All commercial kitchen exhaust systems are required to be cleaned in order to remove deposits of residue and grease in the system. The minimum interval for cleaning commercial kitchen exhaust systems is 6 months. However, more frequent cleaning intervals may be required based upon the type of cooking done at each establishment. A cleaning schedule must be maintained at each establishment that has a commercial kitchen exhaust system. Thorough cleaning of ducts, hoods and fans includes scraping, brushing or other positive cleaning methods.

Fire Suppression Systems

All approved fire protection systems must be maintained in an operative condition at all times. An owner or occupant cannot reduce the effectiveness of any approved fire suppression systems. This does not prohibit an owner or occupant from temporarily reducing or discontinuing the protection where necessary to make tests, repairs, alterations or additions. The fire department must be notified before disconnection and interruption of protection and when tests, repairs, alterations or additions are started and upon completion of such work. The fire department shall be advised of the extent of and reason for such work. The restoration of the protection shall be diligently pursued. Fire department notification can be made by telephone at 703-838-4660.

Required sprinkler and standpipe systems and all component parts within vacant structures must be maintained in an operable condition at all times. Fire alarm systems shall be maintained in an operable condition at all times within vacant structures.

Non-required fire protection systems may be permitted to continue in service without alteration, provided that the systems do not constitute a hazard. The systems must be maintained and operational at the original level of protection. Non-required fire protection systems may only be discontinuation with permission from the Fire Official. All discontinued equipment and devices, such as pull stations, nozzles, detectors, sprinklers, sensors, panels and hose connections must be removed so as not to give a false indication of a level of fire protection.

All fire sprinkler, water spray extinguishing systems and standpipe systems shall be inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 25 from the National Fire Protection Association.

All fire alarm systems shall be maintained, periodically inspected and tested in accordance with NFPA 72 from the National Fire Protection Association. In addition, complete and satisfactory tests shall be performed on all devices in accordance with the following:

1. At 2-month intervals: all transmitters and circuit interfaces.
    
2. At 3-month intervals: functional and operational testing of the voice/alarm signaling system and water-flow-actuated devices. For sprinkler water-flow alarm tests, an actual water flow, through the utilization of a test connection, shall be the method employed for testing the reliability of the sprinkler alarm unit as a whole.
    
3. At 6-month intervals: gate valve supervisory switches, manual fire alarm boxes, combination night guard and fire alarm boxes, tank water-level devices, building and tank water-temperature supervisory devices, and other sprinkler system supervisory devices.
    
4. At 12-month intervals: remote annunciators, audible and visible alarm-notification appliances, two-way telephones for the fire service, primary and secondary power supplies and all control panel functions.

Inspection and tests of automatic fire detection devices shall be done as follows:

Central-station circuit test: Tests of all circuits extending from a central station, and tests of central-station devices, shall be conducted at 24-hour intervals.

Engine-driven generator: Where an engine-driven generator provides required secondary power source, such generator shall be inspected weekly and exercised at least monthly under load by disconnecting the normal supply to the system for a minimum of 1/2 hour in a continuous period.

Automatic fire detection systems: All automatic fire detection systems shall be maintained, periodically inspected and tested in accordance with NFPA 72 from the National Fire Protection Association and as follows:

