HomeMy WebLinkAbout405.033 - Control Valve SupervisionEffective Date: June 1988 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 6/6/2025 Section 405.033
Next Revision Date: 6/6/2028 Page 1 of 2
Fresno City Fire Department
400 Prevention Manual
SECTION 405.033 CONTROL VALVE SUPERVISION
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to clarify the Fresno Fire Department’s (FFD or
Department) requirements related to the proper safeguarding of normally open,
automatic fire sprinkler system control valves.
APPLICATION
This policy applies to all buildings equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system
within the Department’s service area, including contract service areas. These
requirements apply to both required and voluntary fire sprinkler systems, as well as
both new and existing fire sprinkler systems, regardless of installation date.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
Based upon the need for uniformity in application across the Department’s diverse
service delivery area, and after careful deliberation, the Department has determined
the following:
1. Every normally open automatic fire sprinkler system control valve must be
supervised as required by the original installation requirements.
2. Every normally open automatic fire sprinkler system control valve, regardless
of required (or provided) electrical supervision, shall be secured by a chain and
lock.
3. Keys to the locks supervising each control valve must be labeled indicating the
locks served and must be placed in the fire sprinkler spare head box, or other
FFD approved location, as required by the Fire Marshal (or designee). Where
a building is equipped with a fire pump or riser room, the keys must be placed
in an FFD approved lock box, in an FFD approved location. Knox box location
requirements are outlined in Fire Prevention Manual, Section 402.009, Knox
Box Locations.
4. In every case, the Fire Marshal (or designee) has the authority to require
additional keys to be located in other FFD approved locations. This
determination shall be made at the sole discretion of the Fire Marshal (or
designee).
Effective Date: June 1988 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 6/6/2025 Section 405.033
Next Revision Date: 6/6/2028 Page 2 of 2
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
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PROCESS
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INFORMATION
As noted in the California Fire Code (CFC), the fire code official has the authority to
formulate policies they deem necessary based upon local conditions including the
proper safeguarding of automatic fire sprinkler system control valves.
The intent of this policy is to ensure the safety of the public and emergency responders
by providing both mechanical and electrical (where required) means of automatic fire
sprinkler system control valve supervision. This dual means of supervision provides
assurance that installed automatic fire sprinkler system control valves will be open and
that the automatic fire sprinkler system is likely to perform as required under
emergency conditions.
This policy reduces the chances of an unknown (or inadvertent) automatic fire
sprinkler system failure because of a closed automatic fire sprinkler system control
valve, where the supervisory alarm signal was not transmitted by a faulty dedicated
function (or other) fire alarm system and provides a redundant means of preventing
one of the main causes of automatic fire sprinkler system failure.
DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
California Fire Code, Currently adopted edition
Fire Prevention Manual,
Section 402.009, Knox Box Locations