Delaware Administrative Code
Title 1 - Authorities, Boards and Commissions
700 - Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission
703 - Installation, Operation, Maintenance, Testing and Sales of Signaling Systems, Fire Protection Systems and Fire Extinguishers
Chapter 1 - Operation, Maintenance, and Testing of Fire Protection Systems
Section 703-1-4.0 - Periodic Inspections, Testing, And Maintenance Service

4.1.1 Periodic inspections, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm signaling, fire suppression, and any other fire protection systems, devices, and equipment shall be conducted in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association's National Fire Codes and Standards, as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations. The required inspection, testing, and maintenance service shall be conducted by a licensed company or by an owners representative at the intervals established by the National Fire Protection Association's National Fire Codes and Standards, as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations.

4.1.2 Before testing any suppression system, standpipe, or fire alarm system which is connected to a central station or connected directly to a fire dispatch center, or the fire or police department, notification shall be given to the central station, fire dispatch center, fire department or police department before initiation of the tests.

4.1.3 It shall be the responsibility of the owner of the protected property to see that the required periodic inspections, testing, and maintenance of the system are conducted, as well as having the system serviced whenever an unexplained activation of the system occurs or if the system is found to be inoperative.

4.1.4 Annual Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance Service. Annual inspection, testing, and maintenance is required for all fire alarm signaling, fire suppression, and any other fire protection systems, devices, and equipment installed within the State of Delaware. This annual inspection, testing, and maintenance service shall be completed by a company licensed in accordance with Regulation 703, Chapters 2, 4, 5, 6, and/or 7. Upon completion of this annual inspection, testing, and maintenance service, the licensed company shall submit an Annual Certificate of Inspection along with the appropriate fees as listed in these Regulations, in accordance with § 4.1.5 of this Chapter.

4.1.5 Certificate of Inspection. A separate Certificate of Inspection is required to be forwarded to the State Fire Marshal on an annual basis and on the prescribed form for all such fire alarm, fire suppression, and other fire protection systems that are required to be inspected, tested, and/or maintained by these Regulations. The Annual Certificate of Inspection must be submitted to the Office of the State Fire Marshal within 30 days of the completion of the required annual testing, inspection, or maintenance by a company licensed in accordance with Chapters 4, 5, 6, and/or 7 of this Regulation. A Certificate of Inspection shall also be completed after each periodic inspection, test, or maintenance, and shall be maintained on site as part of the permanent systems record.

4.1.6 Fire Protection Major Deficiencies.

4.1.7 The failure of the licensed company to comply with the provisions of this section, shall constitute a violation of the Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations.

4.2.1 All standpipe fire lines in all buildings and structures shall be tested at least every five years. In buildings and structures having floors used for human occupancy located more than 50 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, tests shall be made at intervals of not more than two years. Wet and dry pipe systems shall meet the flow demands required at the time of installation or as required by § 5.1.2 of this Chapter. At the time of the test all control valves, including those inside hose cabinets, shall be operated and then reset in their proper position to insure the workability of these valves. Wet and dry systems unable to meet the flow requirements at the time of installation or as required by § 5.1.3 of this Chapter shall be required to install automatic fire pumps or tanks if deemed necessary by the State Fire Marshal for the occupancy of the building.

4.3.1 All sprinkler systems shall have the proper inspections, tests, and maintenance performed at the prescribed intervals in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association's National Fire Codes and Standards as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations.

4.4.1 All fire pumps shall have the proper inspections, tests, and maintenance performed at the prescribed intervals in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association's National Fire Codes and Standards as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations. Where the water supply is from a public service main, pump operation and testing shall not draw the residual suction pressure at the pump below 10 PSI.

Exception: This requirement may be waived where the water supply is consistently above the sprinkler system demand.

4.5.1 Every fire suppression system for cooking operations shall be inspected at least every six months and whenever the system activated or found inoperative. Inspections shall be made only by companies or individuals licensed under the provisions of these Regulations. All actuation components, including remote manual pull stations, mechanical or electrical devices, detectors, actuators, etc., shall be checked for proper operation during inspection. All fusible links and fusible link sprinkler heads shall be replaced annually. Manual stations shall be sealed and safety pinned or latched. An inspection tag shall be located at the manual pull station indicating the date of the last inspection and the name and license number of the company who performed the work as well as the signature of the responsible party.

