72-86 NATIONAL FIRE ALARM AND SIGNALING CODE

∆ Table 14.3.1 Visual Inspection

Initial Periodic
Component Acceptance Frequency Method Reference
1. All equipment X Annual Ensure there are no changes that affect 14.3.4
equipment performance. Inspect for
building modi cations, occupancy
changes, changes in environmental
conditions, device location, physical
obstructions, device orientation,
physical damage, and degree of
cleanliness.
2. Control equipment:
(1) Fire alarm systems monitored for alarm, Verify a system normal condition.
supervisory, and trouble signals
(a) Fuses X Annual
(b) Interfaced equipment X Annual
(c) Lamps and LEDs X Annual
(d) Primary (main) power supply X Annual
(e) Trouble signals X Semiannual
(2) Fire alarm systems unmonitored for alarm, Verify a system normal condition.
supervisory, and trouble signals
(a) Fuses X Weekly
(b) Interfaced equipment X Weekly
(c) Lamps and LEDs X Weekly
(d) Primary (main) power supply X Weekly
(e) Trouble signals X Weekly
3. Reserved
4. Supervising station alarm systems — transmitters Verify location, physical condition, and
a system normal condition.
(1) Digital alarm communicator transmitter (DACT) X Annual
(2) Digital alarm radio transmitter (DART) X Annual
(3) McCulloh X Annual
(4) Radio alarm transmitter (RAT) X Annual
(5) All other types of communicators X Annual
5. In-building re emergency voice/alarm X Semiannual Verify location and condition.
communications equipment
6. Reserved
7. Reserved
8. Reserved
9.* Batteries 10.6.10
(1) Valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries
(a) General X N/A Ensure month and year of manufacture
is marked in the month/year format
on each battery cell/unit. Verify
tightness of battery connections.
Inspect terminals for corrosion,
excessive container/cover distortion,
cracks in cell/unit or leakage of
electrolyte. Replace any battery cell/
unit if corrosion, distortion, or
leakage is observed.
(b) Marking N/A Semiannual Verify marking of the month/year of
manufacture on each battery cell/
unit. Replace any cell/unit if alarm
equipment manufacturer’s
replacement date has been exceeded.
(2) Primary (dry cell) X Semiannual Verify marking of the month/year of
other than those used in low-power radio (wireless) manufacture. Replace if alarm
systems in accordance with Chapter 23 equipment/battery manufacturer’s
replacement date has been exceeded.
Replacement date not to exceed
12 months. Verify tightness of
connections. Inspect for corrosion or
leakage. Replace any battery cell/unit
if corrosion or leakage is observed.
(continues)

2019 Edition Shaded text = Revisions. ∆ = Text deletions and gure/table revisions. • = Section deletions. N = New material.
 INSPECTION, TESTING, AND MAINTENANCE 72-87

