Fire Suppression System Testing & Commissioning Method Statement

Below you can find a precise method of statement for fire suppression system testing & commissioning applicable for any kind of clean agent system.

The scope of method statement covers the planning, preparation and conduct of fire suppression system testing and commissioning.

Before starting the testing & commissioning of fire suppression system the completeness of the system shall be ensured by physical inspections and interpreting the previously submitted and approved installation work inspection reports/records.

Make sure that all tools/equipment/instruments required for testing of fire suppression system are calibrated and having valid certificate.

Safe access to work areas shall be provided and shall be approved by the safety person prior to commencement of works.

Any temporary requirements to be arranged where required as per the site conditions.

Preparatory Requirements for Fire Suppression Testing

Following initial activities must be followed and taken into account as mandatory by the authorized personal to do the clean agent testing work.

Manpower:

A qualified competent person must be assigned to the project/work to be undertaken.

Competent person must have the authority to stop the work being undertaken, if required, when hazard is identified.

The competent person will act as the site supervisor during the FM200 or any other clean agent system testing and commissioning.

Workers shall be skilled and having skills, understanding and experience to carry out the clean agent testing and commissioning task correctly and safely.

Planning and preparation:

Before starting the FM200 or Ansul or any other clean agent system testing the competent person shall carryout the following pre planning works.

• Obtain all relevant information and drawings and then inspect the proposed work at site.
• Make sure the availability of all necessary work permits and passes from the authorities having jurisdiction.
• Ensure that entire testing and commissioning team members are trained properly and having relevant experience.
• Also make sure that all team members are wearing appropriate personnel protective equipment (Safety shoe, Helmet, Eye safety glass, Safety belt and safety gloves and jackets.)
• Work area shall be identified, barricaded around the periphery with tapes and cones along with sign board.
• The various points shall be selected /marked for testing smoke detectors, on the roof level for each zone.

COMMISSIONING OF FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

Visual / Physical Inspection

Check all the fire protection devices are installed as per the approved drawings.

Make sure that fire protection control panel mounted properly as per drawings.

Check all detector bases are mounted properly.

Also check that the EOL 18 V Trans orb fitted or not in the last detector.

Check all necessary EOL mounted or not as per manufacturer instructions and detail drawings.

Make sure that installation of Extinguishing devices (Piping, cylinder, LPS, Solenoid) etc.

Check all the supports are properly installed.

Also check power ON LED & Operating Access LED should be lit and all other LEDs should not be lit.

Check all the cables properly labelled as per drawings and specifications and approved as well.

Pre Commissioning checks

Remove Solenoid output cable from control panel.

Apply AC Power and connect Battery.

Check all LEDs status.

Check Auxiliary voltage it should be 24 Volt DC.

Check zones circuit.

Check Sounder circuits ( First Stage & Second Stage)

Zone Testing

Apply detector test liquid on the detector and check following sequence:

First sounder stage alarm starts.

The detector goes in to fire condition after applying the test liquid.

Check the common fire LED and respective zone LED should indicate alarm.

Check common fire rely output.

Press silence/sound alarm button and reset buttons.

Repeat the same above procedure for all other zones / areas as applicable.

Cross zone Testing of FM System

Remove solenoid output terminal from the control panel.

Apply test liquid on the zone 1 & Zone 2 (or whatever applicable) detectors.

Check both sounder stage alarm status.

Monitor the seven segment display and check delay counter timer start.

Place the multi meter across the solenoid terminal and check the voltage at the end delay timer. It should be 24 v.

Check VDC at fraction of second to operate solenoid valve.

Check all cable polarity +, – etc.

Overall Fire Suppression System Check:

Check the Solenoids cable is disconnected from the panel.

Check the panel status contacts (Fault & Fire) to external building fire alarm panel.

Create any fault, like by removing battery terminal or switch off AC power or removing detectors or removing sounders etc. and observe fault LED and status contacts.

Stimulate fire to zone 1 detector by using spray liquid and observe, the detectors go into fire (LED) & Corresponding Zone LED in the panel.

Check the fire status contacts to building fire control panel.

Now check the sounder 1 working or not, silence the sounder and reset.

Check that panel goes into normal condition after the reset.

Repeat above procedure for all the detectors.

Cross Zone Function Testing

Stimulate fire for both zones detector simultaneously and monitor below sequence:

Check and ensure that all sounders are activated.

Fire LED should be activated in the control panel.

Check Delay timer start ( 30 Seconds).

Check the voltage at solenoid end, 24 Volt DC should come after end of the delay timer.

The voltage should be shown at least for 5 Seconds

Reset the control panel.

Abort Function Testing:

Stimulate fire for both zones detector and observe the above sequences.

Press any one Abort switch to stop extinguishing.

Abort LED should lit in the control panel.

The multimeter should not show 24 VDC at end of the delay timer.

Release the abort switch and reset the panel.

Check the panel should go into normal mode after reset.

Manual Release (Electrically Remote operation)

Check the panel is in normal condition.

Slide the Aero mark symbol in the plate which is shown in the manual gas release.

Insert the Ker (Red) into the manual release and turn it.

The top cover will come out and then press the button and monitor below sequence:

• Check Manual release and actuator LEDs should lit.
• Check two sounder ( Flasher & Horn ) are working properly.
• Check the delay timer ( 30 Seconds).
• Measure the voltage (24 Volt DC) across the solenoid at end of delay timer.

The testing and commissioning procedures shall be in compliance with project specifications and applicable NFPA standard.

Pipe Pressure Test will be done and results shall be provided.

Room Integrity Test will be completed and approval reports shall be provided.

Functionality of Magnetic door holder will be provided & confirmed.

Interfacing with Fire Alarm Panel will be provided and confirmed.

Functionality of Alarm Bell will be provided and confirmed.

Agents Discharge time and duration reports shall be provided.

Loop and insulation test of the cables will be provided

Battery test shall be as per specifications and applicable NFPA standards and codes.

Visual verification of solenoid valve functionality shall be tested and demonstrated.

FM200 Room Integrity Test

When deploying a clean agent system it is vital to test the integrity of a room is to ensure the protected area is well sealed and the Clean Agent extinguishing media won’t escape from the room/area.

Compliance with NFPA 2001 (2008 ED.) requires:

• The enclosure protected by the clean agent shall be thoroughly inspected at least every 12 months to determine if penetrations or other changes have occurred that could adversely affect agent leakage or change volume of hazard, or both. Where the inspection indicates conditions that could result in the inability to maintain the clean agent concentration, the conditions shall be corrected.
• Where external visual inspection indicates the container has been damaged, additional strength tests shall be required.
• All persons who could be expected to inspect, test, maintain, or operate fire systems shall be thoroughly trained.
• All total flooding systems shall have the enclosure examined and tested to locate and effectively seal any significant air leaks that could result in a failure of the enclosure to hold the specified agent concentration level for the specified holding period. The current preferred method is using a blower door fan unit and smoke pencil.

FM200 integrity test should be carried out at the design stage of a Clean Agent systems and annually thereafter, and even more frequently if the space may have changed due to renovations, or layout changes.

This room integrity testing determines the exact design of the clean agent system, and may also indicate a need for other work needing to take place in order to seal gaps within the space to be protected.