Design Services — Commissioning

HAI provides commissioning services to clients in the government, public and private sectors. Services can range from witnessing final acceptance testing to providing full commissioning support; from design review, to owner operation, maintenance, and training procedures.

Life-Safety systems have become increasingly complex; typically requiring the integration of fire alarm, building automation, smoke management, security and other systems. As critical components of a facility’s infrastructure they must function reliably, be easy to test and maintain, and their acceptance is a crucial milestone toward achieving a certificate of occupancy.

Life-Safety commissioning is an important component of the process known as “total building commissioning”. This is a process for verifying and documenting the performance of the building and its systems to insure that they meet the design needs and requirements of the owner. Also, it includes project turnover to the building’s operation and maintenance staff along with complete training and documentation.

The concept of Total Building Commissioning has emerged from the trend toward sustainable design. Several industry organizations have contributed toward developing a commissioning process, notably: American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), The Building Commissioning Association (BCA) and the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS).

Recognizing the importance of incorporating Life-Safety requirements of a facility into the total building commissioning plan has led NFPA to promulgate a new Standard, NFPA 3 Standard for Commissioning and Integrated Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems. HAI personnel serve on the Technical Committee for this proposed new standard. A draft of the proposed document is available at: http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=3

100% TESTING VS. STATISTICAL SAMPLING

The requirements for 100% acceptance testing of Life Safety systems have always been a provision of the applicable codes that govern their design and installation; however, incorporating acceptance testing into a comprehensive commissioning plan that begins during design development provides greater value to owners in the long-term. It also helps to achieve schedule milestones during the construction phase.

Commissioning services are typically required as a parallel task to the design build process and ideally should begin during design development. They are often executed by an independent consultant, but can also be provided by the design engineer.

COMMISSIONING SERVICES OFFERED BY HAI

FIRE ALARM AND DETECTION SYSTEMS

– Fire Alarm Control Panels – Main panel and all auxiliary panels (e.g., annunciator panels, booster power supplies, etc.)

Control sequencing
AC Power
Battery Test
Circuit Integrity

– Verification of supervision and operation of the following:

Audible Notification Appliances
Visual Notification Appliances
NAC Extenders/Power Supplies
Smoke Detectors
Duct Mounted Smoke Detectors
Heat Detectors
Manual Stations
Interface to Fire Suppression Systems
– Water flow Switches (vane and/or pressure type)
– Supervisory Devices (valve tamper, low-air pressure, etc.)
– Releasing Mechanisms (for gaseous and wet chemical systems)
– Detection and/or releasing mechanisms
Fire Safety Functions
– Interface with Active Smoke Control Systems
– Interface with Passive Fire/Smoke Control Systems [Doors (including Hold-Open Devices), dampers, fan-unit shut-down, etc.) – Interface to Elevators for Recall and Shunt-trip Functions
– Interface with Security Systems

ACTIVE SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

– Atrium Smoke Management System

Fire Detection System Interface
Firefighter Smoke Control Panel (FSCP)
Fire/Smoke and Smoke Damper Operation
Fans – Dedicated and Non-dedicated associated with the system
Sequence of Operation
Interface to Mechanical Systems

– Stairwell and Shaft Pressurization

Fans
Dampers
Pressurization Testing

FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS

– Gaseous System for Computer Room

Validate fire detection and alarm interfaces
Verify electrical and mechanical system interfaces (e.g., ventilation shut-down, computer shut-down, etc.)
Observe room integrity testing
Inspect mechanical system (cylinders, piping, etc.)
Observe piping obstruction testing

– Kitchen Hood Systems

Verify agent type is correct for hazard
Inspect and test releasing mechanisms
Inspect mechanical system (cylinders, piping, etc.)
Validate nozzle types, location and position
Observe piping obstruction testing
Verify shut-down function for fuel or energy supply

– Fire Sprinkler System – Wet, Pre-action and Deluge

Witness hydrostatic test
Conduct Rough-in Inspection
Conduct Final Inspection
Witness Final Test/Monitoring by the Fire Alarm System
Hazard Evaluation
Shop Drawing Review

– Standpipe System

PASSIVE FIRE AND SMOKE BARRIERS

– Fire, Smoke and Combination Fire/Smoke Doors

– Fire, Smoke and Combination Fire/Smoke Dampers

EGRESS COMPONENT VERIFICATION

– Validation of egress and exiting system arrangement via drawings and plan review

– Verification of placement of exit signs and egress lighting

– Inspection of exit signs and egress lights for normal and emergency operation

FIRE PROTECTION WATER SUPPLIES AND UTILITIES

– Review of layout of water supplies and hydrants via drawings and plan review

– Inspection and testing of fire hydrants and valves

Operational testing (hydrants and valves open/close without excessive effort)
Flow testing of hydrants

