Fire Alarm Inspections

Fire alarm Installation includes pulling wire, installing conduit, installation and placement of related boxes for horn strobes, pull stations, detectors as well as installing and/or programing the FACP. 

Approved Plans should be on site at time of inspection 

Rough Fire Alarm Inspections

1. Verify alarm system installed per the approved plans

2. Verify the following:

  • Proper wire being used
  • Proper wire gauge
  • Verify support of all conduit and  boxes, including protective bushings in conduit
  • Support of all wiring is per NFPA 72 and NEC
  • Verify location of all fire alarm system devices
  • Verify location of fire alarm control panel
  • Verify location of remote annunciator panel(s)
  • Verify proper separation of wiring (A minimum of four (4) feet separation on horizontal runs and one (1) foot on vertical runs shall be provided)

3. Verify alarm system wiring has not been painted or damaged during installation

4. Duct Detectors (Where Required)

  • Verify duct detector location (Return air systems with a design capacity of greater than 2,000 CFM)
  • Verify access to duct detectors for service and maintenance

5. Verify  hood suppression system wiring has been installed from kitchen exhaust hood to system to FACP (Where Required)

Final Fire Alarm Inspections

1. Obtain NFPA 72 Record of Completion from the fire alarm contractor. Final fire inspection cannot be performed without this document.

2. Verify the proper location and type of all alarm devices, including duct detectors

3. Observe fire alarm system functional test of all alarm devices, including duct detectors

4. Observe activation of the fire alarm notification devices, including electric bell on fire sprinkler system water flow (via inspector’s test valve). Alarms shall activate within 90 seconds of full flow

5. Observe action test of fire sprinkler control valves. On activation of a tamper switch, a supervisory signal (audible & visual) shall be indicated at the FACP

6. Observe activation of notification appliances upon activation of kitchen hood suppression system (Where required)

7. Verify the following during the test:

  • Decibel reading of notification shall be 15dB above ambient noise level
  • Verify proper battery size installed
  • Verify the duct detectors provide the following:
    • Unit shut down on activation of the duct detector
    • On activation of the duct detector a fire alarm signal shall be sent to the FACP
    • A ceiling remote annunciator shall be installed with a LED at ceiling level that will light up when duct detector is activated
    • All devices shall be marked with their appropriate address at the FACP
  • Observe 24 hour battery standby test. Electrical breaker that provides power to the FACP shall be shut off for 24 hours prior to the fire alarm test. At the end of the 24 hours, an audible alarm shall be allowed to sound for at least 5 minutes. Also verify that electrical breaker is indicated as the FACP, marked in red, and serves no other circuits
  • Verify that all signals are received at the FACP
  • Verify that all signals are received at the remote annunciator panels
  • Verify that all signals were received at the off site monitoring agency

8. Fire alarm zone maps shall be located at each FACP and remote annunciator if these panels are not fully addressable. Maps shall include:

  • Floor plan of the occupancy being protected
  • All detection devices locations
  • Indicate type of detection device
  • Address or zone of the detection device
  • The map shall be properly mounted to the wall and measures shall be taken to protect the map from physical damage or vandalism

Fire Alarm Inspections (printable version)