Subcommittee had various discussions as to what
“commissioning” is
Two different processes identified:

• Commissioning – Owner Driven Process
• Integrated Systems Testing – Code Requirement

Intent of the NBC / NFC were reviewed with NRC to align the ULC S1001 with Building and Fire Codes

Commissioning
A process of documentation, adjustment, testing, verification and training, performed specifically to ensure that the finished facility operates in accordance with the Owner’s documented project requirements and the construction documents

Integrated Systems Testing
A methodology for verifying and documenting that all interconnections between systems provided for fire protection and life safety are installed and operating in conformance with their design criteria

Owner Driven and Quality Focused

• Ensure Owners get what they paid for
• Owner gets more out of their investment

From Pre-Design to Turn-Over

• Document Owner’s Project Requirements
• Develop Commissioning Scope and Plan
• Review of Design Documents
• Construction Checklists and Submittals
• Review Construction and Testing
• Training and Closeout

Address “gaps” in existing Standards

• Systems typically tested and verified independently

Highlights

• Code Driven – required by Building & Fire Codes
• Minimum testing to prove integrations in situ
• One input per integration to confirm corresponding outputs
• Documentation

Integrated Systems Testing is not

• Replacement of system acceptance by Design Professionals
• Review of system design or installation
• Replacement of existing testing and verification requirements

Methodology

• Verify and document that interconnections between systems are installed and operating in conformance with their design
• Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems
  • Fire Alarm, Sprinklers, Emergency Generators, etc.
• Systems with Fire Protection and Life Safety Functions
  • Elevators, A/V Systems, Lighting Controls, etc.
• Not intended to verify individual system installations

Interconnection:
The link between two or more integrated fire protection and life safety systems which has an associated input / output correlation. The link between two or more integrated fire protection and life safety systems may or may not be a physical connection.

*Interconnections may include electrical, optical, or wireless transmissions, or data transfer protocols.

Integrated Testing Coordinator

• Maybe a person, firm, or corporation
• Knowledge and experience with design, installation, and operation of integrated systems
• Knowledge and understanding of
  • Codes and Standards regulating design
  • System operation under normal and fire conditions
  • Methods of validation

Integrated Testing Coordinator

• Licenses and Certifications?
  • Standard can’t dictate professional qualifications
  • Could be as part of adoption or in Owner’s contractual requirements

Integrated Testing Participants

• • Persons identified in the Integrated Testing Plan
    • Design Professionals
    • Installing Contractors
    • Verifying Parties
  • Knowledge and experience in the design, installation, and operation of their relevant systems
  • Regulations may exist for licensing and/or certification of these individuals

Information Gathering

• Interconnection Details
• Fire Protection / Life Safety System Design Documents
  • Drawings and Specifications
  • Sequencing Descriptions and Coordination Between Systems
  • Riser Diagrams
• Operating and Testing Instructions
• Alternative Solutions
• Miscellaneous Information Required

Integrated Testing Plan Development

• Functional Objectives of System Integrations
• Sequences of Operation
• Test Protocols and Procedures for Integrated Testing
• Occupant Notification Procedures
• Alternative Safety Measures
• Phased Occupancy, as applicable
• Approved by the Design Professionals and Reviewed by the AHJs, where required
• Guidance in Appendix B

Pre-Implementation

• Receive Design Professionals confirmation of acceptance testing complete and systems ready for integrated testing
• Receive Installing Contractors confirmation systems installed in accordance with design and ready for integrated testing
• Receive Verification Documents
  • Fire Alarm Verification, Installation Test Reports, Contractor Material and
• Test Certificates, TAB Reports, etc.
• Receive Inspection Certificates
  • Electrical Inspection, Elevator Inspection, etc.

Integrated Testing Plan Implementation

• Sufficient notification to AHJs, where required
• Implement occupant notification and alternate measures
• Perform Integration Testing Protocols
  • Document Testing in Integrated Testing Forms
• Correct and Retest Failed Integrations
  • I/O correlation not per the sequence of operation
  • Failed devices noted for follow-up by design professional
• Return systems to normal condition
• Prepare Integrated Testing Report

Integrated Systems Testing Requirements

• Project and system specific testing procedures
• Performance Based
  • Demonstrate proper operation of integrated systems
• Minimum level of testing detailed in ULC S1001
  • Additional Testing may be required based on installation
• Functional operation of input devices
  • Simulated operation permitted for non-restorable devices or tests that could harm persons or damage systems
• Acceptance of documented testing at ITC discretion

Systems Covered in ULC S1001

• Fire Alarm Systems
• Mass Notification Systems
• Elevators
• Emergency Generators
• A/V and Lighting Control
• Notification Systems
• Sprinkler Systems
• Standpipe Systems
• Fire Pumps
• Water Supplies
• Water Supply Control Valves
• Freeze Protection Systems
• Fixed Fire Suppression Systems
• Cooking Suppression Systems
• Hold-Open Devices
• Electromagnetic Locks
• Smoke Control Systems
• Hazardous Protection Monitoring
• Smoke Alarms

Testing effort related to system complexity
Example – Smoke Exhaust Systems

• • Various input/output correlation tests
    • Fan and damper control / status monitoring, door opening forces, control interfaces (Firefighter’s Smoke Control Station, BMS)
  • For simple analog interconnections
    • one input activated to initiate sequence, operation of fans, dampers, etc. confirmed to test integrations
  • For complicated digital interfaces
    • each software command string considered an integration

Fire Pumps
Emergency Generators
Sprinkler Systems
Fire Alarm Systems

Testing of each interconnection, as provided

• Fire Pump Running
• Trouble
• Phase Reversal
• Loss of Phase
• Connected to an Alternate Source
• Controller Main Switch in Off or Manual Position, etc.

