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MARSHALL COUNTY HOSPITAL
No Description Available
Tag No.: K0052
Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to ensure that the building fire alarm system functioned as required by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. This deficient practice affected four (4) of four (4) smoke compartments, residents, staff and visitors. The facility has the capacity for 25 beds.
The findings include:
During the Life Safety Code survey on 11/25/14 at 9:37 AM with the Director of Maintenance (DOM), a test of the fire alarm automatic dialer panel located in the Maintenance office, revealed when the panel was placed in trouble from phone line failure, the offsite monitoring station received the signal; however, the unit did not send a trouble signal to a continuously occupied location within the facility. Observation of the main fire alarm control panel showed that all systems were normal. While the dialer panel did emit an audible trouble signal, this signal was not in an area where it was likely to be heard.
Interview with the DOM, on 11/25/14 at 9:50 AM, revealed the DOM was not aware the phone line trouble signal should be in an area where it is likely to be heard.
The findings were revealed to the Administrator upon exit.
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.
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.
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.
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
LIFE SAFETY CODE STANDARD
Tag No.: K0052
Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to ensure that the building fire alarm system functioned as required by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. This deficient practice affected four (4) of four (4) smoke compartments, residents, staff and visitors. The facility has the capacity for 25 beds.
The findings include:
During the Life Safety Code survey on 11/25/14 at 9:37 AM with the Director of Maintenance (DOM), a test of the fire alarm automatic dialer panel located in the Maintenance office, revealed when the panel was placed in trouble from phone line failure, the offsite monitoring station received the signal; however, the unit did not send a trouble signal to a continuously occupied location within the facility. Observation of the main fire alarm control panel showed that all systems were normal. While the dialer panel did emit an audible trouble signal, this signal was not in an area where it was likely to be heard.
Interview with the DOM, on 11/25/14 at 9:50 AM, revealed the DOM was not aware the phone line trouble signal should be in an area where it is likely to be heard.
The findings were revealed to the Administrator upon exit.
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.
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.
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.
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