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Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to ensure that the building fire alarm system functioned and was maintained as required by NFPA standards.

The findings include:

During the Life Safety Code survey on June 2, 2010, at 10:17 a.m., with the Director of Maintenance, a test of the fire alarm automatic dialer panel revealed when the system was placed in trouble from phone line failure the unit did not send a trouble signal to a continuously occupied location within the facility. The main fire alarm control panel and other panels in the facility revealed all systems were normal. A call to the fire alarm monitoring company on June 2, 2010, at 10:40 a.m., revealed the monitoring company did receive the phone line failure; however, the monitoring company stated their procedure was to wait ten minutes before alerting the facility of this phone line failure.

An interview on June 2, 2010, at 10:40 a.m., revealed the Director of Maintenance was not aware a phone line failure signal should be located in an area of the facility where the signal is likely to be heard. The Director of Maintenance was also not aware the monitoring station should contact the facility in a timelier manner in case of phone line failure.

Reference: NFPA 72 (1999 Edition).

1-5.4.4 Distinctive Signals.
Fire alarms, supervisory signals, and trouble signals shall be distinctively and descriptively annunciated.

1-5.4.6 Trouble Signals.
Trouble signals and their restoration to normal shall be indicated within 200 seconds at the locations identified in 1-5.4.6.1 or 1-5.4.6.2. Trouble signals required to indicate at the protected premises shall be indicated by distinctive audible signals. These audible trouble signals shall be distinctive from alarm signals. If an intermittent signal is used, it shall sound at least once every 10 seconds, with a minimum duration of 1/2 second. An audible trouble signal shall be permitted to be common to several supervised circuits. The trouble signal(s) shall be located in an area where it is likely to be heard.

3-8.1* Fire Alarm Control Units.
Fire alarm systems shall be permitted to be either integrated systems combining all detection, notification, and auxiliary functions in a single system or a combination of component subsystems. Fire alarm system components shall be permitted to share control equipment or shall be able to operate as stand alone subsystems, but, in any case, they shall be arranged to function as a single system. All component subsystems shall be capable of simultaneous, full load operation without degradation of the required, overall system performance.

5-5.3.2.1.6.2
The following requirements shall apply to all combinations in 5-5.3.2.1.6.1:
(1) Both channels shall be supervised in a manner approved for the means of transmission employed.
(3) The failure of either channel shall send a trouble signal on the other channel within 4 minutes.
(8) Failure of telephone lines (numbers) or cellular service shall be annunciated locally.

5-2.6.1.4
Upon receipt of trouble signals or other signals pertaining solely to matters of equipment maintenance of the fire alarm systems, the central station shall perform the following actions:
(1) *Communicate immediately with persons designated by the subscriber
A-5-2.6.1.4(1)
The term immediately in this context is intended to mean "without unreasonable delay." Routine handling should take a maximum of 4 minutes from receipt of a trouble signal by the central station until initiation of the investigation by telephone.

Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to ensure that the building fire alarm system functioned and was maintained as required by NFPA standards.

The findings include:

During the Life Safety Code survey on June 2, 2010, at 10:17 a.m., with the Director of Maintenance, a test of the fire alarm automatic dialer panel revealed when the system was placed in trouble from phone line failure the unit did not send a trouble signal to a continuously occupied location within the facility. The main fire alarm control panel and other panels in the facility revealed all systems were normal. A call to the fire alarm monitoring company on June 2, 2010, at 10:40 a.m., revealed the monitoring company did receive the phone line failure; however, the monitoring company stated their procedure was to wait ten minutes before alerting the facility of this phone line failure.

An interview on June 2, 2010, at 10:40 a.m., revealed the Director of Maintenance was not aware a phone line failure signal should be located in an area of the facility where the signal is likely to be heard. The Director of Maintenance was also not aware the monitoring station should contact the facility in a timelier manner in case of phone line failure.

Reference: NFPA 72 (1999 Edition).

1-5.4.4 Distinctive Signals.
Fire alarms, supervisory signals, and trouble signals shall be distinctively and descriptively annunciated.

1-5.4.6 Trouble Signals.
Trouble signals and their restoration to normal shall be indicated within 200 seconds at the locations identified in 1-5.4.6.1 or 1-5.4.6.2. Trouble signals required to indicate at the protected premises shall be indicated by distinctive audible signals. These audible trouble signals shall be distinctive from alarm signals. If an intermittent signal is used, it shall sound at least once every 10 seconds, with a minimum duration of 1/2 second. An audible trouble signal shall be permitted to be common to several supervised circuits. The trouble signal(s) shall be located in an area where it is likely to be heard.

3-8.1* Fire Alarm Control Units.
Fire alarm systems shall be permitted to be either integrated systems combining all detection, notification, and auxiliary functions in a single system or a combination of component subsystems. Fire alarm system components shall be permitted to share control equipment or shall be able to operate as stand alone subsystems, but, in any case, they shall be arranged to function as a single system. All component subsystems shall be capable of simultaneous, full load operation without degradation of the required, overall system performance.

5-5.3.2.1.6.2
The following requirements shall apply to all combinations in 5-5.3.2.1.6.1:
(1) Both channels shall be supervised in a manner approved for the means of transmission employed.
(3) The failure of either channel shall send a trouble signal on the other channel within 4 minutes.
(8) Failure of telephone lines (numbers) or cellular service shall be annunciated locally.

5-2.6.1.4
Upon receipt of trouble signals or other signals pertaining solely to matters of equipment maintenance of the fire alarm systems, the central station shall perform the following actions:
(1) *Communicate immediately with persons designated by the subscriber
A-5-2.6.1.4(1)
The term immediately in this context is intended to mean "without unreasonable delay." Routine handling should take a maximum of 4 minutes from receipt of a trouble signal by the central station until initiation of the investigation by telephone.