The Fire Sprinkler Certification Process What prevents certification

The Fire Sprinkler Certification Process What prevents certification? Matt Mc. Lellan Aon Sprinkler Certification October 2014

What prevents certification? § This presentation is intended to help explain some of the requirements around information required to certify and close out projects and hopefully make the process smoother for all involved? Ø Look at varying requirements for different project types. Ø Different project stages. Ø Information from various parties. Ø In order to avoid this……………… Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential 1

Project Type § Three broad project categories: Ø New installations. Ø Extensions to existing installations. Ø Alterations (including water supply changes). Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential 2

New Installation Documentation (pre construction) § Design parameter application (Form 1) – the other comments section provides scope to clarify anything unusual in the design § Storage protection supplement (Form 1 a) § Storage declaration (critical component for warehousing etc) § Clear block plan and cross section § Fire Report (consent version) § Water supply information (current flow test) § Pump details and tank (if applicable) Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Extensions (some unique requirements) § Copy of the current biennial / annual survey (overall condition of system) § Fire Report requirements for extensions adopting superseded standards § Is certification required for the existing installation as well? (can get involved if existing system has never been certified) Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Alterations (unique requirements) § Same need for survey and fire report etc § Water supply upgrades need all documentation pertaining to proposed supply and any addition of pumps / tanks § Internal alterations need an application if over certain limits (refer SNZ FI 100 if in doubt) § Alterations can get confusing – as shown! Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Design Stage – potential problems § Designing to a superseded standard (logical in some cases, but not in others – ie, EPS building to 1987 Standard) § Confirming NZBC modified or not – not always obvious § Out of date water supply information, many councils are adopting / investigating pressure reduction to reduce leakage and maintenance costs § Pump information – need both the pump curve and engine power curve § Water supply tanks – need drawings to confirm volume and producer statements for the tank and foundation design Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Design Stage – potential problems § Making sure the client understands what they are going to store – idle pallets don’t mean no storage in the context of a sprinkler system. Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Design Stage – potential problems § Omission of sprinklers in various areas (ie, server rooms / transformer rooms) § Water supply connections ‘by others’, can cause problems with metering, valving etc. § Freeze protection – refer Appendix L for ‘guidance’…………… § Preferable to close out design review queries early! § Provisions to be able to successfully flow test (high flows will easily cause damage) Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Design Stage § Landscaping in front of the FSI is not the best idea Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Construction Stage § Installer typically / historically will engage the inspection provider § Inspection needs to be timely, difficult for all concerned if linings are complete by the time of inspection § First fix needs to be able to review ceiling space pipe work, sprinkler coverage, fire separations, flexible dropper assembly installation etc § Tenancy fit outs can introduce more onerous protection requirements § Significant design changes should be communicated to SSC § Seismic design - inspection company will review Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Construction Stage § External fire loads can often be a surprise (NZBC does not delete ‘other exposures’ covered in NZS 4541: 2013 clause 206 – but standard now has guidance) Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Completion Documentation (from installer) § Form 1 (Signed completion statement / producer statement) § Asbuilt drawings and block plan (including asbuilt flow testing) § Hydraulic calculations (including a clear node diagram) § Flexible dropper allowances need to be quantified against data sheet § Pressure test certificates for dry systems, FSI’s and underground pipe work etc § Flushing evidence for underground pipe work Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Completion Documentation (from installer) § Inspection company sign off (IANZ endorsed sign off report – need more than the traditional ‘letter to connect’) § Producer statements for tank and foundation construction § Confirmation of NZFS connection Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Completion Documentation (Inspection Company) § Sign off reporting (IANZ endorsed) § Full flow testing information (complete information if pumps are included) § Testing of tank infill rates to provide adequate evidence of an acceptable water supply duration § Inspection company may have comments in regards to any items raised at design review Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Other Issues § Diesel engine speed control on pump boosted towns main supplies Ø Test return arrangements to date are not letting the pump run under full load on the weekly test (often only a fast idle) Ø NZS 4541: 2013 clause 607. 3. 4. 2 gives guidance on arrangements to achieve weekly testing at full engine speed / load, new clause that has not been readily adopted yet § Site water supplies Ø Recent projects have had trouble achieving compliance due to the site reticulation not being coordinated with fire sprinkler requirements Ø Valving and hydrant arrangements have been the typical problems Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Other Issues § All parties need to be clear in regard to scope of certification (ie – base build only etc) § Certification of old systems Ø From time to time it is requested that an old system be certified or recertified Ø This is readily achievable if evidence of previous certification is available Ø If not it is more involved and will effectively require the information that would be supplied for a new installation Ø This has been an issue recently, with some councils requiring site wide certification at the time of relatively minor alterations / extensions Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential

Questions / Comments § The preceding content has been intended to assist in the process of achieving compliance / certification for sprinkler projects, we trust it has been of some assistance. Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential