§104-02 Professional Certification of Fire Alarm System Installations

   (a)   Scope. This section sets forth the standards, requirements and procedures for the professional certification of the design and installation of fire alarm systems.

   (b)   Definitions. The following terms shall, for purposes of this section and as used elsewhere in the rules, have the meanings shown herein:

      Core building system. Fire alarm system devices and equipment in and around the central or main building stairwells, elevators and utility risers of any buildings, except buildings classified in Occupancy Group R-3. A fire alarm system includes the fire command center (commonly referred to as a fire command station), fire pump, main sprinkler water flow switch, main sprinkler valve tamper switch, elevator lobby smoke detectors, central station connections, elevator in readiness operation, and core alarm boxes, warden phones and other fire alarm communications devices. Such fire alarm systems are also commonly referred to as the "base" building system.

      Letter of approval. The written determination of the Department that a fire alarm system installation has been installed and is operating in compliance with the Building Code, Electrical Code and Fire Code requirements for such installation enforced by the Department.

      Professional certification. The submission to the Department of a signed, personal verification by a registered design professional that accompanies an application and/or design and installation documents filed with the Department and attests that such application or design and installation documents do not contain any false information and that such application or design and installation documents are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

   (c)   General Provisions.

      (1)   Professional certification of fire alarm system installations. Fire alarm system installations may be professionally certified, as set forth in FC104.2.1, in accordance with the provisions thereof and this section, in buildings for which a letter of approval has been issued for the core building system. A core building system may not be professionally certified.

      (2)   Qualifications. Only registered design professionals may professionally certify that fire alarm system installations are in compliance with the Fire Code, Building Code, applicable provisions of Department and Department of Buildings rules, and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

      (3)   Format of design and installation documents. Design and installation documents and related submissions shall be in the format set forth in R105-01(b)(4) or as otherwise designated by the Department.

      (4)   Letter of approval. Letters of approval for fire alarm system installations that have been professionally certified will indicate that the fire alarm system installation, or part thereof, was approved by the Department based upon professional certification pursuant to FC104.2.1.

      (5)   Audit. All fire alarm system installations that have been professionally certified are subject to audit.

      (6)   Disqualification for false certification. Pursuant to FC104.2.1.1, in addition to the penalties for violating provisions of the applicable laws, rules and regulations, registered design professionals who submit false or fraudulent documents certifying compliance with the requirements of the Fire Code and rules may be disqualified from submission of professionally certified applications under the Fire Code.

   (d)   Submission and Approval Procedure.

      (1)   Submission of professional certification. A completed Fire Department fire alarm professional certification form for any fire alarm system installation, or part thereof, that is being professionally certified in lieu of a Department inspection in accordance with the provisions of FC104.2.1 and R104-02, shall be submitted to the Department, together with the submissions required by R105-01(c)(2)(A)(2), (3) and (4), including the design and installation documents approved for the installation; "as-built" design and installation documents of the fire alarm system installation and the facility in which it is installed, as actually constructed; and the applicable fee for review of such an application. Such submission shall be made at the earliest date following the completion of such installation, but in all cases prior to occupancy of any building, or part thereof, that is to be newly occupied or reoccupied.

      (2)   Acceptance and issuance of letter of approval. Professionally certified design and installation documents will be accepted for filing, and a letter of approval issued. The Department may review such professionally certified design and installation documents for completeness and/or other purposes, and if it determines they are deficient, may deny or rescind acceptance and issuance of the letter of approval.

      (3)   Filing with Department of Buildings. The "as built" design and installation documents submitted to and accepted by the Department will be electronically filed with the Department of Buildings by the Department as part of the applicant's Department of Buildings application, unless another manner of filing such documents with the Department of Buildings is prescribed by the Department.