FIVE STEPS to Certify a Fire Escape:

Schedule a pre load test evaluation by a design professional or others acceptable by City Official – AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)

Said professional will confirm with City Official if there are any other requirements other than load testing or other evidence of strength and if City Official wants to witness initial evaluation

Submit evaluation report to owner/agent and a copy to the City Official as per code

Issue certification, if passed, done by load test or other evidence of strength to City Official or, if failed, owner/agent and city official to confirm next steps (ex. engineer oversight, permits or other conditions)

Please contact your local City Official (AHJ) with any questions about the above steps

Compliance standards in Roof Anchor Points

Before using anchor points, fall protection standards require that they be inspected first to ensure safe working condition. The majority of systems require inspection and testing that are biannual to annual  by a certified inspector.

Many of the critical components of the OSHA regulation are due for compliance by November 20, 2017. Non-compliance with these matters can increase the risk of OSHA fines, citations, work injuries and subsequent liability exposure.

Annual inspections include all necessary documentation required by OSHA so that they can be stored on site to ensure that the building owner is in compliance.

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*An anchorage, as defined by OSHA, is a secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards or deceleration devices. ANSI Z359 defines anchorage as a fixed structural component such as a beam, girder, column or floor that can support the forces exerted in arresting a fall, and introduces the term “anchorage connector” to refer to the component by which the connecting device is coupled to the anchorage. It may be a beam anchor, cross-arm strap, D-bolt, hook anchor, tripod, davit or other secure device that serves as a point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards or deceleration devices.

Anchorages and anchorage connectors must be independent and capable of supporting 5,000lb per employee attached, or designed, installed and used under the supervision of a qualified person as part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two. They must also be located high enough for a worker to avoid contact with a lower level should a fall occur.

Applicable Standards:

OSHA 1926.502(d)(21) Personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected prior to each use for wear, damage and other deterioration, and defective components shall be removed from service.

OSHA 1910.66 App C (f) “Inspection.” Personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected prior to each use for mildew, wear, damage and other deterioration, and defective components shall be removed from service if their strength or function may be adversely affected.

Z359.1-2007 6.1.1 Equipment shall be inspected by the user before each use and, additionally, by a competent person other than the user at intervals at no more than one year.

Z359.1-2009 4.6.4 Inspection of Components Not Addressed by a Manufacturer’s Requirements. For components not addressed by a manufacturer’s inspection requirements, the components shall be visually inspected, as a minimum, in a manner and frequency specified by the engineer designing the active fall protection.

Z359.6-2009 E4.6.5. If the original design was performed by an engineer, an engineer or a qualified person under the supervision of an engineer can perform the recertification. If the original design was not performed by an engineer, an engineer should be involved in the recertification if this standard is to be used for that process.

Z359.6-2009 4.6.5 Recertification of Active Fall Protection Systems. Active fall protection systems shall be thoroughly reviewed by an engineer at a frequency to be determined by the original design or other similarly qualified engineer but not to exceed five years. This recertification process shall include a review of the original documents prepared for the system and their continued applicability. As a minimum, the following criteria shall also be considered and the result of the certification shall result in a report or set of documents outlined in Section 3.3.1.

Changes in the hazards and tasks that are addressed by the active fall protection system.

Changes in regulations, standards or other factors affecting the active fall protection system.

Feedback from a representative sample of the competent persons and authorized persons of the fall protection system.

 

OSHA REGULATIONS:

1910.140(c)(12)

Anchorages used to attach to personal fall protection equipment must be independent of any anchorage used to suspend employees or platforms on which employee’s work. Anchorages used to attach to personal fall protection equipment on mobile work platforms on powered industrial trucks must be attached to an overhead member of the platform, at a point located above and near the center of the platform.

1910.140(c)(13)

Anchorages, except window cleaners’ belt anchors covered by paragraph (e) of this section, must be:

1910.140(c)(13)(i)

Capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) for each employee attached; or

1910.140(c)(13)(ii)

Designed, installed, and used, under the supervision of qualified person, as part of a complete personal fall protection system that maintains a safety factor of at least two.

