The Fire Sprinkler Certification Process What prevents certification? Matt McLellan Aon Sprinkler Certification October 2014

Aon Risk Solutions | Global Risk Consulting Proprietary & Confidential 1 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?  Look at varying requirements for different project types.  Different project stages.  Information from various parties.  In order to avoid this………………

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

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 1a)  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the current biennial / annual survey (overall condition of system)  Fire Report requirements for extensions adopting superseded standards  Is certification required for the existing installation as well?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Design Stage – potential problems  Designing to a superseded standard (logical in some cases, but not in others – ie, EPS building to 1987 Standard)  Confirming NZBC modified or not – not always obvious  Out of date water supply information, many councils are adopting / investigating pressure reduction to reduce leakage and maintenance costs  Pump information – need both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 NZS4541:2013 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  Test return arrangements to date are not letting the pump run under full load on the weekly test (often only a fast idle)  NZS4541:2013 clause 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  Recent projects have had trouble achieving compliance due to the site reticulation not being coordinated with fire sprinkler requirements  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  From time to time it is requested that an old system be certified or recertified  This is readily achievable if evidence of previous certification is available  If not it is more involved and will effectively require the information that would be supplied for a new installation  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