GUIDANCE FOR MAINTAINING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS REGARDLESS OF OCCUPANCY STATUS

As government officials across the globe issue travel directives and ask non-essential employees to work remotely during the pandemic, once fully-occupied buildings are near vacant or dramatically underused. The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®), a global leader in fire, life and electrical safety, is urging officials to ensure that fire protection and life safety systems be maintained in all commercial and multi-occupancy residential buildings throughout the global pandemic. NFPA further urges that the personnel and vendors that service those systems be deemed essential.

In order to avoid exacerbating the current » Systems on construction sites that are being RELEVANT NFPA environment by compromising fire and life safety, temporarily abandoned should remain in CODES AND STANDARDS and leaving buildings vulnerable to vandalism, an operating condition as specified in the NFPA 25, Standard for the NFPA recommends the following: construction safety plan (NFPA 241). Inspection, Testing, and » All commercial and multi-occupancy residential » Doors in fire-protection rated construction Maintenance of Water-Based  Fire Protection Systems buildings should maintain fully operational fire and smoke barriers are passive systems with- NFPA 72®, National Fire and life safety systems as required by the appli- in the building fire safety program. Blocking Alarm and Signaling Code® cable codes and standards. open smoke or fire-protection rated doors (NFPA 25, NFPA 72®, NFPA 80, Standard for Fire NFPA 101®) can compromise the integrity of a building’s Doors and Other Opening Protectives » Those responsible for these buildings should compartmentation plan. Maintaining these opening protectives is critical, especially in NFPA 99, Health Care adhere to the expected schedules for inspection, Facilities Code testing, and maintenance (ITM) that are vital health care occupancies. (NFPA 80) NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code® to their operation. If they are unable to do so, » ITM requirements for health care systems, NFPA 105, Standard for they should contact their local authority having including med-gas systems, that require ITM Smoke Door Assemblies and jurisdiction. as outlined by the risk assessment per- Other Opening Protectives formed for the building and in accordance » Public and private employees who perform the NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby inspection, maintenance, and other responsibilities with the manufacturer’s recommendations should continue. (NFPA 99) Power Systems for these systems should be deemed essential NFPA 241, Standard for workers. » Emergency power systems are integral to Safeguarding Construction, building operation during emergency events Alteration, and Demolition » Most ITM requirements can be executed by a Operations single ITM service provider limiting the need (fire and power loss) and the ITM require- ments. Without emergency power systems This guidance and more for face-to-face interaction. Where two individuals information from NFPA on are required to perform an ITM task, the majority in proper working order, fire alarm systems COVID-19 can be found at a may not work as intended. (NFPA 110) dedicated page on the NFPA of these tasks can be accomplished over website. two-way radio.