Effective January 1, 2020, amendments to Division B of the Ontario Building Code (OBC) Articles 3.2.10.1 and 9.10.18.10 were introduced to provide for the Integrated Systems Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems in compliance with the CAN/ULC-S1001-11 standard. 

This standard directly affects testing of any combination of two or more fire protection and life safety systems which are designed to operate together and achieve an overall life safety objective, and to ensure the proper operation and integration of these systems.

The intent of this guide is to outline the information required to be submitted to the Building Services department at each stage of the project. 

Building permit application

The following documentation is to be provided at permit application:

1. The name of the Integrated Testing Coordinator (ITC).  This is the engineering person or engineering firm that is responsible for the development and implementation of the Integrated Testing Plan.  A copy of the City’s ITC verification form is to be provided.
2. A copy of the draft site-specific Integrated Testing Plan (ITP) prepared by the ITC outlining the required tests and necessary functional results to conduct integrated fire protection and life safety systems testing prior to occupancy of the building. The ITP shall consist of the following:
   1. A site specific plan
   2. Approved by all consultants involved with the design of the Fire systems ie: Sprinkler Engineer, Fire Alarm Engineer etc.
   3. Provide specific requirements for testing of systems where occupancy of the building will be phased.
   4. A list of all existing systems that are on the site and any testing that will be performed on those systems.
   5. Provide the functional objectives of the systems integrations
   6. The sequence of operations of the integrated fire protection and life safety systems which:
      1. Describe operation under normal operating conditions
      2. Describe operation under fire conditions
   7. Test protocol and procedures for integrated fire protection and life safety systems
   8. A procedure for notifying building occupants of the integrated systems testing; and
   9. Alternate measures such as notifications and safety protocols for ensuring occupant safety during integrated systems testing

Prior to Occupancy:

The following documentation is to be provided prior to occupancy for new buildings, and existing projects applied for after January 1, 2020 but not yet occupied:

1. Completed Integrated Testing Report prepared by the ITC stating the procedure and final results of the Integrated Testing Plan.
   1. Report shall be verified by all parties including the installing contractors and the consulting engineer(s) where applicable.
   2. Documentation shall be provided for each phase of occupancy where occupancy of the building will be phased.
   3. Notification of testing is to be provided to the Building Inspector and/or Fire Inspector for witnessing of systems.
2. Documentation to be provided as required by CAN/ULC S1001 – 5.3.1. Integrated Systems Testing Implementation Phase
3. Conformance letter prepared by the ITC indicating that the fire protection and life safety systems have been tested successfully in accordance with CAN/ULC-S1001-11 and that the area to be occupied meets the objective of Articles 3.2.10.1. or 9.10.18.10. OBC.
4. As per CAN/ULC S1001-11Rev1 Integrated Systems Testing must be performed by a separate independent entity from that which is providing the fire alarm verification services for the same building in accordance with CAN/ULC-S537

Existing Building Renovations

1. Where only one fire protection and life safety system is modified that is not interconnected with an existing fire protection or life safety system, a new integrated testing report prepared by the ITC is not required.  Any work completed on these systems will require final consultant reviews in compliance with the OBC.
2. Where there is an existing Integrated Testing Report for the property, only the affected fire protection and life safety systems need to be tested and documented in the Integrated Testing Report prepared by the ITC in compliance with CAN/ULC-S1001, Article 10.2.3.
3. Where there is not an existing Integrated Testing Report on the property, and more than one fire protection and life safety system is modified, a new Integrated Testing Plan prepared by the ITC establishing the appropriate steps to integrate the fire protection and life safety systems in compliance CAN/ULC-S1001, Article 10.2.3.

Note: Building Services may request conformance with Articles 3.2.10.1 or 9.10.18.10 depending on the scope of work identified with the permit application which could affect the project timelines.

Ontario Building Code

3.2.10 Testing of Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems

3.2.10.1 Testing

1.  Where fire protection and life safety systems, and systems with fire protection and life safety functions, are integrated with each other, the systems shall be tested as a whole in accordance with CAN/ULC- S1001, “Integrated Systems Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems”, to verify that the systems have been properly integrated.

