NFPA 3H

Abstract

This recommended practice provides the recommended procedures, methods, and documentation for commissioning and integrated testing of active and passive fire protection and life safety systems and their interconnections with other building systems. <br>Special emphasis should be placed on the phrase "recommended procedures, methods, and documentation." The recommendations in this document provide a framework for commissioning and integrated testing. Although the actual commissioning of systems might not be the same for two different buildings, it should follow the same process. Similarly, the actual integrated testing of two systems in one building might not be the same as integrated testing in a second building for a variety of reasons. However, the process that is followed, as noted in NFPA 3, should remain the same. <br><strong>Purpose</strong> <br>The purpose of this recommended practice is to describe the commissioning process and integrated testing that will ensure fire protection and life safety systems perform in conformity with the design intent. <br>A.1.2 System commissioning and integrated testing is critical to ascertain that systems are installed and function in accordance with the BOD and OPR and that testing is documented. It is not the intent of this recommended practice to supplant the existing requirements of other codes and standards, but this recommended practice can provide the appropriate guidance for a specific system or component where testing is not otherwise addressed. Such guidance should be developed by the fire protection and life safety commissioning team. <br>NFPA 3 has been developed as a fi rst step to address the concern of both the commissioning industry and regulatory agencies that a gap exists between the individual installation standards. An individual installation standard provides design, installation, and test requirements for a specifi c system. NFPA 3 bridges the gap between the individual standards to help ensure that fi re protection and life safety systems are designed, installed, tested, and verifi ed as a whole. <br>Commissioning is a process and not an event. This process begins at the planning phase of a project and continues through design, construction, and occupancy. NFPA 3 provides the framework for the Cx process relative to fire protection and life safety systems. The requirements for testing or verification of an individual system are found in the appropriate installation standard. The framework for testing and verification of integrated systems is found in NFPA 3. The specific procedures to be followed should be developed by the commissioning team, using the framework provided in NFPA 3.