– Observation of hydrostatic testing of water supplies

– Observation of flushing of water supplies

PROJECT APPROACH

The overall approach to certifying Life-Safety systems is subdivided into four general tasks as follows:

Document search and review
System inspection and pre-tests
Final acceptance testing
Reports

DOCUMENT SEARCH AND REVIEW

Initial review focuses on contract design documents including plans, specifications, code reviews, and design basis reports for all Life-Safety systems. Review ensures that Life-Safety systems are installed in accordance with contract requirements. Documents include:

Code review plans and documentation
Architectural plans including door schedules
Fire alarm plans and specifications
Fire suppression plans and specifications
Mechanical plans that show dampers and fans
Atrium smoke control design basis report
Smoke control sequence of operation

HAI will review fire and Life-Safety system shop drawings submitted by the contractor. Our review will seek to confirm conformance with applicable codes and the contract documents. We will also verify issues of coordination between Life-Safety systems. Coordination concerns will be addressed as early in the process as possible to ensure that these issues are resolved prior to installation.

HAI will provide the owner with comments regarding code compliance, contract document compliance, and coordination issues.

SYSTEM INSPECTIONS AND PRE-TESTS

The majority of inspections will involve the fire sprinkler systems. NFPA 13 requires that wet, pre-action, and deluge systems be hydrostatically tested. HAI will witness this contractor conducted hydrostatic test. Additionally, HAI will witness pneumatic testing of pre-action systems to ensure they will maintain air pressure.

During witnessing of the hydrostatic tests, HAI will conduct a rough-in inspection of the suppression systems piping based on NFPA 13. The rough-in inspection will validate piping, fittings, supports, sprinkler location, and other installation features. HAI will provide daily reports of findings and hydrostatic test completion for the suppression systems.

HAI will also inspect other Life-Safety systems prior to final acceptance testing; however, complete inspections are not required or included in the scope of services. Construction period inspections for other Life-Safety systems will be on a limited basis to verify overall installation features.

Fire alarm and detection systems, smoke control systems, and passive barriers will be inspected during the final acceptance testing of these systems. Fire suppression systems will have separate final inspections. The final inspection will be limited to a below ceiling survey and is primarily to ensure that sprinklers are properly installed and not damaged or painted (other installation issues are inspected during the rough-in inspection).

FINAL ACCEPTANCE TESTING

Prior to conducting any tests, HAI will create custom forms that detail all equipment to be certified in the building and the appropriate test or inspection to be conducted for each device. Custom forms will be created to verify and document the correct sequence of operation and performance of overall design features as required by code and the contract documents. HAI will complete these forms during certification of the systems and will include the completed forms in our final reports.

HAI will witness the contractor conducted final tests for all Life-Safety systems to include a test for every Life-Safety device and will verify the sequence of operation for every system.

HAI will witness the smoke control testing once the system is completely installed and the level of construction is adequate to allow pressure testing for the stairwells and to minimize air movement into the atrium.

REPORTS

HAI will document our findings of all of the Life-Safety systems in final reports. HAI will provide reports for each building and system. HAI’s reports will certify that each system is operational and installed per the contract documents and applicable codes and will include test forms used during the inspection and testing process. The final report will be sealed by a licensed Fire Protection Engineer.

EXPERIENCE

THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, AURORA COLORADO

Life Safety Commissioning Services

HAI has recently completed commissioning services all Life-Safety systems for this new hospital complex located in Aurora, Colorado. As commissioning agents, HAI provided design review services to all Life-Safety systems, participated in weekly project meetings, and witnessed acceptance testing of all installed Life-Safety systems, including: fire alarm, sprinkler, smoke control, and their associated interfaces with security, nurse call and communication systems. In addition, HAI is responsible for review and approval of all egress components, emergency and exit lighting, and the development of Life-Safety implementation and maintenance procedures.

RITZ CARLTON CLUB, AVON, CO

Smoke Control Commissioning Services

HAI provided commissioning services for this client. The fire alarm system was comprised of a main control panel with voice communication and three remote panels located throughout the 7-story building. The fire alarm system included full smoke detection and was interfaced to several auxiliary systems including the Building Automation System for smoke control, the background music system and the HVAC system. HAI provided complete testing of the fire alarm system and was responsible for coordinating with the general contractor, the fire alarm system contractor, the building automation system contractor and Eagle River Fire Protection District to ensure that the system was fully operational and in compliance with all applicable codes prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. HAI received commendations from all of the referenced stakeholders.

LARIMER COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS & EVENTS CENTER, LOVELAND, CO

Smoke Control System Design Basis and Commissioning

HAI produced the smoke management system design basis report for the project design team. The smoke management system is designed to maintain the descending smoke layer 10-feet above the egress walkway to facilitate exiting of the facility. HAI provided construction administration, as well as final inspection and commissioning of the smoke management system.

For more information contact:

Eric Rosenbaum
erosenbaum@haifire.com
410-737-8677 x238

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