Objective

Integrated fire protection systems and life safety systems must meet their proper standards.

Failure could result in the systems not performing in the way they were intended in a fire situation. This could lead to inadequate water supply to fire suppression systems or a fire not being controlled and spreading to the other parts of the building. In addition, properly functioning and integrated fire protection systems and life safety systems should avoid delays in the evacuation or movement of persons to a safe location.

The checklist provided in this document will serve as a guideline for the professional or Integrated Testing Coordinator to complete and submit it to the Building Inspector as part of the occupancy requirements for the building. The Certificate must be completed for all new buildings or for existing buildings where their fire protection or life safety systems have not undergone any initial integrated tests.

Below are applicable definitions from the CAN/ULC- S1001-11 standard for reference in the application of this guide;

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 its installation.

Design Criteria – Documents prescribed by a design professional for a fire protection and life safety system to meet the requirements of the owner and applicable Codes and Standards.

Fire Protection System – A system designed to detect and/or react to a fire condition and;

1. Aid in the warning, protection, or evacuation of building occupants,
2. Suppress or control the spread of fire and its by-products, or
3. Any combination thereof

Integrated Testing Coordinator – The person, firm, corporation, or organization responsible for the development and implementation of the integrated testing plan. Where a firm, corporation or organization is responsible for integrated fire protection and life safety systems testing, a representative of that firm, corporation, or organization shall be designated as the integrated testing coordinator.

Integrated Testing Plan – A written specific document, prepared by the integrated testing coordinator, outlining the required tests and necessary functional results to conduct integrated fire protection and life safety systems testing.

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

Life Safety System – A system designed to enhance or facilitate the safety of building occupants during an emergency condition.

Owner – Any person, firm, corporation or organization controlling the property under consideration.

CAN/ULC-S1001-11 Reference

Section 4.2.1. states: the integrated testing coordinator shall be knowledgeable and experienced in the design, installation, and operation of fire protection and life safety functions of building systems.

Integrated Systems Testing Process

Testing of new installations or retro-integrated systems or integrated systems testing modifications

1. The design criteria for the integration of various systems is the responsibility of the design professional(s). The design professional(s) shall document the integration performance of each system for which they hold design responsibility.
2. Integrated systems testing planning phase
   1. During this phase of a project, the design professional(s) shall provide documentation detailing each interconnection between the fire protection and life safety systems to the integrated testing coordinator. This documentation shall be sufficient for the integrated testing coordinator to prepare the integrated testing plan.
3. Integrated Testing Coordinator to develop integrated testing plan
4. Integrated Systems Testing implementation phase
   1. During this phase of a project, the following documentation to be submitted to the integrated testing coordinator;
      1. Acceptance testing of the fire protection and life safety systems
      2. Confirmation from the installing contractor that the fire protection and life safety systems have been installed in accordance with the design
      3. Verifying parties confirming fire protection and life safety systems have been installed as per the design
      4. Confirmation of ESA approval of electrical installations
      5. Confirmation of Safety Code for Elevators and Escalator approval of installation
      6. Confirmation of occupant notification procedure, and
      7. Confirmation of implementation of alternative measures for ensuring occupant safety
5. Testing of the integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System, refer to Sections 6 of the CAN/ULC-S1001 Standard
   1. The design professionals, installing contractors and verifying parties¹ shall participate in the test protocol and procedures as required by the integrated testing plan
6. Upon successful completion of the integrated fire protection and life safety systems tests, documentation as require in Section 7 of the CAN/ULC-S1001 Standard shall be provided to the inspector for review.
7. Submit to City of Kingston testing of integrating fire protection and life safety systems certificate.
8. Witness test performed by the City of Kingston fire inspector

1 - Verifying Party means; a person, firm, corporation, or organization responsible for conducting verification testing of a fire protection and life safety system as required by the applicable Codes and Standards or contract requirements.