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When we encounter an impairment or need to shut down part of our water-based fire protection system, we follow the procedures outlined in NFPA 25 Chapter 15 to ensure safety and compliance. First, we determine whether the impairment is planned or emergency. For planned work, we give advance notice to the fire department and facility stakeholders, and we complete an impairment permit, which includes the scope of the work, expected duration, affected areas, and precautions to be taken.
We assign an impairment coordinator who is responsible for monitoring the situation from start to finish. The area affected is clearly marked, and fire watches are established if the system is out of service for more than four hours in a 24-hour period, per NFPA 25 guidelines.
During the impairment, we take additional safety measures—such as ensuring accessible extinguishers, removing combustibles, and verifying that emergency exits remain unobstructed. Once the work is completed, the system is inspected and tested before being restored to service. A final check ensures that all valves are returned to their normal operating position.
All actions are documented in our fire protection system log, and reports are shared with risk management and safety teams. This process helps us minimize risk and maintain full NFPA 25 compliance.
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We assign an impairment coordinator who is responsible for monitoring the situation from start to finish. The area affected is clearly marked, and fire watches are established if the system is out of service for more than four hours in a 24-hour period, per NFPA 25 guidelines.
During the impairment, we take additional safety measures—such as ensuring accessible extinguishers, removing combustibles, and verifying that emergency exits remain unobstructed. Once the work is completed, the system is inspected and tested before being restored to service. A final check ensures that all valves are returned to their normal operating position.
All actions are documented in our fire protection system log, and reports are shared with risk management and safety teams. This process helps us minimize risk and maintain full NFPA 25 compliance.
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