Fire Alarm System Integration, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance

This capstone-level course equips aspiring technicians with the practical skills and technical knowledge required to interface fire alarm systems with external life safety equipment and maintain overall system integrity. Learners will explore control relays and interfaces for elevators, HVAC damper shutoffs, smoke control systems, fire doors, and commercial suppression monitoring. Emphasizing national codes and standards, the curriculum details periodic inspection and testing frequencies, sensitivity testing, and audibility verifications alongside required documentation practices. Students will develop rigorous troubleshooting methodologies to isolate complex ground faults, communication bus errors, and hardware failures across networked panels. Through guided field simulation exercises and extensive laboratory evaluations, participants analyze diagnostic logs, interpret interface response matrices, and execute full-scale periodic test plans. By synthesizing system commissioning protocols and customer turnover standards, technicians prepare to ensure reliable operation and code compliance across diverse commercial and industrial fire alarm installations throughout their operational lifespans.

InstructorJacob Calhoun

Prerequisites

FAS 105 FAS 110

Course outline

Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.

01Lesson 1: Overview of Life Safety System Integration and Supervisory Interfaceslecture

02Lesson 2: HVAC Shutdown, Damper Actuation, and Smoke Management Integrationlecture

03Lesson 3: Elevator Recall, Shunt Trip, and Emergency Power Integrationlecture

04Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Wiring and Verifying Emergency Control Function Interfaceslab

05Lesson 5: Water-Based and Special Hazard Suppression System Monitoringlecture

06Lesson 6: Supervising Station Communications, Transmitters, and Pathway Survivabilitylecture

07Lesson 7: Inspection Frequencies, Visual Checklists, and Code Requirementslecture

08Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Performing Periodic Inspection and Device Testing Protocolslab

09Lesson 9: Smoke Detector Sensitivity Measurement and Notification Appliance Testinglecture

10Lesson 10: System Diagnostics: Tracing Ground Faults, Opens, and Communication Errorslecture

11Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Diagnostic Troubleshooting of Simulated Field Wiring Faultslab

12Lesson 12: Inspection Documentation, Defect Classification, and Reporting Standardslecture

13Lesson 13: Preventive Maintenance Scheduling, Component Replacement, and Software Updateslecture

14Capstone Service Project: End-to-End System Inspection, Re-Acceptance, and Documentationassignment

Syllabus

["Week 1: Lesson 1: Overview of Life Safety System Integration and Supervisory Interfaces", "Week 2: Lesson 2: HVAC Shutdown, Damper Actuation, and Smoke Management Integration", "Week 3: Lesson 3: Elevator Recall, Shunt Trip, and Emergency Power Integration", "Week 4: Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Wiring and Verifying Emergency Control Function Interfaces", "Week 5: Lesson 5: Water-Based and Special Hazard Suppression System Monitoring", "Week 6: Lesson 6: Supervising Station Communications, Transmitters, and Pathway Survivability", "Week 7: Lesson 7: Inspection Frequencies, Visual Checklists, and Code Requirements", "Week 8: Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Performing Periodic Inspection and Device Testing Protocols", "Week 9: Lesson 9: Smoke Detector Sensitivity Measurement and Notification Appliance Testing", "Week 10: Lesson 10: System Diagnostics: Tracing Ground Faults, Opens, and Communication Errors", "Week 11: Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Diagnostic Troubleshooting of Simulated Field Wiring Faults", "Week 12: Lesson 12: Inspection Documentation, Defect Classification, and Reporting Standards", "Week 13: Lesson 13: Preventive Maintenance Scheduling, Component Replacement, and Software Updates", "Week 14: Capstone Service Project: End-to-End System Inspection, Re-Acceptance, and Documentation"]