required to undergo any formal training
> though.
>
> NFPA72 provides a handy guide for inspection
> and testing of fire alarm systems.  Table 7-2.2
> "Test Methods" lists every component along
> with the appropriate method of testing.  At the
> end of the section is a sample inspection form
> which the building owner should print out and
> fiull in during the course of testing.
>

First, the "guide" in the reference ain't that "handy" especially from a
layman's view, and I'm sure that a business owner has nothing better to
do than acquire, read and digest the NFPA72 so he/she can accurately
describe his wiring in terms of what class and style wiring he/she has
installed.  Not to mention battery calcs and what not.

Then there is the quick trip to radio shack to try and find out how to
do a discharge test on a battery.

The Fire Marshall around here just loves finding inspection forms with
"self" entered under "Service Organization"... oh wait, he never has...