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Fire Protection Systems

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS COMPLIANCE GUIDELINE

INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

Arizona State University (ASU) facilities are required to have specific life safety systems per Arizona Revised Statutes. The requirements and the extent of life safety systems depend on the type of construction, type of occupancy, and other use factors. ASU departments and units must ensure that all life safety systems, including fire protection systems, are operational and unobstructed. ASU Environmental Health & Safety is responsible for inspecting, reviewing plans, and corresponding with each department or unit to facilitate a safe compliant facility and to ensure that all life safety systems are inspected, tested, maintained operational, and unobstructed. The following guidelines has been prepared for university faculty, staff, students, contractors, vendors, and the general public in accordance with applicable codes, standards, ASU Fire Prevention and Safety Plan, and University Policies and Procedures to ensure a safe compliant facility.

REQUIREMENTS

Portable Fire Extinguishers
Portable fire extinguishers are intended as a first line of defense to cope with fires of a limited size. They are needed even if the property is equipped with automatic sprinklers, standpipe and hose, or other fixed protection equipment. The fire protection guidelines are general in nature and are not intended to abrogate specific requirements of other codes and/or policy’s and procedures. The following general rules apply to most facilities:

1. A fire extinguisher must be within 75 feet travel distance to any area of a building (does not have to be in a room). Travel distance cannot include stairs, steps, or locked doors.
   

2. Hazardous areas, e.g., laboratories, chemical storage, bulk storage, require travel distance to a fire extinguisher does not exceed 50 feet.
   

3. Fire extinguishers must be of the appropriate type for the area. For this reason, fire extinguishers must be removed, relocated, purchased, serviced, and installed by the university’s fire equipment technician for academic facilities and by qualified fire equipment companies for ancillary facilities.
   

4. Fire extinguishers must be visible or signs posted to identify location. Access to fire extinguishers cannot be obstructed.

Fire Sprinkler Systems
Usually a fire sprinkler system is installed because of a code requirement. A fire sprinkler system is an integrated system of underground and overhead piping with independent sprinkler heads for controlling and/or extinguishing a fire. The following guidelines will help ensure that the fire sprinkler system operates as designed:

1. Reduce storage and maintain a minimum clearance of 18 inches below the deflector of the lowest installed fire sprinkler head.
   

2. Ensure that no screens, clothing materials, or other large items are displayed horizontally in any area with a fire sprinkler system.
   

3. Ensure no items are attached in any form with the fire sprinkler system piping or heads.
   

4. Maintain a minimum of 36 inches access to and work space around every fire sprinkler control valve, sectional valve, drain valves, and inspector test valves.

Fire Alarm Systems
Fire Alarm Systems (FAS) are required for all state buildings unless a variance is approved by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. A system is comprised of a main control panel that has smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, and special suppression systems that alert the panel to activate a trouble or alarm. The system is designed to alert occupants to evacuate the building. Occupants must be familiar with the sound of the FAS and ensure that all occupants and visitors evacuate whenever the FAS has activated an audible alarm. Although the FAS will notify ASU DPS Dispatch Center (DDC) of any building alarms or troubles, it is important that any person aware of an actual fire emergency condition to call 911 and advise DDC a real fire condition exists. They will call Tempe Fire Department (+-TED) immediately instead of sending a DPS Officer to evaluate the scene before calling TFD.  (note: 911 from a cell phone will not go to ASU DPS so proper directions must be given)

Special functions that are or may be required in a FAS for a facility are: Elevator recall, air handler shutdown, door closures, door releases, audible and visual alert devices, curtain closures, wall closures, damper closures, smoke control system activation, and other smoke or heat fire protection separation devices.

In order for the building fire alarm system and all connecting devices and suppression systems to perform their function per code and ensure automatic operation and notification of systems as designed, the following guidelines must be followed:

1. Maintain a minimum of two feet clearance below any smoke or heat detector device.
   

2. Ensure that no furniture, displays, or storage obstruct any warning devices or pull stations, e.g., the audible or visual devices that alert occupants of a potential fire/smoke condition requiring evacuation.
   

3. Ensure no fire doors, any special automatic closing doors, or any other type of fire/smoke separation devices are obstructed in a manner that will prevent it’s closer as designed and required by code.
   

4. Be aware of the protective systems within your facility and prevent any life safety or fire protection device, equipment, or system from exposure to unnecessary exposure to heat, chemicals, or any other hazard that would render the system or device inoperable.

The FAS must be heard in every area of the building, at least 15 decibels over ambient and the sound must be distinct from any other audible sound in the building. If you have an area that is inadequate or have questions, please contact ASU Environmental Health & Safety at (480) 965-1823 or e-mail at risk@asu.edu.

Commercial Cooking Operations
Commercial cooking equipment require special ventilation hood and duct work, special fire suppression system, and automatic utility shutoff and must comply with the uniform building code, fire code, and mechanical code. Each system must be tested and serviced every six months by qualified and certified personnel.

Other Fire Extinguishing Systems
Carbon Dioxide, Halon, Dry or Wet Chemical, and alternative agents to replace halon systems are special systems individual department operations require to protect their equipment, which is sometimes an alternative to using a fire sprinkler system. However, some areas have double fire suppression protection with the installation of two fire suppression systems (fire sprinkler system with one of the other fire extinguishing systems.

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS

Arizona Administrative Code R4-36-201 et seq.

UNIVERSITY DOCUMENTS AND MANUALS

Arizona State University Fire Prevention and Safety Plan
Environmental Health & Safety Policies and Procedures

This guideline is provided as a general guideline for office safety practices and does not cover all code compliance issues. If you have any questions or concerns, or need additional information, contact the ASU Fire Marshal at (480) 965-1823 or e-mail at EHS@asu.edu.

Mailing Address: PO Box 873804, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3804
Contact Email: EHS@asu.edu
Phone: (480) 965-1823
FAX:  (480) 965-0736