Operation, Maintenance, and Testing
Automatic fire suppression systems, particularly the total flooding variety, must be operated properly and regularly maintained and tested to guarantee worker safety and system effectiveness.
Automatic fire suppression systems must be tested and regularly maintained.
To ensure your fire extinguishing system will perform as expected in the event of a fire, you are required to:
- Inspect each system annually, and operate and maintain them in a working condition, making sure they are always turned on, except during repairs or maintenance.
- Notify employees and establish measures to guarantee their safety if a fixed extinguishing system becomes inoperable. Fix any defects or impairments by trained personnel.
- Check the weight and pressure of refillable containers at least semiannually. If the container shows a loss in net content, weight, or pressure, it must be subjected to maintenance.
- Assure that factory charged non-refillable containers that have no means of pressure indication are weighed at least semiannually. Replace the container if it shows a loss in net weight.
- Assure that inspection and maintenance dates are recorded and kept until the container is checked again or for the life of the container, whichever is less.
- Train employees designated to inspect, maintain, operate, or repair fixed extinguishing systems. Review their training annually to keep them up-to-date.
- Train all employees with respect to the type of systems installed in the workplace, the hazards involved, proper activation in case of emergency, and the correct response to audible and visual pre-discharge alarms. Provide training for non-English speaking employees in languages understood by the affected employees and other individuals that may be exposed to the hazard.
- Provide and assure the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for rescuing employees trapped in areas that have become hazardous due to an agent discharge.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-5. How often should automatic fire suppression systems be inspected?
You forgot to answer the question!