Fire Protection and Life Safety Commissioning

Douglas Fisher, PE, LEED AP BD+C

Principal Fire Protection Engineer
Fisher Engineering, Inc.

Cecil Bilbo, President

Academy of Fire Sprinkler
Technology, Inc.
 AIA Quality Assurance

The Building Commissioning Association is a Registered Provider with

The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education
Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program
will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of
Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available
upon request.

This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional

education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed
or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any
material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using,
distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be

addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.
 Course Description

A brief discussion regarding the specific challenges found in

commissioning various fire protection and life safety systems, including
the difference between commissioning and acceptance testing. This
discussion will center on NFPA 3, Recommended Practice on
Commissioning and Integrated Testing of Fire Protection and Life
Safety Systems, which was developed by the National Fire
Protection Association and released in January 2012.
 Learning Objectives

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the purpose of NFPA 3

2. Explain the recommendations for Commissioning found in
NFPA 3.
3. Identify and Describe the roles of the Fire Cx Team Members.
4. Understand the difference between Commissioning and
Acceptance Testing.
 Why NFPA?

• 2005: NFPA Standard Council discusses need

for more technical information on
commissioning
• Staff Project Wrote “Commissioning Fire Protection
Systems”
• 2006: NIBS Submitted Proposal to NFPA
Standards Council
• Requested NFPA Become Involved in FP Systems
Commissioning
• 2007: Standards Council Approved Technical
Committee on Commissioning FP Systems
Tech Committee on Commissioning FP & LS

• Scope
• This committee shall have primary responsibility
for documents that pertain to commissioning
activities and tasks for fire and life safety
systems.
• (Approved August 2008)
• Committee made up of cross section of fire
protection community
• Consultants, Installers, Manufacturers, AHJs, Cx
Providers
 NFPA 3 – What is it?

• Modeled after
ASHRAE Guideline 0
• Three year
development process
Guideline for images:
• Recommended
Please add 1 pt. green
practice, not a standard (R119G152B35) rule
around each image
or code.
 NFPA 3 - Organization
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Administration
Chapter 2 Referenced Publications
Chapter 3 Definitions
Chapter 4 Qualifications of Commissioning Personnel
Chapter 5 Commissioning
Chapter 6 Integrated Systems Commissioning
Chapter 7 Integrated System Testing
Chapter 8 Re-commissioning (Re-Cx) and
Retro-commissioning (RCx)
Chapter 9 Commissioning Documentation and Forms
Annex A thru Annex D
 NFPA 3 - Scope

1.3.1 This recommended practice applies to passive and active

fire protection and life safety equipment and systems
including, but not limited to, the following:
1) Infrastructure supporting the building fire protection and
life safety systems within the boundaries of the project
2) Fixed fire suppression and control systems
3) Fire alarm systems
4) Emergency communications systems (ECS)
5) Smoke control and management systems
6) Normal, emergency and standby power systems
 NFPA 3 - Scope

1.3.1 (continued)
7) Explosion prevention and control systems
8) Fire-resistant and smoke-resistant assemblies
9) Firestopping
10) Systems associated with commercial cooking operations
11) Elevator systems
12) Means of egress systems and components
13) Other systems or installations integrated or
connected to a fire or life safety system, such as, but
not limited to, access control, critical processes, and
hazardous operations
 NFPA 3 Cx Defined

• 3.3.3.1* Commissioning (Cx).

o A systematic process that provides documented
confirmation that specific and interconnected systems
function according to the intended design.
• A.3.3.1.1 Commissioning (Cx).
o Commissioning is achieved by documenting the
design intent and oversight throughout construction
and acceptance, and ends with the warranty period.
 Chapter 5.1 and 5.2 – The Planning Phases

• Establish the FCx Team.