4.5.2 A Certificate of Inspection shall be forwarded to the Office of the State Fire Marshal on an annual basis, or whenever any system is placed back into service after being discharged. This Certificate of Inspection must be submitted by a company licensed in accordance with Chapters 4, 5, 6, and/or 7 of this Regulation. A Certificate of Inspection shall also be completed after each periodic inspection, test, or maintenance and shall be maintained on site as part of the permanent systems record. Certificates of Inspection shall be submitted in such form as the State Fire Marshal may prescribe.

4.6.1 All fire alarm signaling systems shall have the proper inspection, testing and maintenance service performed at the prescribed intervals in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association's National Fire Codes and Standards as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations.

4.6.2 In Non-Transient Tenant Occupied Households, such as apartments, rental condominiums, and one- and two-family rental property, the landlord shall provide the tenant with information describing the operation, method, and frequency of testing and proper maintenance of household fire warning equipment. The tenant shall test the household fire warning equipment in accordance with the National Fire Code, NFPA 72, as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations.

4.6.3 In Transient Tenant Occupied Households such as apartments, hotels, motels, dormitories, residential board and care and boarding houses. The landlord shall be required to have a licensed fire alarm signaling system company test the household fire warning equipment in accordance with the National Fire Code, NFPA 72, as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations. A written record of the tests and inspections shall be completed in accordance with § 4.8 of this Chapter.

4.7.1 Special fire safety devices including automatic smoke removal and control equipment, emergency generators and any other special fire safety equipment shall be tested annually by the owner or an authorized representative and the results of such tests shall be logged in a journal kept available for inspection in accordance with procedures approved by the State Fire Marshal.

4.8.1 Written Record. A log or other complete written record of all tests and inspections required under this Chapter shall be maintained on the premises by the owner or occupant in charge of said premises. The written record shall document the inspection or testing of each individual system component required to be tested or inspected. The written record must reference each component by use of an identification number.

4.8.2 Identification Number. All system components required to be tested or inspected under this Chapter shall have a unique identification number assigned. The assigned number shall be displayed on the device in such a way so that each component shall be easily and readily identified in the installed state. If it is impossible to identify the device by the display of a tag, the State Fire Marshal may approve an alternative method.

4.8.3 Certificate of Inspection. A separate Certificate of Inspection is required to be forwarded to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, on an annual basis, and on the prescribed form, for all such fire alarm, fire suppression, or other fire protection systems that are required to be serviced, tested, or maintained by these Regulations. This Certificate of Inspection must be submitted by a company licensed in accordance with Regulation 703, Chapters 4, 5, 6, and/or 7. A Certificate of Inspection shall also be completed after each periodic service, test, or inspection and shall be maintained on site as part of the permanent systems record.

4.8.4 Inspection and Maintenance Tag. An inspection and maintenance tag shall be affixed to the face of the system's main control after each completed inspection or test. The inspection and maintenance tag shall indicate the following:

4.9.1 Where dry hydrants are installed in any subdivision, development, complex, or community that has a common maintenance agreement to which the landowners either subscribe to or pay a fee, for any maintenance, repair or other improvements, it shall be the responsibility of the landowners to maintain and test all such dry hydrants as may be installed according to the specifications set out in this section.

4.9.2 The provisions of § 4.9.1 of this Chapter shall apply to all dry hydrants that may be installed on any private property, be it residential, commercial, or industrial, and the owner of such properties or occupancies shall be responsible for the periodic inspections, maintenance, and testing of the dry hydrants.

4.9.3 All dry hydrants will be reverse flushed on an annual basis.

4.9.4 All dry hydrants shall be inspected and operated on an annual basis with particular attention paid to the general condition of the dry hydrant to include:

4.9.5 A copy of the annual inspection and maintenance report shall be submitted to the local Fire Chief.

4.9.6 The owner will have all necessary repairs made or deficiencies corrected within 30 days of any periodic inspection, maintenance, or testing that indicates such action is needed.

4.9.7 Records of inspections and corrective actions for noted deficiencies shall be maintained by the owner at their main office for a period of three (3) years.