Monitoring Sprinkler Shutoffs Can Help Minimize Fire Risk

Your fire protection system can make the difference be- tween a catastrophic fire and a minor incident — but only if it’s operational. When businesses turn off their fire
detection and suppression systems, they may not turn them back on in a timely fashion. Shutdowns of protective systems are to blame in two-thirds of sprinkler failures during structure fires. It’s clear that when fire detection and suppression equipment, water supplies, automatic sprinklers, or fire extinguish- ing systems are compromised, both people and property are at increased risk. Therefore, it is critical to minimize and manage fire protection system downtime.

Whether due to planned maintenance, damage, or malfunction, the occasional shutdown of your fire protection system is inevitable. But with the right processes in place, you can minimize the potential for the devastating impact of a fire. A proactive approach is the first line of defense; you can help prevent or minimize downtime by keeping systems maintained and expediting repairs.
Businesses that want to help minimize the risks associated with fire protection system impairment should take the follow- ing steps:
• Create an impairment plan that will go into effect when the system is out of service, whether the outage is planned or unplanned. Consider basing the plan on the minimum require- ments of NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, as well other applicable local requirements. The plan should assign responsibility for impairment management and specify the measures to be taken both when a system is down and when it is restored. It should list specific steps to take during and after the impairment and assign responsibility for carrying out those steps.
• Minimize the hazards that could increase the risk of fire, and schedule planned maintenance during off hours or weekends, when possible.
• Notify the local fire department, fire alarm company, insur- ance company, and appropriate company personnel of system outages.

• When the impairment is over, follow the appropriate system restoration steps carefully, notify the local fire department, fire

alarm company, insurance company, and appropriate company personnel of system operational status.
• Assess the effectiveness of the fire protection system impair-
ment plan periodically.
This advice, and other risk mitigation recommendations, can be found in a variety of property protection resources that Chubb’s Loss Control Services provides to its key customers.

Chubb makes available fire protection system impair- ment kits, which contain information on creating an impairment plan as well as notification forms, warning stickers, and hang cards. The kits are designed to highlight and minimize the risks as- sociated with shutdowns of fire protection and suppression equipment.
Chubb’s commitment to, and expertise in, loss control takes many forms. Perhaps one of the best known is Chubb’s Loss Control University, originally created to advance fire safety knowledge and skills for its insured facilities managers, build- ing inspectors, fire safety system installers, and sprinkler system designers.
At Chubb’s Loss Control Training Center in Warren, New Jersey, instructors provide hands-on training in fire protection and property loss prevention to customers, building inspectors and other municipal officials, facilities managers, sprinkler system installers, and contractors. The training center has been providing safety training that is vital to protecting lives and property for more than 30 years, and is one of just a few such facilities in the country.
The training center is equipped with seven different sprinkler systems, two fire pumps and controllers, many portable fire ex- tinguishers, smoke and fire detectors, and more. A glass-walled fire chamber allows participants to see how different sprinkler systems react to fire. In addition to traditional classroom in- struction and exercises, participants can operate the equipment to gain familiarity with systems found in most facilities.

Loss Control University offers Chubb insureds specialized assistance in disaster planning, fire prevention, detection and suppression, sprinkler design, and other areas of safety and security. University instructors average 25 years of safety ex- perience and are credentialed Professional Engineers, Certified

Fire Protection Specialists, Certified Safety Professionals, and Certified Business Continuity Planners. Courses combine class­ room instruction and hands-on experience with state-of-the-art safety  equipment, such  as self-aspirating sm oke  detection system s and cycling "on-off" preaction sprinkler system s.
Additionally, through Chubb's Loss  Control  University,
commercial customers can emoll in a num her of fire protection classes, including "Maintaining Water-Based  Fire Protection System s" and "Sprinkler Plan Review."

For m ore information, a course schedule, or to register your clients, visit Chubb's Loss Control University  online at www.chubb.com/lcu, or call Sam Lee at (908) 903-7172.

Old style head guard for "tough neighborhoods." Found  at the site of the old Southwestern High School, Baltimore, Maryland.