Integrated System Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems

CAN/ULC-S1001-11

Integrated System Testing is a combination of planning, reporting, documenting and witnessing final integrated testing of the respective fire protection and life safety systems within a building. 

Acceptance Testing - "The evaluation of a fire protection and life safety system to ensure that the system is  installed in accordance with its design criteria and the relevant Standards associated with it's installation."

Integrated Testing Plan - "A Written project specific document, prepared by the integrated testing coordinator, outlining the required tests and necessary functional results to conduct integrated fire protection and life safety testing. "

Integrated Testing Report  - "A written project specific document, prepared by the integrated testing coordinator, documenting the implementation of the integrated testing plan."

In accordance with ULC-S1001, the Integrated Testing Coordinator (ITC) shall be knowledgeable and experienced in the following aspects;

The role of the Integrated Testing Coordinator (ITC) is a multi step approach to ensuring the interconnections are installed and operating as per their design criteria. 

Planning - The ITC shall review all integrations of fire protection and life safety systems, prepared by the design professionals. The ITC will use this documentation to prepare a project specific written Integrated Testing plan (ITP), which includes function statements, integration matrix, testing procedures and testing forms. The ITP will become a live document turned over to the building owner for future use. Design documentation may include; sequence of operations, cause and effect matrix, operating instructions, interconnection details, etc.... 

Implementation - Once the A) design professionals have accepted the ITP, B) the AHJ has reviewed ITP, C) the installation certificates, verifications and necessary inspections (VI, ESA, Air Balancing, TSSA,  etc...), and D) design professionals acceptance test are satisfied and complete, the implementation process may commence. The ITC will coordinate the participants to attend and function test the respective fire protection and life safety systems. All respective parties will witness and initial each result as an integrated test. The test results will be prepared into a Integrated Test Report (ITR) and upon successful completion the ITR shall be turned over to the Building Owner and AHJ. 

Frequently Asked Questions; 

Is Commissioning the same as Integrated System Testing


When did Integrated System Testing become a requirement?


When should we engage an Integrated Testing Coordinator?


Can the fire alarm company do the Integrated Testing?


We have a fire alarm verification report, why do we need Integrated System Testing?

"NOTE: The tests reported on this Form do not include the actual operational test of ancillary devices."


If we replace our existing panel do we need Integrated System Testing?


Who should pay for Integrated Systems Testing?


Why is Integrated System Testing in the fire alarm specifications?


Can the Integrated Testing Coordinator be the Fire Alarm Verification Technician?


Do we really need Integrated Systems Testing if we are only adding one door hold-open device?


Some common names for Integrated System Testing;

Integrated Testing, Commissioning Testing of Life Safety and Fire Protection, S1001 Testing, S1001 Commissioning, Integrated System Testing, Fire Protection Commissioning, IST and more!

 

Lonergan Engineering has successfully achieved the ULC Certificate as an Integrated Testing Service Provider.

The ULC Listing Investigation process for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems was, respectfully, a thorough and challenging process. The listing investigation tested our knowledge of the project, the systems in place, and reviewed the Integrated Testing Plan (ITP) prepared by Lonergan Engineering.

Further the listing investigation evaluated our onsite implementation of the ITP to ensure Lonergan Engineering truly understood the nuances of the various systems and integrations. 

ULC Certificates may only be issued by ULC listed Integrated Testing Providers. ULC Certificates may only be issued for systems that have successfully been tested and documented in accordance with the requirements contained in CAN/ULC-S1001-11, and for which there is an active service contract between the Integrated Testing Provider and the owner or tenant. 

Integrated testing is not simply who has the biggest paper clip for the life safety and fire protection inspection reports. Rather, it is being part of the team to ensure the many life safety and fire protection systems are integrated and working in accordance with the design, codes and standards. An Integrated Testing Coordinator must be well versed in design, installation, inspections, service and maintenance of these systems.  Having a certified Integrated Testing Coordinator (ITC) will help a project be successful by the skills and knowledge the ITC brings to the table.   

Lonergan Engineering will help your project be successful and, with the cooperation of the project team, be compliant. 

Michael Lonergan P.Eng. has successfully passed the CAN ULC-S1001 Certification Exam, on February 9, 2021.  

"The ULC Exam is designed to assess an individual's knowledge of Canadian codes and the standard CAN/ULC-S1001, Integrated Systems Testing of Fire Protection and life Safety Systems. It is administrated as the final step in the qualification process for an Integrated Testing Coordinator. "

Integrated Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety - Door Hold-Open

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Lonergan Engineering, work after hours :)

Lonergan Engineering was performing as the Integrated Testing Coordinator (ITC) for a Fire Alarm System Replacement. 

The Integrated Systems in this test are for A) Fire Alarm and B) Door Hold Open. The fire alarm integration operated, however the door on this fire rated separation did not latch. 

Context: 

In this video, the test has already occurred. The system is currently in alarm (silenced for the purpose of this video) and all HVAC systems have been shut-down, allegedly. We are currently propping the door open and releasing it simply to demonstrate what we just witnessed. 

After watching what has just happend;

One could simply knee jerk and simply adjust the door closure. However, there is a larger issue here. Thanks to the incredible electrical contractor, we found an undocumented return fan, on this existing building. Upon shutting down the return fan, the doors (4) were able to latch. 

When a device manufacturer has contradicting documentation and installation instructions for their fire alarm vendors, Lonergan Engineering jumps into action. 

Lonergan Engineering is not shy to bench test a system. In fact we highly encourage getting to knowing the "ins and outs" of a system before witness testing. With the stress of a project looking for occupancy and the pressure from the team waiting for the engineers final review, it is our duty and obligation to ensure life safety systems are functioning. 

CAN/ULC-S573 - Standard for Installation of Ancillary Devices Connected to Fire Alarm Systems

This standard is full of many lessons learned and case studies that have been compiled into the ABCs of ancillary devices.  

Will an elevator automatic recall work when there is a fire? See what happens if you ignore what the industry already knows.

Lonergan Engineering was called in to an elementary school, whom two years prior, completed an upgrade to the Pictogram Exit Signs. The recent annual emergency lighting inspection report failed the emergency lighting test. Here is why;

After an investigation;