Most of our hospitals are following the directions of a local Fire Marshall , we refer to as, the local AHJ. Upon their visits, they are really impressed on our knowledge of the Life Safety Code and kindly request; where is your International Fire Code?

The IFC most are using is the 2003, has a section 901.7.4 for a “Preplanned Impairment Program”. The local AHJ will use this for preplanned shutdowns of the fire alarm or fire suppression systems. Under the IFC for fire watches 901.7, it clearly describes the fire watch, but does not put a timeline on the duration.

Here in the hospitals, we on many occasions must follow the most frequent and most concerned AHJ; most of the time it is the local AHJ.

The Joint Commission may have pointed out something we should have been looking at all along, If CMS walks in and questions why this was not followed for a preplanned shutdown; a fire watch for a period of shutdown of more than 4 hours in a 24 hour period, if the guidelines in the IFC are followed as per contacting the AHJ; 901.7.4, everything should be just fine.