G-RESE Resetting Fire Alarm/Sprinklers Part 1

Investigating Alarm Activations

• All alarm activations must be thoroughly investigated to determine the cause
• The Incident Commander will request to silence the alarm system via radio after a thorough investigation, and the area will be re-investigated to probe further

Secondary Assessment

• The Incident Commander should refer to the building's fire safety plan for specific references to building schematics and emergency systems
• Where feasible, go door-to-door on the affected floor and speak with residents to investigate further
• Consider monitoring the floor above and below where the alarm was activated for signs of smoke/fire
• Listen for other audible signaling devices such as stand-alone smoke alarms inside individual residential suites

Fire Alarm System

• The owner is responsible for resetting the fire alarm system
• The Incident Commander shall ensure adequate investigation of the alarm condition in all circumstances
• The owner/representative is responsible for implementing "Alternative Measures for Occupant Safety" in accordance with the building Fire Safety Plan and the Fire Code, including a fire watch

Fire Alarm Condition Categories

• The fire alarm can be reset with the Owner/Representative present
• The fire alarm cannot be reset with the Owner/Representative present
• The fire alarm needs to be reset and the Owner/Representative is not present

After adequate investigation of the alarm condition the Incident Commander

shall ensure actions in accordance with the following:

a) The fire alarm can be reset with the Owner/Representative present:

i. Investigate the cause of the alarm.

ii. Once investigation completed, silence the system.

iii. Conduct investigation for further independent alarm activation.

iv. Indicate it is the Owner/Representative’s responsibility to ensure proper

reset of system and instruct the Owner/Representative that it is clear to

attempt a reset.

v. Gather relevant information at the scene on actions taken and enter in

the Company Officer’s memo book.

vi. If there are any deficiencies (e.g. no fire safety plan or inadequate

training) then complete and issue a TFS Immediate Action form for the

deficiency. Leave it with the Owner/Representative and send a copy via

Internal Mail System to the Fire Prevention Division.

vii. If deficiencies have been identified, check the Fire Prevention Notes

box of the Fire RMS Incident Report (to initiate the Fire Prevention

referral) and provide details by completing a Narrative for Fire

Prevention based on notes retrieved from the Company Officer memo book.

b) The fire alarm cannot be reset with the Owner/Representative

present:

i. Investigate the cause of the alarm.

ii. Once investigation completed, silence the system.

iii. Conduct investigation for further independent alarm activation.

iv. Indicate it is the Owner/Representative’s responsibility to ensure proper

reset of system and instruct the Owner/Representative that it is clear to

attempt a reset.

v. Advise the Owner/Representative:

 It is the owner/representative's responsibility to ensure the fire

alarm is in operating condition

 TFS cannot put the system out of service

 The owner/representative is responsible to contact a service

company immediately to conduct repairs

 To notify TFS Communications Centre at (416) 338-9000 that the

system is out of service.

 To notify TFS Communications Centre at (416) 338-9000 when it is

back in service.

 They are required to follow the procedures identified in their

approved Fire Safety Plan under “Alternative Measures for

Occupant Safety” which should include a fire watch in the affected

area.

vi. The Incident Commander shall notify Communications over the radio

that fire alarm has been silenced, is unable to be reset and a competent

person has implemented their Fire Safety Plan's Alternative Measures.

vii. Gather relevant information at the scene on actions taken by TFS crews

and building Owner/Representative and enter the details in Company

Officer’s memo book.

viii. Complete and issue a TFS Immediate Action form to the on-site

owner/representative and send a copy via Internal Mail System to the

Fire Prevention Division.

ix. Check the Fire Prevention Notes box of the Fire RMS Incident Report to

indicate any deficiencies and to initiate the Fire Prevention referral.

Provide details by completing a Narrative for Fire Prevention based on

the notes retrieved from the Company Officer’s memo book.

c) The fire alarm needs to be reset and the Owner/Representative is not

present:

i. Investigate the cause of the alarm.

ii. Once investigation completed, silence the system.

iii. Conduct investigation for further independent alarm activation.

iv. Attempt to contact the Owner/Representative.

v. Toronto Fire Services will not reset a fire alarm when the

owner/representative is not present.

vi. The Incident Commander will leave an apparatus on scene until a

responsible person attends to reset.

vii. If it has been determined that an owner/representative will not be

attending - TFS will stay on scene of an occupied building and perform

a fire watch and notify Fire Prevention and the on-call Senior Officer.

viii. Fire Prevention will assume responsibility of that building as soon as

possible.

ix. The Incident Commander will gather relevant information at the scene

on actions taken and enter in their memo book.

x. Assess the fire risk as outlined in #7 of this SOG to determine if the

criteria for an Immediate Threat to Life has been met.

 If the Immediate Threat to Life Criteria has not been met

 On an occupied building, the operations crews will remain

on site conducting the fire watch until Fire Prevention

officers or an owner or their representative attends the site

and takes responsibility for fire watch.

mmediate Threat to Life Criteria has been met

 Operations will remain on site for fire watch purposes

 Gather relevant information at the scene on actions taken

and enter in the Company Officer’s memo book.

 Contact Fire Prevention Division to attend immediately

 After hours, TFS Communications Centre are to be notified

that an extreme high risk situation has been identified. The

on call Senior Officer will need to be notified. This will

include contacting the Deputy Chief of CRR and request a

Fire Investigator to attend for issuance of the Immediate

Threat to Life. (Refer to Standard Operating Guideline GSENI: Senior Officer On Call).

xi. Check the Fire Prevention Notes box of the Fire RMS Incident Report to

indicate any deficiencies and to initiate the Fire Prevention referral.

Provide details by completing a Narrative for Fire Prevention based on

the notes retrieved from the Company Officer’s memo book; including, if

applicable, the information that an Immediate Threat to Life Notice was

issued and the number of hours that TFS conducted the fire watch.

2.4. If the Owner/Representative is not present and a key cannot be found in Key

Safe Boxes and/or Fire Safety Plan Boxes:

i. It is allowable for TFS personnel to use minimal force to gain access to

locked alarm panels to silence alarm system when an

Owner/Representative is not present. E.g. Removing padlock device,

etc.

ii. Gather relevant information at the scene on actions taken and enter the

details in Company Officer’s memo book.

iii. Complete and issue a TFS Immediate Action form for the deficiency.

Leave in a conspicuous location (e.g. alarm panel, annunciator panel,

CACF, door to room containing the control panel, etc.) in the building

and send a copy via Internal Mail System to the Fire Prevention

Division.

iv. Check the Fire Prevention Notes box of the Fire RMS Incident Report to

initiate the Fire Prevention referral. Provide details by completing a

Narrative for Fire Prevention based on the notes retrieved from the

Company Officer’s memo book; including a copy of the Immediate

Threat to Life Notice and the number of hours that TFS conducted the

fire watch.

2.5. Operations personnel shall check the Fire Prevention Notes box in the RMS

report and complete a Fire Prevention Narrative report based on their Company

Officer notes from their note books. This and a copy of the Immediate Action

form are the only means Fire Prevention has of being notified of a faulty alarm

system.

For any incident at which the fire alarm system is left in alarm activation

mode, the TFS Communication Centre shall be advised of such by the

Incident Commander via radio prior to clearing the incident.

Guidelines for incident commanders to make informed decisions on-scene, including investigating alarm activations to determine cause.