Installation, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance
Inspection, testing, and maintenance
NFPA 72 Chapter 14 sets the frequencies. The control unit and batteries are inspected monthly and tested annually; initiating devices and notification appliances are functionally tested annually; smoke detector sensitivity is checked within one year of installation and every alternate year thereafter unless the detector has an approved automatic test feature. Waterflow and supervisory devices follow Table 14.3.1, so do not assume every device is annual.
What a test means
Inspection is visual; testing proves function. A smoke detector test uses approved smoke or aerosol, not just a magnet or panel key. A heat detector test uses a listed heat source. A battery test applies a load and checks capacity, not just charger voltage. Notification appliances are tested for operation and audibility.
Documentation
The Record of Completion documents the installed system; the Record of Inspection and Testing documents each test result. As-built drawings, battery calculations, and manufacturer instructions are part of the record. Impairments require notification to the AHJ and monitoring company, and a fire watch where required.
Worked example
A five-year-old system has 120 smoke detectors. The annual test requires functional testing of all 120, not a 10% sample. Sensitivity testing is due within the first year and every alternate year thereafter; the five-year point falls in an alternate year, so it is due unless the panel performs approved automatic sensitivity testing. The reasoning: NFPA 72 does not allow sampling to substitute for the required annual functional test.
Traps
Do not confuse inspection with testing. Do not test a battery by reading charger output. Do not skip sensitivity testing because the detector “passed” smoke. Do not forget to document the test and restore the system.