• Develop the OPR.
• Identify the commissioning scope.
• Develop the preliminary commissioning plan.
• Review the planning documents.
• Develop regulatory code analysis.
• Initiate the commissioning plan.
 Chapter 5.3 – The Design Phase
• Develop the BOD
• Establish sequence of operation
• Review of project documents
• Document FCx Scope
• Document FCx Procedures
• Develop FCx Schedule
• Verify construction documents comply with BOD
• Identify qualified specialists and their responsibilities
• Document FCx team meetings and progress reports
• Document issues and changes
• Update the FCx plan
• Develop construction checklists
 Chapter 5.4 – The Construction Phase
• Confirm FCx schedule and update as needed.
• Verify that submittals comply with the BOD.
• Verify that materials, construction, and installation
comply with the BOD.
• Confirm specialists are performing FCx activities.
• Document FCx team meetings and progress reports.
• Document issues and changes, and update the FCx
Plan.
• Complete FCx (QC) construction checklists.
• Ensure performance of QC observation procedures.
• Update all FCx documents.
• Verify and document testing.
 Chapter 5.5 – The Occupancy Phase
• Document and complete acceptance testing and
inspections
• Complete additional testing because of modifications or
seasonal deferrals
• Submit systems manuals, O&M manuals, and vendor
emergency contact list
• Owner Training
• Deliver record drawings and documents
• Deliver of the test and inspection records
• Deliver digital copy of site-specific software
• Deliver warranties
• Submit recommended preventative maintenance program
• Deliver list of required inspections, tests, and maintenance
 FCx Team
(1) Owner
(2) Commissioning Authority
(3) Fire Commissioning Agent (FCxA)
(4) Installation Contractor(s)
(5) Manufacturer’s Representatives
(6) Registered Design Professional(s)
(7) Construction Manager/General Contractor
(8) Owner’s Technical Support Personnel
(9) Facility Manager or Operations Personnel
(10) Insurance Representative
(11)* AHJ
 Fire Commissioning Agent (FCxA)
The FCxA should be responsible for
the following:
(1) Organize and lead the Cx Team,
(2) Coordinate Cx Team meetings,
(3) Facilitate the development of the
OPR
(4) Verify Cx Process scope of work,
(5) Integrate Cx into project schedule,
(6) Prepare the Cx Plan,
(7) Prepare Cx Process specs,
(8) Execute the Cx Process,
(9) Review the plans and specs,
(10) Attend pre-bid meeting,
(11) Approve Systems Manual,
(12) Track and document issues,
(13) Prepare Cx Progress Reports
(14) Organize & Coordinate system
testing
(15) Witness system testing
(16) Review installation & record docs,
(17) Recommend acceptance
(18) Track compliance with sequence
of operation
(19) Compile and submit final Cx Team
report to owner
(20) Compile and submit all Cx
documents required by AHJ.
 FCxA Qualifications

4.2.1.1.1 The FCxA should be knowledgeable and

experienced in the proper application of commissioning
recommendations of this recommended practice and
general industry practices.

4.2.1.1.2 The FCxA should be individually identified on

the specifications or other enabling documentation.

4.2.1.1.3 The FCxA should provide an objective and

unbiased point of view.
 FCxA Qualifications

A.4.2.1.1 Examples of qualified individuals

can include, but are not limited to:

(1) & (2) Registered professional engineers

with sufficient knowledge

(3) Experienced Facility Professionals

(4) Experienced System Professionals

 FCxA Qualifications

A.4.2.1.1 The FCxA should have no financial interest

(owner, division or subsidiary, partner, operating officer,
distributor, salesman, or technical representative) in any
fire protection or life safety equipment manufacturers,
suppliers, or installers for any such equipment provided
as part of this project. As such, qualified independent
third-party firms or individuals should be considered for
designation as the FCxA. The FCxA should have a
minimum of five years’ experience in facility construction,
inspection, acceptance testing, or commissioning as it
relates to fire protection and life safety.
What Commissioning Isn’t

Commissioning (Cx)
IS NOT
Integrated Testing
 What is Integrated Testing?

3.18.2* Integrated Testing.

• Performance verification of the interaction and
coordination of multiple and separate fire and
life safety systems.
 Integrated Testing – Goals and Objectives

Compliance w/ OPR & BOD

Sequence of operation
Performance – Codes & Standards
 Integrated Testing – When?

(7.2.1) In new construction, after:

• Verification of completeness and integrity
of building construction
• Individual system functional and
acceptance tests
• Completion of pre-functional tests
 Periodic Integrated Testing – How Often?
• Existing fire protection and life safety
systems should have periodic integrated
testing. (7.2.2)

• Integrated systems that were commissioned

upon installation in accordance with
Chapter 6 should have integrated testing at
the interval specified in the commissioning
plan.
 NFPA 4 - Integrated Testing
October 2011 – Newly assembled Committee
for NFPA 3 and a new document:

NFPA 4, The Standard on Integrated Testing

of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems

Scheduled for release in 2015. Initial draft

available for public input now.
www.nfpa.org/4
Doug Fisher, PE LEED AP BD+C
Principal Fire Protection Engineer
Fisher Engineering, Inc.
Johns Creek, GA 30097
770-495-7770 x 120 (office)
doug.fisher@feifire.com
Cecil Bilbo
Sprinkler System Technology Program
Parkland College
Champaign, IL
217.607.0325 office
cecil@sprinkleracademy.com