NFPA 4, Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing

NFPA^® 4 Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing, 2021 Edition

Chapter 1 Administration

1.1 Scope.
1.2 Purpose.
1.3 Application.
1.4 Retroactivity.
1.5 Equivalency.
1.6 Units and Formulas.

Chapter 2 Referenced Publications

2.1 General.
2.2 NFPA Publications.
2.3 Other Publications.
2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections.

Chapter 3 Definitions

3.1 General.
3.2 NFPA Official Definitions.
3.3 General Definitions.

Chapter 4 General Requirements

4.1 Fundamental Principles.
4.2 Integrated System Testing Team.
4.3 Qualifications.
4.4 Responsibilities.
4.5 Test Plan.

Chapter 5 Test Methods

5.1 General.
5.2 Test Method.

Chapter 6 Test Frequencies

6.1 General.
6.2 Initial Integrated Systems Test.
6.3 Periodic Integrated Systems Testing.
6.4 Existing System Modifications.

Chapter 7 Documentation

7.1 Application.
7.2 Minimum Required Test Documentation.
7.3 Completion Documents.
7.4 Record Retention and Record Maintenance.
7.5 Forms.

Annex A Explanatory Material
Annex B Integrated Test Plans and Forms
Annex C Informational References

THE NFPA HANDBOOKS DIFFER FROM CODES AND STANDARDS

Ever wonder what the difference is between an NFPA^® handbook and a code or standard? We’re glad you asked.

NFPA codes and standards both provide requirements for achieving outcomes. Handbooks take a deeper dive, providing the full text of a code or standard as well as expert commentary and features such as graphics, decision trees, testing procedures, case studies, sample forms and checklists, and other helpful aids to give a better understanding of the reasoning behind the requirements and how to apply them.

JUST REMEMBER:

• A code or standard is a framework—a set of rules to follow with a goal to achieve a certain result
• A handbook is a connector—linking requirements to application by helping you understand the reasoning behind a code or standard

The simplest way to think about it is that codes and standards list the technical requirements while handbooks explain those requirements to clarify how to apply them.

NFPA 4, Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing outlines specific test scenarios to confirm the operation, interaction, and coordination of multiple individual systems perform their intended function.

Invaluable to facility managers, the insurance industry and the Integrated Testing Agent (ITa) as well as other stakeholders in the testing process, NFPA 4, Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing provides the minimum requirements for integrated testing and documentation prior to building occupancy and during a building's lifecycle.

Help ensure that integrated fire protection and life safety systems operate as intended with NFPA 4's testing scenario requirements for both new and existing systems.

Built around requirements formerly located in NFPA 3's Chapter 7, Integrated System Testing, NFPA 4 includes the protocol for testing procedures, responsibilities of team members, methods, and documentation for verifying the operational readiness and sequence of integrated systems. While the Standard does not mandate integrated testing, it provides minimum requirements for integrated testing where such testing is required by another code, standard, or design document or by an AHJ. The Standard does not address testing protocol, procedures, or frequencies for individual systems.

NFPA 4 has comprehensive chapters on:

• Administration, referenced publications, and definitions
• General requirements including fundamental principles, integrated system testing team responsibilities and qualifications, and the test plan
• Test methods, issues logs, and corrective action reports
• Test frequencies including separate provisions for Initial Integrated Systems Test, Periodic Integrated Systems Testing, and Existing System Modifications
• Annexes A and B with explanatory material and a Sample Integrated Test Plan

Do you think you're already performing integrated system testing?

View our short, interactive tutorial to find out.

NFPA 4 backs up NFPA 3 with comprehensive and detailed provisions for fieldwork.

It covers all the procedures, methods, responsibilities, and documentation required to ensure integrated testing is done correctly, in any building regardless of age and designated use. (Print, 52 pp., 2018)

2015 Edition

NFPA 4: Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing works with NFPA 3 for systematic testing and documentation of the communication between systems.

New NFPA 4: Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing provides the minimum requirements for integrated testing and documentation prior to building occupancy and during a building's lifecycle. Developed to work hand-in-hand with NFPA 3: Recommended Practice for Commissioning of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems, this new Standard is invaluable to the Integrated Testing Agent (ITa) as well as other stakeholders in the testing process.

NFPA 4 provides testing requirements for both new and existing systems to ensure that integrated fire protection and life safety systems operate as intended.

Built around requirements formerly located in NFPA 3's Chapter 7, Integrated System Testing, this first-time NFPA® Standard includes the protocol for testing procedures, responsibilities of team members, methods, and documentation for verifying the operational readiness and sequence of integrated systems. While the Standard does not mandate integrated testing, it provides minimum requirements for integrated testing where such testing is required by another code, standard, or design document or by an AHJ. The Standard does not address testing protocol, procedures, or frequencies for individual systems.

NFPA 4 has comprehensive chapters on:

• Administration, referenced publications, and definitions
• General requirements including fundamental principles, integrated system testing team responsibilities and qualifications, and the test plan
• Test methods, issues logs, and corrective action reports
• Test frequencies including separate provisions for Initial Integrated Systems Test, Periodic Integrated Systems Testing, and Existing System Modifications
• Annexes A and B with explanatory material and a Sample Integrated Test Plan

NFPA 4 backs up NFPA 3 with comprehensive and detailed provisions for fieldwork.

It covers all the procedures, methods, responsibilities, and documentation required to ensure integrated testing is done correctly, in any building regardless of age and designated use. (Softbound, 45 pp., 2015)

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