Fire Protection Systems

The Park Forest Fire Department is the authority having jurisdiction for the plan review and acceptance testing of fire protection systems. This includes new systems and alterations or modifications to existing systems. Fire protection systems include, but are not limited to, sprinkler systems, dry pipe systems, standpipe systems, ansul systems etc. All required fire protection systems must be approved by the Fire Department before the occupancy permit will be issued.

Fire Suppression Systems

A Fire Suppression system shall be installed and maintained in the following occupancies:

All new buildings and structures shall have an automatic sprinkler system installed meeting the requirements of NFPA 13, NFPA 13R or NFPA 13D.

In addition to the requirements set forth in NFPA 13, the following local requirements shall be met:

* All control valves for the sprinkler system must be supervised with tamper switches.

* Separate control valves are required for each floor in multi-story buildings and for each

occupancy in a multi-unit commercial building. Separate flow switches are required for

each floor/occupancy as outlined above.

* The Fire Department connection shall be located near the main entrance to the occupancy.

* Pipe used in sprinkler systems shall be of steel construction except NFPA 13R and NFPA 13D systems.

* The entire system shall be supervised, zoned, and annunciated in accordance with NFPA

13, 72 and the Building Code in effect at the time of construction. Additionally, all flow

switches shall be connected to a strobe light that will activate when an alarm condition

exists. Location of the strobe light shall be on the front of the occupancy in close proximity

to the main entrance. Whenever possible, the strobe light will be visible from the street.

* All work performed on sprinklers systems shall be performed by a sprinkler-fitter licensed

by the State of Illinois to perform said work.

* All sprinkler systems shall be inspected, tested and certified as meeting the requirements

of NFPA 13 on an annual basis.

* A representative sample all of sprinkler heads fifty years of age or older, shall be removed

from service and sent to a testing laboratory for operational testing. The removed sprinkler

heads shall be replaced by new sprinklers of the same style and rating as the ones that

have been removed from service. The failure of any sprinkler head during operational

testing shall be cause for the removal and replacement of all sprinklers of the same type.

- The representative sample shall consist of the larger of:

- Not less than four (4) sprinkler heads, or

- One percent of the number of sprinklers per individual sprinkler system

Standpipe Systems

Standpipe systems shall be installed throughout buildings where the floor level of the highest story is located more than 30 feet above the lowest point of fire department vehicle access, or where the floor level of the lowest story is located more than 30 feet below the highest level of fire department access in accordance with the Code.

Standpipes shall also be required in non-sprinklered assembly buildings with an occupant load greater than 1,000 persons, covered mall buildings and non-sprinklered stages greater than 1,000 square feet in size.

The standpipes shall have approved 2.5-inch hose connections at each floor level (Class I and Class III).

Valves controlling the water supplies shall be supervised in the open position so that a change in the normal position of the valve will generate a supervisory signal at the supervising station and the fire alarm control unit.

Plan Review Information

Plans for each fire protection system must be submitted to the Park Forest Building Department. Plans are generally reviewed and written comments provided within 10-14 business days.

The plan submittal shall include:

* A set of plans for each fire protection system

* Fire protection system calculations

* Manufacturers specification sheets on all devices

Fire protection systems must be designed, installed, and function in accordance with locally adopted codes and locally adopted amendments to the codes. This information, and other general information regarding fire protection systems and fire alarm systems, is available from the Park Forest Fire Department. To obtain this information, call 708-748-5605.

Inspection Information

Fire Protection systems must be inspected at certain intervals during construction according to the following scheduled:

Fire Sprinkler Systems:

* Underground flush test

* Rough inspection of piping

* Hydrostatic test

* Final acceptance/performance test

Commercial Cooking Hood Suppression Systems:

* Trip/Dump test (includes verification of fire panel zoning)

* Final acceptance/performance test

Other Systems:

* Information is provided on the plan review comment sheet/form, included with your permit.

Inspections may be scheduled by calling 708-748-5605 forty-eight (48) hours in advance. When inspections are scheduled, all appropriate installers must be present.

If an inspection fails, the Fire Department will attempt to accommodate the fire protection system installer’s request by scheduling a re-test the next business day. Any re-inspection/re-test will result in a fee of $50.00.