Division B
Acceptable Solutions

Part 7 — Fire Emergency Systems in High Buildings

Section 7.2. Inspection, Testing and Maintenance

7.2.1. Intervals Between Tests

7.2.1.1. Intervals between Tests

1) Except as specifically prescribed in this Part, all tests specified in this Section and Section 7.3. shall be carried out at intervals not greater than 3 months, except that longer intervals between tests are permitted in conformance with Clause 1.2.1.1.(1)(b) of Division A. (See Appendix A.)I

7.2.2. Elevators

7.2.2.1. Testing Elevators

1) Emergency service features of elevators shall be tested to ensure that they operate in conformance with appropriate provincial, territorial or municipal requirements or, in the absence of such requirements, as provided in Sentence (2).I

2) Tests to ensure operation in conformance with the British Columbia Safety Standards Act and pursuant regulations, shall be performed on I

a)in-car emergency service switches,

b)manual key-operated recall switches located outside an elevator shaft, and

c)automatic emergency recall systems.

3) At intervals not greater than 12 months, the building emergency power systems shall be operated and all elevators supplied with emergency power shall be tested as provided in Sentence (1) with no other source of electrical power.I

7.2.3. Venting to Aid Firefighting

7.2.3.1. Closures

1) The closures in vent openings into smoke shafts from each floor area shall be tested in conformance with Article 7.2.1.1. to ensure that they will open as required in Chapter 3, Sentence (5) of Commentary C of the User's Guide – NBC 1995 (Part 3).I

2) A closure in an opening to the outdoors at the top of a smoke shaft shall be tested to ensure that it will openI

a)manually from outside the building,

b)on a signal from the smoke detector in the smoke shaft, and

c)when a closure in an opening between a floor area and the smoke shaft opens.

7.2.3.2. Elevator Recall

1) In addition to the procedures described in Article 7.2.3.1., all elevators in an elevator shaft that is designed for use as a smoke shaft shall be tested to ensure that on activation of the fire alarm system they will return to the street floor level and remain inoperative.I

7.2.3.3. Air-Handling System Controls

1) Controls for air-handling systems used for venting in the event of a fire shall be tested to ensure that air is exhausted from each floor area to the outdoors as required in Chapter 3, Sentence (8) of Commentary C of the User's Guide – BCBC 1995 (Part 3).I

7.2.4. Central Alarm and Control Facility

7.2.4.1. Fan Controls

1) Air moving fans in a system serving more than 2 storeys shall be tested to ensure that they will stop on activation of a switch at the central alarm and control facility.I

7.2.4.2. Hold-Open Devices

1) Doors to vestibules that are normally held open by a hold-open device connected to the building fire alarm system shall be tested to ensure that they will close on a signal from the central alarm and control facility.I