System Reliability

Inspections, Testing, Maintenance, and Reporting 

Fire and life safety systems, such as fire alarms and sprinklers, are among the most important components in any building type for preserving lives, protecting property, and reducing risk for first responders. The International Fire Code (IFC) requires building owners to maintain their building's fire and life safety systems in good working condition at all times and to ensure that those systems are tested on a regular basis. The periodic testing of these systems is called confidence testing

All reports for the testing, maintenance, and repairs of the following fire suppression and detection systems are required to be submitted to Redmond Fire Prevention through The Compliance Engine by the inspection company: 

System Type
Submittal Frequency Requirement
Automatic closing fire assembliesAnnual
Clean agentAnnual
Emergency power generatorAnnual
Emergency responder radio system (ERRS)Annual
Fire Alarm*Annual
Fire PumpAnnual
Hood Suppression SystemSemi-annual
Leak DetectionAnnual
Paint/Spray Booth SuppressionAnnual
Private fire hydrantAnnual
Smoke Control SystemAnnual
Special SuppressionAnnual, Semi-annual
Sprinkler SystemAnnual
Standpipe5-year

* Fire alarm confidence test report must include an annual Fire Alarm Operational Permit Application (PDF).

The report filing fee is charged to the inspection company completing all testing. Redmond Fire Prevention monitors compliance with required testing and that any identified repairs are completed in a timely manner. Redmond Fire Prevention does not perform inspection, testing, or maintenance of fire protection systems. This work is completed by testing companies hired by the building's owners. 

You can read more information about the inspection requirements for fire systems in the table below.

  1. Fire Alarms
  2. Fire Sprinklers
  3. Hood Suppression Systems

What constitutes a fire alarm system?

All devices connected to a single transmitter. 

Inspection Requirements for dwelling units

NFPA requires all devices to be tested annually, with very limited exceptions. In general, the test is not considered complete until all the devices have been tested (or for buildings with quarterly testing, the final report for the year is not complete until 100% of devices requiring testing have been tested). Please reserve yellow tags for deficiencies, not incomplete tests. However, if you have made a good faith effort including multiple visits to complete testing, and have not been provided access to the full 100%, it is acceptable to submit the report as a yellow tag and indicate clearly which devices/building areas were not accessible for testing. 

Fire Alarm Status Changes

Please contact the Systems Reliability Program Coordinator with details about the location and the reason for the status change when any of the following occur: 

  • Monitoring of an alarm system is discontinued (provide 30 days' notice) 
  • Deficiencies that prevent the initiation of a signal to a monitoring company 
  • If there is a lack of monitoring, a fire watch is required as per Redmond Fire Department Standard 14.00
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