Monitored condition created to show correct integration

• Fire Pump manually started and “Fire Pump Running” annunciation confirmed
• Fire Pump trouble condition created and “Fire Pump Trouble” annunciation confirmed

Testing of each interconnection, as provided

• Generator Running
• Generator Trouble
• Excessive Temperature
• Low Temperature
• Damper Monitoring, etc.

Monitored condition created to show correct integration Additional Generator Start-Up Test

• Full load test – all systems running at full design capacity
• Simulated loss of normal power, automatic generator start-up
• Systems confirmed as operating under emergency power

Testing of Each Interconnection

• Typically alarm and supervisory device monitoring
• Test method appropriate for the integration
  • Flow water to test an integration to a flow switch
  • Turn valve to test an integration to a supervised valve

ULC S537 Verification acceptable at ITC discretion

• No duplication of existing test and verification requirements

Most common system considered during development
Testing of integrations with other systems

• Based on design sequence of operation
• Input / Output correlations

Example – Fire Signal Receiving Centre Integration

• • Receipt of alarm signal
  • Receipt of supervisory signal
  • Receipt of trouble signal
  • Disconnect provides specific trouble at system and trouble signal at signal receiving centre

Integrated Testing Forms

• • Developed by the ITC
    • Test Protocol and Procedure
    • Space to document observed results
  • Signed upon completion
    • Integrated Testing Coordinator
    • Test Participants, as appropriate
  • Initial and Re-Tests Documented
    • Re-Test Forms clearly indicated

Integrated Testing Report

• • Final Integrated Testing Report consists of the
    • Integrated Testing Plan
    • Documentation collected during Implementation Phase
    • Integrated Testing Forms for Initial Test
    • Integrated Testing Forms for Re-Tests
  • Intended for use throughout the building’s life
    • Life Cycle Testing
    • Modifications
  • Format that can be easily maintained and updated

Implementation

• Building and Fire Codes, Other Legislation
• Contract Requirements

Periodic Integrated Systems Testing

• Integrated Systems Testing throughout building life cycle
• Ensure system integrations are maintained
• Frequency
  • • 1 Year Confirmation Test
    • 5 Year Periodic Testing
• Documentation of Testing

Retro Integrated Systems Testing

• Integrated Systems Testing for Existing Buildings
• Confirmation that systems are properly integrated
• Similar process as new construction
• Lack of design information may require detailed review
• Repeated every five years

Integrated Systems Testing for Modifications

• • Amended Integrated Systems Testing
  • Implement testing for effected systems only

General Information

• • Aligned with the Standard Numbering (e.g., A1.1)
  • Provides background from the Working Group on intent
  • Examples of procedures and approaches to be considered
  • Examples of existing tests and reports
  • Examples of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems

Introduction

• Building or Facility Information
• System Integrations and Functional Objectives

Sequence of Operation

• List of each integrated test outcome
• Cause and Effect Matrix

Test Protocols and Procedures

• Test Methodology and Step-by-Step Instructions
• Record initiating device activated and confirm each output
• Test Scenarios

Notifications

• Coordination of test participants
• Notification of Testing

Personnel Safety

• Occupant Notification of Emergencies
• Safety Protocols
  • Dealing with Unexpected Results – Back Out Protocols
• Emergency procedures

Phased Occupancies

• Systems required to be functional for occupancy to be subjected to testing prior to occupancy

Pre-Testing Documentation

• Design Professional / Installing Contractor acceptance
• Acceptable Verifications

Testing Forms

• Record all tests and observed conditions
• Track Deficiencies for Review by Design Professionals
• Re-testing of Deficiencies

Reference Standard Status

• Proposed Code Changes submitted to NRC to reference ULC-S1001 in the 2015 National Building and Fire Codes
• Proposed Code Changes have been reviewed by the Reference Standards Working Group
• Recommendations made to the Standing Committees
  • • Use and Egress
    • Fire Protection
    • Housing and Small Buildings
• Proposed changes accepted by all three standing committees
• Changes circulated for public comment

2015 NBC Tentative Changes

• Remove 2010 NBC Article 3.2.4.6
• New Subsection 3.2.9, Sentence 3.2.9.1.(1)
  • Testing of integrations between fire protection and life safety systems, and systems with fire protection and life safety functions as a whole
  • ULC-S1001 Reference Standard for Integrated Testing
• Appendix Note A-3.2.9.1.(1)
  • Owners must ensure fire protection and life safety systems are functioning in accordance with their design, including interconnections with other building systems
  • CAN/ULC-S1001 provides the methodology for verifying and documenting that interconnections between building systems satisfy the intent of their design

2015 NFC Tentative Changes

• Construction requirements in Article 2.1.3.8
  • References the NBC for installation of system integrations
• New Section 6.8 on Testing of System Integrations
  • Integrations between fire protection and life safety systems to be tested and maintained in confirmation with ULC-S1001

Fire Commissioning Process

• • All aspects of the construction process
    • Pre-design, design, installation, acceptance, closeout, etc.
  • New Construction, Retro, and Modifications
  • Reviewing existing Commissioning Processes
    • CSA Z320, NFPA, NIBS, ISO, Public Works, etc.
  • Defining Fire Commissioning Team
  • Fire Commissioning Phases
  • Fire Commissioning Expectations
  • Aligned with ULC-S1000 Series Standards

Acceptance Testing

• • Recommended practices for design professionals to ensure systems properly installed and functioning
  • Reviewing all aspects of the construction process
  • Aligned with ULC-S1000 Series Standards
  • Acceptance Testing requirements in development for both active and passive systems
  • Extent of Testing requirements being developed based on system components, percentage of component to be tested, and permitted failure rates