∆ Table 14.3.1 Continued

Initial Periodic
Component Acceptance Frequency Method Reference
10. Reserved
11. Remote annunciators X Semiannual Verify location and condition.
12. Noti cation appliance circuit power extenders X Annual Verify proper fuse ratings, if any. Verify 10.6
that lamps and LEDs indicate normal
operating status of the equipment.
13. Remote power supplies X Annual Verify proper fuse ratings, if any. Verify 10.6
that lamps and LEDs indicate normal
operating status of the equipment.
14. Transient suppressors X Semiannual Verify location and condition.
15. Reserved
16. Fiber-optic cable connections X Annual Verify location and condition.
17. Initiating devices Verify location and condition (all
devices).
(1) Air sampling
(a) General X Semiannual Verify that in-line lters, if any, are clean. 17.7.3.6
(b) Sampling system piping and sampling ports X N/A Verify that sampling system piping and 17.7.3.6
ttings are installed properly, appear
airtight, and are permanently xed.
Con rm that sampling pipe is
conspicuously identi ed. Verify that
sample ports or points are not
obstructed.
(2) Duct detectors
(a) General X Semiannual Verify that detector is rigidly mounted. 17.7.5.5
Con rm that no penetrations in a
return air duct exist in the vicinity of
the detector. Con rm the detector is
installed so as to sample the airstream
at the proper location in the duct.
(b) Sampling tube X Annual Verify proper orientation. Con rm the 17.7.5.5
sampling tube protrudes into the
duct in accordance with system
design.
(3) Electromechanical releasing devices X Semiannual
(4) Fire extinguishing system(s) or suppression X Semiannual
system(s) switches
(5) Manual re alarm boxes X Semiannual
(6) Heat detectors X Semiannual
(7) Radiant energy re detectors X Quarterly Verify no point requiring detection is 17.8
obstructed or outside the detector’s
eld of view.
(8) Video image smoke and re detectors X Quarterly Verify no point requiring detection is 17.7.7; 17.11.5
obstructed or outside the detector’s
eld of view.
(9) Smoke detectors (excluding one- and two-family X Semiannual
dwellings)
(10) Projected beam smoke detectors X Semiannual Verify beam path is unobstructed.
(11) Supervisory signal devices X Quarterly
(12) Water ow devices X Quarterly
18. Reserved
19. Combination systems Verify location and condition (all types).
(1) Fire extinguisher electronic monitoring devices/ X Semiannual
systems
(2) Carbon monoxide detectors/systems X Semiannual
20. Alarm control interface and emergency control X Semiannual Verify location and condition.
function interface
21. Guard’s tour equipment X Semiannual Verify location and condition.
22. Noti cation appliances Verify location and condition (all
appliances).
(1) Audible appliances X Semiannual
(continues)

Shaded text = Revisions. ∆ = Text deletions and gure/table revisions. • = Section deletions. N = New material. 2019 Edition
 72-88 NATIONAL FIRE ALARM AND SIGNALING CODE

∆ Table 14.3.1 Continued

Initial Periodic
Component Acceptance Frequency Method Reference
(2) Loudspeakers X Semiannual
(3) Visual appliances
(a) General X Semiannual 18.5.5
(b) Candela rating X N/A Verify the appliance candela rating 18.5.5
marking or the FACU controlled
candela rating agrees with the
approved drawings.
23. Exit marking audible noti cation appliances X Semiannual Verify location and condition.
24. Reserved
25. Two-way emergency communications systems X Annual Verify location and condition.
26. Reserved
27. Supervising station alarm systems — receivers
(1) Signal receipt X Daily Verify receipt of signal.
(2) Receivers X Annual Verify location and normal condition.
28. Public emergency alarm reporting system transmission Verify location and condition.
equipment
(1) Publicly accessible alarm box X Semiannual
(2) Auxiliary box X Annual
(3) Master box
(a) Manual operation X Semiannual
(b) Auxiliary operation X Annual
29. Reserved
30. Mass noti cation system
(1) Monitored for integrity Verify a system normal condition.
(a) Control equipment
(i) Fuses X Annual
(ii) Interfaces X Annual
(iii) Lamps/LED X Annual
(iv) Primary (main) power supply X Annual
(b) Secondary power batteries X Annual
(c) Initiating devices X Annual
(d) Noti cation appliances X Annual
(2) Not monitored for integrity; installed prior to Verify a system normal condition.
adoption of the 2010 edition
(a) Control equipment
(i) Fuses X Semiannual
(ii) Interfaces X Semiannual
(iii) Lamps/LED X Semiannual
(iv) Primary (main) power supply X Semiannual
(b) Secondary power batteries X Semiannual
(c) Initiating devices X Semiannual
(d) Noti cation appliances X Semiannual
(3) Antenna X Annual Verify location and condition.
(4) Transceivers X Annual Verify location and condition.
Note: N/A = not applicable, no minimum requirement established.
*
For other than VRLA or primary (dry) cell batteries, refer to the battery manufacturer’s published instructions or IEEE 450, Recommended Practice for
Maintenance, Testing, and Replacement of Vented Lead-Acid Batteries for Stationary Applications, for vented lead-acid batteries, and IEEE 1106, Recommended
Practice for Installation, Maintenance, Testing, and Replacement of Vented Nickel-Cadmium Batteries for Stationary Applications, for nickel-cadmium batteries.

2019 Edition Shaded text = Revisions. ∆ = Text deletions and gure/table revisions. • = Section deletions. N = New material.