Calgary Fire Marshal Bulletin - September 3, 2024

FIRE MARSHAL BULLETIN 2024-002R2

City Water Main Repair

LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS and HOT WORKS
 

UPDATED September 3, 2024

Purpose:

This document clarifies the expectations of Calgary Fire Department (CFD) regarding the ability to perform maintenance or repairs to life safety systems and the ability to perform “hot works” during the urgent water feeder main repairs currently underway.

Communications update:

The Bearspaw South Feeder Main is now offline during the planned repair period beginning August 26th and running through towards the end of September. Level 4 outdoor water restrictions are in place during this period. An additional repair period will take place starting in October or later, in Parkdale, which will not require the feeder main to be taken offline.

Emergency repairs of life safety systems such as fire sprinklers systems, fire hydrants, or special suppression systems are required to be completed to ensure system functionality, however, routine maintenance and testing that requires larger water flows or that discharge outdoors will be required to be delayed or postponed until the water restrictions have been lifted.

Additionally, “hot works” as defined and controlled under the National Fire Code – 2023 Alberta Edition (NFC(AE)) are permitted to continue provided the normal requirements of Section 5.2 of the NFC(AE) are also met. This applies to hot works involving open flames or producing heat or sparks, including but not limited to, cutting, welding, soldering, brazing, grinding, adhesive bonding, roofing operations, thermal spraying and thawing pipes.

Some areas of the city may experience the temporary loss of water supply or reduced pressures that may impact water-based fire protection systems and may required alternative measures to ensure adequate protection for people and property. Fire Watch may be required in some locations.

NFC(AE) 6.1.1.4. Protection during Shutdown 1) When any portion of a fire protection system is temporarily shut down, alternative measures shall be taken to ensure that protection is maintained. (See Note A-6.1.1.4.(1).)2

Interruption of normal operation of a fire protection system for any purpose constitutes a “temporary shutdown.” Types of interruptions include, but are not limited to, periodic inspection or testing, maintenance, and repairs. During a shutdown, alternative measures are necessary to ensure that the level of safety intended by the Code is maintained. In the shutdown of a fire alarm system, alternative measures should be worked out in cooperation with the fire department to ensure that all persons in the building can be promptly informed, and the fire department notified, should a fire occur while the alarm system is out of service. When a sprinkler system is shut down, measures that can be taken include the provision of: emergency hose lines and portable extinguishers, extra fire watch service and, where practicable, temporary water connections to the sprinkler system.

Cross Connection Control assemblies also need to be installed, tested, repaired, maintained, and replaced in a timely manner to protect public health and safety.

All required annual maintenance and repairs are required as directed by the Fire and Building Codes as well as their referenced standards within the limitations noted above for outdoor water uses and large water flows.

While the maintenance and operation of life safety systems is critical and required under the codes, during this repair timeline, if testing or maintenance that may use large indoor volumes of water is able to be delayed or deferred without impacting the safety of Calgarians until after the feeder main repairs have been completed we would appreciate your flexibility where possible.

The City of Calgary and the Calgary Fire Department wants to thank building owners and operators, industry and life safety system service providers, Calgarians, and our neighbouring communities for their response, commitment, and understanding through this important repair.

Your efforts are truly appreciated and are critical in keeping life safety systems operating to keep Calgarians and visitors safe.

Fire Marshal
Fire Inspections & Investigations
Calgary Fire Department

For a PDF version of this Bulletin, click here.