[Jeff Slager]

I think it comes down to what is expected to be performed by the Supervisory Staff?

If the FSP states that the SS will meet the Fire Department upon arrival, then they need to be there before the crews.

If they are required to be of assistance in evacuation, run a drill (I utilize the template from the Vulnerable Occupancy drills as a guide for most times) and see if they can arrive and complete evacuation in time.

I have a hard time setting a standard time across the board, I let the places show me if what they want to do works.

[Jeff Slager]

In Woodstock we require the drill to be performed with the staff who would normally be working the night/lowest staff level shift. This sometimes requires us to perform the drills a bit earlier in the day than our normal start of shift, but as you’ve discovered, there is a definite benefit to testing those who are actually going to be on duty at that time.

[Jeff Slager]

Armando,

We have always require that hard-wired are replaced with hard-wired, no exception. The wireless interconnected battery units are a great help to those properties that have never had hard-wired alarms and are required to provide interconnection between the alarms, but not as a replacement to an existing hard-wired system.

I try to get (non-enforceable recommendation) the owners to upgrade to a hard-wired unit with battery back-up (which is now required in all new construction) and if they’re updating anyway, make it a combination Smoke/CO alarm as that compliance date is fast approaching.

I do feel that the level is reduced, as I have seen far more batteries pulled out of alarms than hard-wired units being disabled. There’s nothing in them that the occupant can use for anything else, i.e. toys/remotes/etc.

[Author]

Posts