La. Admin. Code tit. 55 § V-3033

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section V-3033 - Fixed Fire Suppression and Fire Detection and Alarm Systems and Equipment

A. All new (complete or renovated) required fixed fire suppression systems including kitchen, pre-engineered and engineered systems, and fire detection and alarm systems shall be certified, hydrostatically tested, inspected, installed, integrated, maintained and serviced in compliance with the manufacturer's installation manuals, specifications, reviewed plans and the applicable codes and standards adopted in LAC 55:V:103 or noted in these rules.

B. All existing required fixed fire suppression systems including kitchen, pre-engineered and engineered systems, and fire detection and alarm systems shall be certified, hydrostatically tested, inspected, integrated, maintained and serviced in an operational condition in accordance with the manufacturer's installation manuals, specifications, and per the inspection, testing and maintenance chapters of the applicable codes and standards adopted in L.A.C.55:V.103 or noted in these rules.

C. All non-required and non-conforming fixed fire suppression systems including kitchen, pre-engineered and engineered systems, and fire detection and alarm systems shall be certified, inspected, installed, integrated, maintained and serviced in compliance with the manufacturer's installation manuals, specifications, and deviations from the applicable codes and standards adopted in LAC 55:V.103 and these rules as authorized by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

D. Non-required and/or non-conforming systems/ equipment which only comprise of smoke or heat detectors connected to a burglar alarm system need not be inspected and certified annually by a certified fire alarm system firm. The owner of these systems must ensure these systems are functional and maintained in compliance with the manufacturer's specifications and NFPA 101 as adopted in LAC 55:V:103 and these rules.

E. All systems, except as noted in Subsection D above, shall be certified, hydrostatically tested, inspected, installed, integrated, maintained and serviced by certified firms having licensed personnel working within their certification and licensing discipline. In cases where disciplines cross over, the following reasoning will prevail.

1. Automatic detection and control systems will be certified, inspected, installed, integrated, maintained and serviced by firms certified to install fire detection and alarm systems and/or equipment unless it is just the section device associated with the actuation of a kitchen, pre-engineered or engineered system, in which case the fire detection and alarm firm is not needed. However, any connection of that kitchen, pre-engineered or engineered system to any alarm initiated system, to include but not limited to annunciator panels, HVAC shutdown and any other auxiliary feature controlled by the fire alarm system, then a firm with a Fire Alarm endorsement must certify, inspect, install, integrate, maintain or service the device.

2. Water supply and distribution piping systems as provided for in NFPA 25, as adopted in LAC-55:V.103 and these rules will be certified, inspected, installed, integrated, maintained and serviced by a firm with a Fire Sprinkler endorsement as regulated by R.S. 40:1664.1 et seq. Foam systems providing foam solution to fire monitors, portable nozzles, or fire trucks are excluded from this rule.

3. Alarm devices such as flow switches, pressure switches, low air pressure switches that are an integral part of a fire protection sprinkler piping system must be installed by a firm with a Fire Sprinkler endorsement as regulated by R.S. 40:16641 et seq., and connected to the fire alarm system by a firm with a Fire Alarm endorsement.

F. All non-required or non-conforming systems require written permission and possible review from the Office of the State Fire Marshal Plan Review Section prior to installation. Non-conforming systems shall be maintained in a functioning operational state as long as the system is within the facility. Non-required systems shall be maintained in accordance with the inspection, testing, and maintenance chapters of the applicable NFPA codes, standards and manufacturer's specifications governing that particular system as long as the system is within the facility.

G. Interconnected smoke or heat detector systems as required by the NFPA 101, as adopted by the Office of the State Fire Marshal in LAC-55:V.103 and these rules, or as authorized by this office must be inspected, installed, integrated, maintained and serviced by either a certified fire detection and alarm firm or an electrical contractor as provided by R.S. 40:1664.1 et seq. These systems must be submitted to this office's Plan Review Section for review prior to installation.

H. Each heat detector (fusible link) employed within a fixed fire suppression system shall have the manufacturer date marked on the detector. The date shall reflect the current or previous calendar year when installed.

I. External Verification Collar

1. In addition to any other tag required by these rules, an external verification collar shall be provided each time a fixed fire suppression agent cylinder is opened for any purpose.

2. The external verification collar shall be on durable material. Self adhesive collars shall be permitted. Any color may be used with the exception of yellow or red.

3. External verification collars shall bear the following:

a. the certificate number of servicing firm, preprinted or printed in permanent ink;

b. name and license number of the person who performed the service, preprinted or printed in permanent ink;

c. month and year that the service was performed. This information must be punched.

J. A new external verification collar is not needed in the following circumstances:

1. when a CO₂ fixed fire suppression cylinder is recharged without opening the cylinder for inspection;

2. cartridge operated type of systems.

K. External verification collars shall be affixed in the following manner:

1. any collar previously attached shall be removed prior to affixing a new collar;

2. the collar shall be placed around the exterior of the cylinder at or below the valve assembly.

L. The collar shall contain a single circular piece of uninterrupted material forming a hole of a size that will not allow the collar assembly to move over the neck of the cylinder unless the valve is completely removed. In no case shall the diameter of the opening exceed 1/4" the diameter of the cylinder's neck, measured directly below the valve assembly.

M. The office may exempt additional cylinders from this requirement if good cause is shown that the requirement is impractical or overly burdensome.

La. Admin. Code tit. 55, § V-3033

Promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Fire Marshal, LR 17:273 (March 1991), amended LR 26:1332 (June 2000), LR 33:1673 (August 2007).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:1664.2.