SECTION 6.6  WATER SUPPLIES FOR FIRE PROTECTION

Subsection 6.6.1.  General

6.6.1.1.  Private and public water supplies for fire protection installations shall be maintained to provide the required flow under fire conditions.

Valve inspections

6.6.1.2.  (1)  Except as permitted in Sentences (2) and (3), valves controlling water supplies used exclusively for fire protection systems or combined domestic water supplies and fire protection systems shall be sealed in the open position and inspected weekly.

(2)  Valves which are locked open or valves which are electrically supervised shall be inspected monthly.

(3)  After any alterations or repairs, an inspection shall be made to ensure valves are returned to the fully open position and are sealed, locked or electrically supervised.

Ice accumulations

6.6.1.3.  Water supply systems used for fire protection shall be kept free of ice accumulations that may interfere with flow.

Antifreeze pumping systems

6.6.1.4.  Where antifreeze solutions are used to maintain pumping systems operable under freezing conditions, the specific gravity shall be such that the solution will remain unfrozen at a temperature of 8°C below the expected minimum temperature of the surrounding atmosphere.

Inspection, testing and maintenance

6.6.1.5.  (1)  Compliance with the inspection, testing and maintenance provisions of NFPA 25, “Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems”, for tanks is deemed to satisfy the requirements of Subsection 6.6.2.

(2)  Compliance with the inspection, testing and maintenance provisions of NFPA 25, “Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems”, for fire pumps is deemed to satisfy the requirements of Subsection 6.6.3.

(3)  Compliance with the inspection, testing and maintenance provisions of NFPA 25, “Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems”, for hydrants is deemed to satisfy the requirements of Subsection 6.6.5.

Subsection 6.6.2.  Tanks

Tank inspections

6.6.2.1.  An annual inspection shall be made of tanks for fire protection, tank supporting structures and water supply systems, including piping, control valves, check valves, heating systems, mercury gauges and expansion joints, to ensure that they are in operating condition.

Tank heating equipment

6.6.2.2.  Tank heating equipment and accessories shall be checked daily during freezing weather to ensure that they are in operating condition and that heater valves are open.

Water temperature checks

6.6.2.3.  A daily check of the temperature of the water contained in tanks shall be carried out during freezing weather to ensure that it does not fall below the freezing temperature.

Tank enclosure temperature checks

6.6.2.4.  A daily check of the temperature of the tank enclosure for tanks in buildings shall be carried out during freezing weather to ensure that the temperature of the tank enclosure does not fall below 0°C.

Check for corrosion

6.6.2.5.  Steel and iron work, including the inside and outside of steel tanks and hoops and grillages for wooden tanks, shall be checked for corrosion at intervals not exceeding two years and scraped and repainted as required.

Inspection for sediment

6.6.2.6.  (1)  Tanks, other than tanks supplied by a potable water supply, shall be inspected for accumulations of sediment at least every two years and cleaned as required.

(2)  Tanks supplied by a potable water supply shall be inspected every five years and scraped and repainted as required.

Inspection of cathodic protection

6.6.2.7.  Where cathodic protection equipment is installed to prevent corrosion of steel tanks, the equipment shall be inspected annually.

Water level in gravity tanks

6.6.2.8.  The water level in gravity tanks shall be inspected monthly.

Gravity tanks

6.6.2.9.  Gravity tanks shall be inspected annually to ensure that the tank roof is tight and in good repair, that hatches or doors are kept closed and properly secured and that the frost-proof casing of the tank riser makes a tight joint with the bottom of the tank.

6.6.2.10.  The space between overflow pipes and the tops of gravity tanks, the valve pits at the bottoms of the risers and the entire area around the bases of the columns of tanks shall be kept free of rubbish and waste materials.

6.6.2.11.  Gravity tank expansion joints shall be repacked and adjusted if binding or leaks develop.

Pressure tanks

6.6.2.12.  (1)  Pressure tanks shall be checked weekly during which the water level shall be observed and the air pressure shall be read.

(2)  Corrective action shall be taken immediately if the observed water level or air pressure is outside the designed operating range for the tank.

6.6.2.13.  Relief valves on the air and water supply lines of pressure tanks shall be inspected weekly.

Subsection 6.6.3.  Fire Pumps and Reservoirs

Fire pump reservoirs

6.6.3.1.  The water level in the fire pump reservoir shall be checked weekly.

Pump room temperature

6.6.3.2.  The temperature of pump rooms shall be checked daily during freezing weather.

Inspection of fire pumps

6.6.3.3.  (1)  Fire pumps shall be operated at least once per week at rated speed.

(2)  The fire pump discharge pressure, suction pressure, lubricating oil level, operative condition of relief valves, priming water level and general operating conditions shall be inspected during the weekly operation of fire pumps.

Internal combustion engine inspection

6.6.3.4.  (1)  Internal combustion engine fire pumps shall be operated once a week for a sufficient time to bring the engine up to normal operating temperature.

(2)  The storage batteries, lubrication systems, oil and fuel supplies shall be inspected once a week.

Fire pump flow tests

6.6.3.5.  Fire pumps shall be tested annually at full rated capacity to ensure that they are capable of delivering the rated flow.

Hotels

6.6.3.6.  In buildings containing a hotel, the intervals referred to in Articles 6.6.3.3. and 6.6.3.4. are permitted to be once per month.

Subsection 6.6.4.  Hydrants

Hydrants

6.6.4.1.  Municipal and private hydrants shall be maintained in operating condition.

6.6.4.2.  Hydrants shall be maintained free of snow and ice accumulations.

6.6.4.3.  Hydrants shall be readily available and unobstructed for use at all times.

Subsection 6.6.5.  Inspection of Hydrants

6.6.5.1.  Hydrants shall be inspected annually and after each use in accordance with Articles 6.6.5.2. to 6.6.5.5.

6.6.5.2.  (1)  Except when in use or being inspected in accordance with Sentence (2), hydrants shall be equipped with port caps that are secured wrench-tight.

(2)  The port caps shall be removed and the connections inspected for wear, rust or obstructions that in any way hamper easy removal and corrective action shall be taken as needed.

(3)  If the caps are missing, the hydrant shall be examined for obstructions or accumulated refuse and flushed in accordance with Article 6.6.5.7. and the port caps shall be re-installed.

6.6.5.3.  The hydrant barrel shall be inspected to ensure that no water has accumulated within the barrel when the main valve is in the closed position.

6.6.5.4.  Where the hydrant barrel is found to contain water under Article 6.6.5.3., the drain valve shall be inspected for operation.

6.6.5.5.  If the hydrant barrel is found to contain water because of poor drainage that is impractical to correct, approved measures shall be taken to prevent freezing during winter conditions.

Hydrant water flow

6.6.5.6.  Hydrant water flow shall be inspected annually in accordance with Article 6.6.5.7.

6.6.5.7.  The main valve of the hydrant shall be fully opened and the hydrant operated with one port open and the water flow checked.

6.6.5.8.  A record of the hydrant operation as described in Article 6.6.5.7. shall be kept in conformance with Subsection 1.1.2.

Subsection 6.6.6.  Uniform Marking of Hydrants

Hydrant marking

6.6.6.1.  Hydrants shall be colour-coded in accordance with NFPA 291, “Recommended Practice for Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants”.