1. The system power supply should be properly sized and of proper type/rating. If a back-up power source is required, the status of this back-up system should be monitored, and it must be properly sized.  The power distribution design should also include sub-breakers to enable powering up/down the system in logical sections rather than just all at once.
2. The system should be monitored for ground faults. Even if it is not required by code, it is a best practice for installers to proceed on the premise that ground fault monitoring is required.
3. All detector power and signal cabling requirements should be clarified including cable shields and terminations as required. Don’t forget that conduit seals, breathers, & drains are recommended and flexible conduit within 1 meter of a flame detector to enable proper flame detector aiming/alignment is generally required.
4. Detector mounting location structure must be solid and robust. Mounting structure vibration and movement is wholly undesirable and can lead to nuisance alarm problems.  Also, all detection instruments should have a field tag attached with an instrument tag number easily visible.
5. A flame and gas detector setup table spreadsheet is recommended identifying instrument tag numbers for all detectors, installation location/elevation using GPS coordinates, programmable settings including sensitivity, time delay setting, latching or non-latching relay configuration, normally energized or normally de-energized relay coils, calibration information (gas detectors), and other configuration settings.

Commissioning Best Practices

After installation is complete and the system and all field devices are powered-up and operating in a 100% fault-free mode, system commissioning can commence. It is important to note that system commissioning and integrated testing are two different concepts, and both must be completed successfully to properly evaluate the flame and gas detection system operation as well as its interaction with other systems.

Commissioning is a systematic process that provides documented confirmation that all system functions according to the intended design criteria set forth in project documents and satisfy the owner’s operational needs, including compliance with applicable laws, regulations, codes, and standards. A commissioning checklist is generally developed that spells out specific system functions, critical input and output signals, devices, and operational logic that must be tested and validated before the system can be considered fully commissioned.  The commissioning checklist typically includes line item checks for:

• proper functional testing of power redundancy/battery back-up
• system ground fault monitoring
• critical output functions and related input actuation
• field testing methodology for all flame detectors and manual fire alarm signaling devices including alarm voting criteria (cross-zone or multi-sensor confirmation)

After completion, the Commissioning Engineer typically prepares and submits a commissioning report including as-built drawings, cause/effect logic, and updated system database of all information developed, changed or modified during the full commissioning process.

Operations, Maintenance, and Training

Operations and Maintenance personnel are the ones generally assigned to keep the fire and gas system operating and ready.  This means that these same folks have responsibility for maintaining a fire and gas detection system maintenance logbook!  This logbook generally includes the means to document all system activities and events, logged by instrument tag number.  Typical logbook entries include fire and gas alarms, faults, visual inspections, gas detector bump tests and/or calibrations, functional tests using a test lamp, and cleaning activities logged by tag number, date & time, and person. In addition, a routine visual inspection procedure should be established where the frequency of visual inspection points is defined.