Fire protection impairment management

The implementation of a fire protection impairment management programme is vital to maintain the health and safety of people and building fire precautions when fire protection systems are taken out of service.

An impairment occurs when a fire protection or detection system, fire alarm system or other system designed to maintain the fire resistance of the building element or structure is taken out of service, either wholly or in part, planned or unplanned.

Fire protection or detection equipment subject to impairment management includes automatic sprinkler systems, fire protection water supplies, fire pumps, fire mains, gas extinguishing systems, foam systems, fire detection systems, water mist systems, powder systems, explosion suppression systems, etc.

Other fire safety systems may include fire doors (including sliding fire doors) their associated warning systems and self-closing mechanisms; fire walls and their associated service penetrations and other openings, fire curtains, etc.

A Fire Protection Impairment Management Programme is used to:

Supervise the safe shutdown of fire protection systems
Control potential fire hazards during impairment
Minimise the duration of the impairment by reinstating the fire protection system as soon as possible.

Suitably trained personnel should be assigned the following responsibilities:

Impairment Supervisor

Should be a company employee (not a contractor), such as a maintenance foreman
Has overall responsibility for implementation of the Fire Protection Impairment Management Programme
Ideally schedules only one impairment at a time. For large locations where this is not practical, the number of simultaneous impairments should be limited as much as possible
Notifies staff in the area of the impairment that protection is out of service
Notifies Allianz Commercial of impairments expected to exceed 10 continuous hours in duration
Issues the Fire Protection System Impairment Notification & Restoration Form.

Fire Watch

Works with the impairment Supervisor to ensure safe conditions are maintained during the impairment
Reports unsafe conditions to the Impairment Supervisor
Has temporary fire protection available (e.g. fire extinguishers, fire hoses, etc.) and is trained in their use
Is familiar with the facility and the procedures for raising an alarm.

Impairment types

There are two types of impairment:

1. Emergency impairment

Where a fire protection system is out of service due to an unexpected occurrence, such as a pipe failure or interruption in the fire protection water supply.

2. Planned impairment

Where a fire protection system is out of service due to work having been planned in advance.

Key actions to take when implementing an impairment procedure

The key actions below are aimed at managing the two impairment types mentioned above. In doing so, the risk of a “hidden” impairment or a protection system that is out of service, but is not known to site officials, should be reduced.

1. For impairments expected to exceed 10 continuous hours in duration, the Impairment Supervisor should notify Allianz 48 hours in advance of a planned impairment and as soon as possible for an emergency impairment. The local fire service and alarm receiving centre may also need to be notified.

Please notify Allianz via your insurance intermediary/broker, using Part A of the Fire Protection System Impairment Notification and Restoration Form.

Fire protection system impairment notice 119 KB

Be sure to complete all information, including contact details, impairment details and precautions taken during the impairment.

2. Prior to commencement of the impairment, the Impairment Supervisor verifies all applicable precautions listed on the impairment form have been taken. Precautions may include the suspension of hazardous activities (e.g. hot work, flammable liquid use, etc.) during the period of impairment. All workers, tools and equipment needed should be ready to complete the work prior to the impairment commencing.

3. Assign a Fire Watch for the area of impairment. This can consist of a person conducting continuous tours of the area, or trained employees continuously working in the affected area.

4. It is good practice to attach the completed impairment form to the impaired equipment (i.e. sprinkler valve, system control panel, etc.). Record the number of turns if shutting a sprinkler control valve.

5. The Impairment Supervisor retains a copy of the impairment form as a reminder of the work being done.

6. Work without interruption until completed. Do not leave protection systems impaired for longer than is necessary.

Where the impairment is scheduled to last in excess of one shift, robust handover procedures should be in place. The new Impairment Supervisor should be made fully conversant with all impairments and precautions in place.

7. When the work is complete, the Impairment Supervisor should verify that the protection system has been fully restored to service.

8. For sprinkler system impairments, verify that the number of turns to shut the valve equals the number of turns to open the valve. After opening the valve, conduct and record a main drain test to verify that an adequate water supply has been re-established.

9. Notify Allianz after the system has been returned to service via your insurance intermediary/broker, using Part B of the Fire Protection System Impairment Notification and Restoration Form.

Fire protection system impairment notice 119 KB

Also notify the local fire service and any alarm receiving centre, if applicable.

10. Completed impairment forms should be retained on file for at least one year for review by Allianz.