Fire warning and safety systems

Fire Warning and Safety Systems was written to do more than just help hospitals prepare for surveys by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Its primary purpose is to assist hospitals in developing a fire safety program that includes and incorporates the role and function of fire protection systems. The manual is also designed to enhance the reader's understanding of fire protection systems and to improve the reliability of such systems with a proper preventive maintenance program. Fire safety programs in hospitals are often developed on the basis of compliance with applicable code requirements and JCAHO standards. However, the codes contain what are generally considered to be minimum requirements. Often the requirements do not truly define performance objectives and, therefore, most hospitals do not truly know the level of fire protection or level of risk present in the facility. For this reason, one of the primary aspects of a hospital fire safety program should be the development of performance objectives that define the acceptable level of risk from fire. Once the level of risk has been identified, the role of building design and construction, fire protection systems, contents and furnishing, and facility staff can be evaluated and defined. This book primarily addresses the role of fire protection systems, although chapter 5 does contain a discussion of staff behavior, but primarily from the perspective of staff's role in fire extinguishment. Volume 2 of ASHE's Management and Compliance Series, Developing a Hospital Emergency Preparedness Program, further expands on staff's role and emergency preparedness. Various fire protection systems will be discussed throughout the manual. For each system, an overview of how the system functions is provided. The text also summarizes applicable code provisions that identify when such systems are required and how such systems are to be installed, inspected, tested, and maintained. After a brief description of the basic components of the systems, preventive maintenance guidelines are provided, including proper acceptance test procedures. Our experience indicates that many problems encountered by hospitals with fire protection systems have existed since the day the system was installed. Appendix A contains material that should assist facilities in developing a fire risk management program based on a fire risk assessment. Appendix B contains information about the suitability of various extinguishing agents to suppress a fire involving certain hazards.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)