ES&H Manual

Fire Protection Supplement

Chapter 5:
Fire Protection System Impairment Procedure

1.0 Purpose

To provide a method of mitigating the exposure to a potentially catastrophic fire

loss when a fire protection system, or portion of a system, is impaired and out of
service. This impairment procedure ensures that proper notification is given,
hazards are controlled, and repairs are expedited.

2.0 Scope

Impairment procedures are implemented each time a fire detection system or a fire
suppression system is partially or fully out of service. Impairment procedures at
Jefferson Lab are accomplished using one of two methods as described below:

 Preplanned Impairment Program – fire protection system impairments

that occur during normal business hours to accomplish inspection, testing,
and maintenance activities and minor alterations to alarm or suppression
systems.

 Emergency Impairments and Extended Preplanned Impairments - fire

protection system impairments that become necessary through equipment
malfunction or breakage or planned major alterations to alarm or
suppression systems that will extend past normal business hours.
3.0 Responsibilities

3.1 Fire Protection Engineer (FPE)

 Act as the Impairment Coordinator for all fire protection

impairments.

3.2 Fire Watch

 A fire watch consists of trained personnel who continuously patrol

the affected area. Ready access to fire extinguishers and the ability
to promptly notify the fire department are important items to
consider. During the patrol of the area, the fire watch is only looking
for fire, but making sure that the other fire protection features of the
building such as egress routes and alarm systems are available and
functioning properly.

4.0 Process Steps

4.1 General Impairment Requirements

Fire protection impairments require planning and extensive notification

efforts prior to the impairment activity. The occupants of the affected
structure and those responsible for emergency response must be prepared to
accommodate an impairment.

4.1.1 The Impairment Coordinator ensures the notification efforts are

accomplished and leads the planning effort to minimize the time a
fire protection system is unavailable to perform the designed
function.

Planning an impairment must include the following considerations:

 necessary tools,
  necessary replacement parts,

 manufacturer’s instruction manual,

 technician to accomplish the required work,

 proper level of training for the technician to access the space,

 coordination of support trades as needed,

 temporary fire protection or termination of hazardous

operations as needed, and

 back-up plan in the event of an unsuccessful repair attempt.

4.2 Preplanned Impairment Program

4.2.1 Fire Protection System Testing and Maintenance on the

Accelerator Site

Impairments of the fire alarm or fire suppression systems of the

beam enclosure or experimental halls are not to be scheduled during
beam delivery.

 Work in the following areas must be reviewed and approved

by the local work coordinator:

o FEL – Jim Coleman (897-0008)

o Hall A – Ed Folts (584-7857)

o Hall B – Doug Tilles (584-7566)

o Hall C – Andy Kenyon (757-544-4752)

 o Hall D - Tom Carstens (757-876-3940)

o Accelerator Tunnel – Steve Suhring (584-7670)

 At the direction of the work control coordinator an Atlis or

similar work control document is prepared detailing the
planned testing or maintenance activity. A fire suppression
system impairment requires an area specific work control
document.

o Fire alarm testing activity is scheduled to avoid

interference with other planned activity in the area
and may not require an area specific work control
document (Atlis or equal).

 Complete the information required on the Pre-Planned

Impairment Form. This form is completed each day that
testing and maintenance activities are performed. The form is
specific to the immediate areas involved in the test. A
separate form is written for each affected Fire Alarm Control
Panel (FACP) area or building.

 On the back of the Pre-Planned Impairment Form, use a

HI-Lite type marker to circle the area, building numbers, and
names that are included in the testing area.

 After completing all of the information, make four photo

copies of the above form.

 Insert one copy in each of four magnetic document holders

provided by the Subcontracting Officer’s Technical
Representative (SOTR). Deliver one document holder to
each of the following locations:

o Facilities Management Department administrative

office in SSC Room 53;
 o Security Post 2, Accelerator Gate, Building 51;

o Accelerator Operations Crew Chief in the MCC,

Building 85; and

o Front cover of the FACP involved in the testing or

maintenance activities.

4.2.2 Fire Protection System Testing & Maintenance in the Campus

Buildings

 Work in the Technical & Engineering Development (TED) or

the Test Lab is reviewed and approved by the Facilities
Manager.

o Tom Renzo – Renzo@jlab.org

 Complete the information required on the Pre-Planned

Impairment Form. This form is completed each day that
testing and maintenance activities are performed. The form is
specific to the immediate areas involved in the test. A
separate form is written for each affected Fire Alarm Control
Panel (FACP) area or building.

 On the back of the Pre-Planned Impairment Form, use a

HI-Lite type marker to circle the area, building numbers, and
names that are included in the testing area.

 After completing all the information make three photo copies

of the above form.

 Insert one copy in each of three magnetic document holders

provided by the SOTR. Deliver one document holder to each
of the following locations:
 o Facilities Management Department administrative
office in SSC Room 53;

o Security Post 2, Accelerator Gate, Building 51; and

o Front cover of the FACP involved in the testing or

maintenance activities.

4.3 Emergency Impairments and Extended Preplanned Impairments

4.3.1 An emergency impairment may occur as a result of a failed

component of a FACP that warrants immediate repair; or a damaged
sprinkler pipe. Every emergency impairment is immediately
evaluated and the temporary mitigation measures immediately
implemented. An evaluation is made by the Fire Protection Engineer
and the affected Division Safety Officer will result in the most
expeditious dissemination of information and response to implement
temporary measures.

4.3.2 A Temporary Operational Safety Procedure (TOSP) is used to

establish the need for temporary fire protection, termination of
hazardous operations, and frequency of inspections in the areas
involved. All work possible is done in advance to minimize the
length of the impairment.

 Emergency and extended impairments will usually involve

fire watch patrols. The contract security force is the first
choice for fire watch personnel. The Impairment Coordinator
makes arrangements to augment the on-duty security staff to
accomplish the scope of the fire watch that is determined
necessary for a particular impairment.

4.4 Restoring Systems to Service

At the conclusion of impairment, the Impairment Coordinator ensures the

following actions have been accomplished:
  Necessary inspections and tests have been conducted to verify that
affected systems are operational.

 After completion and restoration of automatic sprinkler protection, a

2-inch drain test is performed on the downstream side of each valve
that was closed. This test is very important as the final check to
ensure that all control valves have been left in the wide-open
position.

 The Building Manager and or Work Coordinator are advised that

protection is restored.

 The impairment notices and tag are removed.

5.0 References

 NFPA 25 Water-Based Fire Protection System Handbook

 FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets 2-81 FIRE PROTECTION

SYSTEM INSPECTION, TESTING AND MAINTENANCE AND OTHER
FIRE LOSS PREVENTION INSPECTIONS

6.0 Revision Summary

Revision 0.2 - 10/18/13 - Changed FEL contact in 4.2.1 from D. Walker to J.

Coleman.

Revision 0.1 - 09/17/13 - Periodic Review – Updated contacts.