Toronto Fire Services Standard Operating Guideline: Fire Protection Equipment & Systems Shutdown (PDF)

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS SHUTDOWN Date Issued: March 8, 2021 Rescinds: G-FISY Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-FPES PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel with a guideline regarding the shutdown of fire protection equi...

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS SHUTDOWN Date Issued: March 8, 2021 Rescinds: G-FISY Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-FPES PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel with a guideline regarding the shutdown of fire protection equipment and systems or part thereof. RESPONSIBILITY All personnel are responsible for understanding this guideline and Fire Code regulations pertaining to the shutdown of fire protection equipment and systems. Company Officers are responsible for reporting immediately to the Fire Prevention Division any shut down of fire protection equipment and systems. Fire Prevention Division District Chief Officers are responsible for ensuring the Communications Centre Officer is notified of shutdown notifications received in writing by Toronto Fire Services. The Communications Centre Officer is responsible for ensuring information pertaining to fire protection equipment and systems shutdowns is communicated to responding firefighting personnel. GUIDELINES 1. Fire Protection Systems Shutdown 1.1. Building owners are required to maintain the fire protection equipment, within their building, in operating condition. 1.2. Company Officers observing any shutdown of a fire system in a property attended by TFS shall report to the Fire Prevention Division and immediately to the Communications Centre (if not already notified) any extended shutdown or dismantlement of fire protection equipment and systems. The reporting of these shutdowns shall be in accordance with the following: a) Fire Prevention Division; i. By checking the Fire Prevention Notes box of the Fire R. M. S. Incident Report and providing details by completing a Narrative. b) Communications Centre; i. Via telephone. The Fire Prevention Division will follow up with the owner and take appropriate action upon receipt of the notification from Operations. File Code: G-FPES Page 1 of 4  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 2. Standpipe System 2.1. The Fire Code requires that during construction or demolition of a building, the standpipe system shall be installed or dismantled progressively so as to offer fire protection to the remainder of the building. During alteration of a building required to have a standpipe and hose system, the system shall be installed or dismantled progressively so as to provide protection to all floor areas. 1 2.2. At all other times in all other buildings so equipped, standpipe and hose systems shall be maintained in operating condition. Standpipe and hose systems shall be maintained in operating condition. 2 2.3. Fire department connections shall be maintained. Except when in use or being inspected in accordance with Article 6.4.3.7., fire department connections shall be equipped with plugs or caps that are secured wrench-tight. If plugs or caps are missing, the fire department connections shall be examined for obstructions, back flushed when conditions warrant and the plugs or caps replaced. 3 2.4. In the event of a shutdown of a standpipe and hose system, the fire department, building occupants and supervisory staff should be aware of the circumstances. If a standpipe system or any part thereof is shut down (a) the fire department and building occupants shall be notified in accordance with Article 1.1.1.1., (b) the supervisory staff shall be notified. 4 2.5. Other requirements commonly encountered by firefighting personnel include the following: Hose stations shall be inspected monthly to ensure that the hose is in proper position and that all of the equipment is in place and in operable condition. Standpipe and hose system equipment shall be used for fire protection only. Standpipe hose stations shall be conspicuously identified and unobstructed. 5 2.6. Hose valves shall be tight and water should not leak into the hose. Hose valves shall be inspected annually to ensure that they are tight so that there is no water leakage into the hose. 6 2.7. A building owner should be advised by the Incident Commander of their responsibility to maintain the standpipe and hose systems in a building after its use by firefighting personnel. 1 Fire Protection and Prevention Act, Ontario Fire Code, O'Reg. 213/07 as amended, 6.4.1.1.. 2 Fire Code, 6.4.1.2. 3 Fire Code, 6.4.1.3. (1)(2). 4 Fire Code, 6.4.1.4 5 Fire Code, 6.4.2.1. - 6.4.2.3. 6 Fire Code, 6.4.2.4. File Code: G-FPES Page 2 of 4  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE Standpipe hose shall be unracked, unreeled or unrolled and inspected at least annually and after use, and any worn hose or gaskets in the couplings at the hose valves and at the nozzle replaced. If the hose is replaced on the rack, reel or stage area, it shall be reracked, rereeled or rerolled so that any folds do not occur at the same position they were previously on the hose. 7 3. Sprinkler System 3.1. The Fire Code requires the Chief Fire Official be notified when any alterations, additions or repairs are to be made involving interruption to a sprinkler system and when sprinkler control valves and sprinkler water supplies are shut down or disconnected for more than 24 hours. When any alterations, additions or repairs are to be made involving interruption to a sprinkler system or part thereof, the Chief Fire Official shall be notified. Sprinkler control valves and sprinkler water supplies shall not be shut down, disconnected or otherwise impaired for more than 24 hours without notifying the Chief Fire Official. 8 3.2. Closed control valves shall be tagged or identified. Closed sprinkler control valves and closed valves controlling fire protection water supplies for sprinkler systems shall be tagged or identified in an approved manner. 9 3.3. The Fire Code states the following: If a sprinkler system or any part thereof is shut down (a) the fire department and building occupants shall be notified in accordance with Article 1.1.1.1., (b) the supervisory staff shall be notified. 10 4. Fire Safety Plan 4.1. Fire protection equipment and systems include, but are not limited to the following: a) Sprinkler systems b) Standpipe and Hose Systems c) Fire alarm and Voice Communication Systems d) Fire Pumps 7 Fire Protection and Prevention Act, Ontario Fire Code, O'Reg. 213/07 as amended, 6.4.2.5. (1) - (2). 8 Fire Code, 6.5.2.1 and 6.5.2.2.(1) 9 Fire Code, 6.5.2.6 10 Fire Code, 6.5.2.4 File Code: G-FPES Page 3 of 4  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE All buildings required to have a Fire Safety Plan, in conformance with Subsection 2.8.1. of Ontario's Fire Code, requires owners to have alternative measures for the safety of occupants during a shutdown of fire protection equipment or systems. A fire safety plan shall: (h) provide for alternative measures to be provided for the safety of occupants during a shutdown of any or all fire protection equipment or systems. 11 4.2. A building Fire Safety Plan shall be maintained on site. The fire safety plan shall be kept in the building or premises in an approved location. 12 ATTACHMENT(S) N/A RELATED SOGS G-EMIR — Emergency Incident Reports G-FIR(R) — Fire Prevention Referrals G-FIWA — Firewatch G-RESE — Resetting Fire Alarm/Sprinkler Systems 11 Fire Protection and Prevention Act, Ontario Fire Code, O'Reg. 213/07 as amended, 2.8.2.1.(2)(h) 12 Fire Code, 2.8.2.1.(3). File Code: G-FPES Page 4 of 4