• Visual inspection: A visual inspection shall be performed at 12-month intervals to ensure that each detector remains in good physical condition and that there are not changes that will affect detector performance, such as building modifications, occupancy hazards and environmental effects.
• Nonrestorable spot-type heat detectors: For nonrestorable spot-type heat detectors, after the first 15 years and at 5-year intervals thereafter, at least two detectors out of every 100 or a fraction thereof shall be removed and tested by an approved agency. The detectors that have been removed shall be replaced with new detectors. If a failure occurs on any of the detectors removed, additional detectors shall be removed and tested as a further check on the installation until there is proven to exist either a general problem involving faulty detectors or a localized problem involving individual defective detectors.
• Restorable heat detectors: For restorable heat detectors, one or more detectors on each signal-initiating circuit shall be tested at 6-month intervals, and different detectors shall be selected for each test. Within 5 years, each detector shall have been tested. Exception: Pneumatic line-type heat detectors. All pneumatic line-type heat detectors shall be tested for leaks and proper operation at 6-month intervals.
• Nonrestorable line-type fixed-temperature heat detectors: Nonrestorable line-type fixed-temperature heat detectors shall be tested for alarm function at 6-month intervals. The loop resistance shall be measured, recorded and compared with the loop resistance previously recorded. Any change in loop resistance shall be investigated.
• Smoke detectors: All smoke detectors shall be inspected in place at 12-month intervals to identify missing detectors, detectors with impeded smoke entry, dirty detectors and detectors no longer properly located because of occupancy or structure changes. Additionally, a test shall be performed at 12-month intervals to ensure that each smoke detector is in an operable condition and produces the intended response by causing the detector to initiate an alarm at the installed location with smoke or other aerosol acceptable to the manufacturer and to demonstrate that smoke will enter the chamber and initiate an alarm.
• Smoke detector sensitivity: Detector sensitivity shall be checked within 1 year after installation and at 2-year intervals thereafter. Detectors with abnormal sensitivities shall be replaced or cleaned and recalibrated. To determine whether each smoke detector is within the proper sensitivity range, the detector shall be tested in accordance with any one of the following:
  1. A calibrated test method;
  2. The manufacturer's calibrated sensitivity test instrument;
  3. Approved control equipment arranged for the purpose; or
  4. Other approved calibrated sensitivity test method.
• Air duct detectors: Additional tests for air duct detectors shall consist of all of the following:
  1. A visual inspection of the detector installation, including seals, abuse or modification of the device or installation and intended operation of the device.
  2. The manufacturer's specifications shall be utilized to determine that the device will respond to smoke in the airstream.
• Flame detectors, fire-gas detectors and other fire detectors:
  All flame detectors, fire-gas detectors and other fire detectors shall be tested in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions at six-month intervals.
• Single- and multiple-station smoke detectors periodic testing and inspection:
  All single- and multiple-station smoke detectors shall be maintained, periodically inspected and tested in accordance with NFPA 72 from the National Fire Protection Association and the following:
• Single-station smoke detectors: Tests or inspections in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions shall be conducted at 1-month intervals for other than battery-powered smoke detectors and at 1-week intervals for battery-powered smoke detectors.
  Exception: The written log of tests shall not be required in single family dwellings.

All fire pumps required by the building code shall be installed in accordance with the building code and NFPA 20 from the National Fire Protection Association.

• Acceptance test: Pumps shall furnish not less than 150 percent of rated capacity at a total head of not less than 65 percent of total-rated head. The shutoff total head for horizontal shaft pumps shall not exceed 140 percent of the total-rated head. The inlet pressure available from a water supply shall be determined on a flow basis of 150 percent of the rated capacity of the pump as indicated by a flow test.
• Overheating: As installed at operating speed, the pump shall be capable of operating at peak load conditions without having the bearings or the prime mover overheat. The operating pump speed shall be the speed at which the pumping unit is expected to operate during a fire.
• Automatic controllers: All pumps that supply fire protection systems or devices shall be capable of self-acting operation by their own mechanisms when actuated by some impersonal influence, such as a change in current strength, pressure, temperature or mechanical configuration. The unit shall be capable of self-starting and shutdown after the starting causes have returned to normal and the pumping unit has operated for the time fixed by the running period timer. The running period timer shall be set for 1 minute of running time for every 10 horsepower (7.46 kW) rating of the motor, with a maximum required running period of 7 minutes. All pressure-actuated control switches that respond to water pressure shall be protected from accidental changes in pressure settings by locking bars or other protective devices.
• Inspection, testing and maintenance: All fire pumps shall be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with NFPA 25 from the National Fire Protection Association.