Integrated Testing of Building Life Safety Systems

(The Integrated Testing Plan)

The National Building Code of Canada (formally adopted as the 2024 British Columbia Building Code on March 8, 2024) now requires all interconnected components of a building's fire protection systems (sprinklers, elevator fire service, smoke control, air handling, fire alarm, and emergency evacuation communications) be identified and tested as a fully integrated life safety system prior to the granting of an occupancy permit. This testing is performed in accordance with ULC 1001:2024 (Standard for Integrated Systems Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems). We have expertise in identifying design conformance and are fully conversant with the requirements and operational characteristics of each interconnected system. The testing methodology and parameters are customized to your project through the development of an Integrated Systems Testing Plan which fully complies with current Provincial Codes, Standards, and your local jurisdiction’s regulatory criteria. We work with your design Engineer, Code Consultant, and other industry professionals to ensure the highest level of safety for the building’s occupants and your peace of mind.

With the formal adoption of the 2020 National Fire Code in British Columbia, building owners and operators are now required to comply with a revised Section 6.8 headed “Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems”.  Sentence 6.8.1.1. is entitled “Testing and Maintenance”, and reads:

“1)  Interconnections between fire protection and life safety systems shall be tested and maintained in conformance with ULC 1001, ‘Standard for Integrated Systems Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems.’ (See Note A-6.8.1.1.(1).)”

The referenced note reads:

“Building owners must ensure that fire protection and life safety systems and their components (i.e. fire alarm systems, sprinklers, standpipes, smoke control, ventilation, pressurization, door hold-open devices, elevator recalls, smoke and fire shutters and dampers, emergency power, emergency lighting, fire pumps, generators, etc.), including their interconnections with other building systems, are functioning according to the intent of their design.  ULC 1001, ‘Standard for Integrated Systems Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems’, provides the methodology for verifying and documenting that interconnections between building systems satisfy the intent of their design and that the systems function as intended by the Code.

Clause 6.15 of ULC 1001:2024 allows the Integrated Testing Coordinator to accept documented evidence of any tests that have been performed on a system as part of its acceptance testing for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with the integrated testing requirements of that Standard, so as to avoid duplication of work.”

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