 

OSHA Live Training – An Introduction To Fall Protection OCTOBER 28, 2013 ~ JACK BENTON https://ehssafetynewsamerica.com/2013/10/28/osha-training-an-introduction-to-fall-protection/

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Step 1: Schedule Inspection – Compliance Audit

During annual inspections , our engineering partner performing the inspection will also review any additional compliance needs as outlined in the changed regulations.

To save building owners both time and money, it is extremely important for building ownership and/or management to research and produce all existing building drawings, supporting documentation on any current anchorage points, and any reports regarding post-installation testing data on the existing anchorage points.

Step 2: Perform Inspection

Including analysis of the property in conjunction with the revised regulations. Areas evaluated will include current anchorage points, fall-protection-system requirements, verification of testing, and required documentation.

Step 3: Discuss Analysis and Compliance Requirements

The analysis provided will outline the inspection of your property’s existing anchorage points, as well as the specific requirements that were advised to be addressed in order to be compliant with OSHA’s changed regulations

Step 4: Execute Requirements

Coordinating with third-party engineering partners and/or Valcourt Safety Systems to fulfill the requirements of the revised regulations. This may consist of testing and certifying existing anchorage, and/or designing solutions for additional anchorage if required

Step 5: Manage Documentation

Processes are in place to meet the documentation demands, regulations and standards. This includes the required proof-of-compliance from Val-court, proper letters of assurances, required work plans, testing reports, inspection reports, and certifications.

 

 

“Fire protection companies shall not send in their technicians to test a standpipe system on a fire escape before ensuring it has been properly certify by a design professional or others acceptable to the AHJ”

Standpipe systems are a series of pipe which connects a water supply to hose connections that are intended for fire department or trained occupant use. At times buildings are provided with only piping for the standpipe system. Many current designs include a combination system which supplies the sprinkler system and standpipe system. The location of hose connections varies (based on adopted fire and building codes per the local authority having jurisdiction) and can include stairways on buildings over 30 feet in height, Group A occupancies with occupant loads over 1,000 persons, covered malls, stages, underground buildings, or heliports. Back to Basics: Standpipe Systems – Article on FireHouse.com

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Wet and Dry Standpipe Systems

Wet Standpipe systems are connected to the main water supply and maintain a constant water pressure.

Dry standpipe systems have an outdoor water intake for firefighter to hook up their fire engine and feed water into the system.

Standpipe Classes

Class I Standpipe, mostly found in staircases, is a stand alone pipe with hose valve and its connections provide firefighters a hook up for their carry-on hose.

Class II Standpipe, found in hallway cabinets, comes with reeled hoses and hose valve.

Both classes are intended for trained professionals only.

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Standpipe System Inspections, Maintenance and Repairs

During the testing of a standpipe we check for:

• Air Test
• Hydrostatic Test
• Flow Test
• Gauge Test
• On-site water supply

Testing shall be in compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as well as the State Fire Marshal and the Authorities having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

The state of California requires testing to be based on Title 19 and NFPA 13, 13A, 14, 20, and 25.

It is mandatory to have your standpipe systems tested.

  

Regular testing of these systems:

Depending on the local codes include…

quarterly test – inspection

bi-annual test – inspection

annual test – inspection

5 year test – inspection

NFPA 80 requirements

Fire doors must be inspected at least yearly with an inspection report filed with the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)

Our Fire Door Inspection Report includes a detailed floor plan showing location, compliance, rating and photos of any failures with suggested repairs.

We also note other fire protection systems in place within the floor plan.

 

Fire Door inspections and maintenance are an essential part of a building’s fire protection systems.  Fire doors block the fire and the toxic smoke/fumes from pervading the whole building.

 

800-649-3333

National Head Quarters

3 – 11 Mt Vernon Street

Lynn, MA 01901

West Coast Office

660 4th Street

San Francisco, CA 94107

info@fireescapeprotectionservices.com

800-649-3333