National Fire Alarm Code NFPA-72 (Complete Testing Frequ

Table 10.4.3 - Testing Frequencies

COMPONENT

INITIAL/ REACCEPTANCE

1 Control Equipment - Building systems connected to supervising station

a) Functions

b) Fuses

c) Interfaced equipment

d) Lamps and LEDs

e) Primary (main) power supply

f) Transponders

Control equipment - Building systems not connected to supervising station

a) Functions

b) Fuses

c) Interfaced equipment

d) Lamps and LEDs

e) Primary (main) power supply

f) Transponders

Engine-driven generator - Central station facilities and fire alarm systems

Engine-driven generator - Public fire alarm reporting systems

COMPONENT

X (weekly)

INITIAL/ REACCEPTANCE

5 Batteries - Central station facilities

a) Lead-acid type
1. Charger test (replace battery as needed)

2. Discharge test (30 minutes)

3. Load voltage test

4. Specific gravity

b) Nickel-cadmium type

1. Charger test (replace battery as needed)

2. Discharge test (30 minutes)

3. Load voltage test

c) Sealed lead-acid type

1. Charger test (replace battery within 5 years after manufacture or more

frequently as needed)

2. Discharge test (30 minutes)

3. Load voltage test

Batteries - Fire alarm systems

a) Lead-acid type
1. Charger test (replace battery as needed)

2. Discharge test (30 minutes)

3. Load voltage test

4. Specific gravity

b) Nickel-cadmium type
1. Charger test (replace battery as needed)

2. Discharge test (30 minutes)

3. Load voltage test

c) Primary type (dry cell)

1. Load voltage test

d) Sealed lead-acid type

1. Charger test (replace battery within 5 years after manufacture or more
frequently as needed)

2. Discharge test (30 minutes)

3. Load voltage test

Batteries - Public fire alarm reporting systems

7

X (daily)
(From street locations to the communications center)
a) Lead-acid type
1. Charger test (replace battery as needed)

2. Discharge test (2 hours)

3. Load voltage test

4. Specific gravity

b) Nickel-cadmium type
1. Charger test (replace battery as needed)

2. Discharge test (2 hours)

3. Load voltage test

COMPONENT

INITIAL/ REACCEPTANCE

c) Sealed lead-acid type

1. Charger test (replace battery within 5 years after manufacture or more
frequently as needed)

2. Discharge test (2 hours)

3. Load voltage test

Fiber-Optic Cable Power

Control Unit Trouble Signals

10 Conductors - Metallic

11 Conductors - Nonmetallic

12 Emergency Voice / Alarm Communications Equipment

13 Retransmission Equipment

14 Remote Annunciators

15 Initiating Devices
a) Duct detectors

b) Electromechanical releasing device

c) Fire extinguishing system(s) or suppression system(s) switches

d) Fire-gas and other detectors

e) Heat detectors

f) Fire alarm boxes

g) Radiant energy fire detectors

h) System smoke detectors - functional

i) Smoke detectors - sensitivity

X
X

j) Single and multiple-station smoke alarms

k) Single and multiple-station heat alarms

l) Supervisory signal devices (except valve tamper switches)

m) Waterflow devices

n) Valve tamper switches

16 Guard's tour equipment

17 Interface equipment

18 Special hazard equipment

19 Alarm notification appliances

a) Audible devices

b) Audible textual notification appliances

c) Visible devices

COMPONENT
20 Off-premises transmission equipment

INITIAL/ REACCEPTANCE
X

21 Supervising station fire alarm systems - transmitters

a) Digital alarm communicator transmitter (DACT)

b) Digital alarm radio transmitter (DART)

c) McCulloh transmitter

d) Radio alarm transmitter (RAT)

22 Special procedures
23 Supervising station fire alarm systems - receivers

a) Digital alarm communicator receiver (DACR)

b) Digital alarm radio receiver (DARR)

c) McCulloh systems

d) Two-way RF multiplex

e) Radio alarm supervising station receiver (RASSR)

f) Radio alarm repeater station receiver (RARSR)

g) Private microwave

(Complete Testing Frequencies)

MONTHLY

QUARTERLY

SEMI- ANNUALLY

ANNUALLY

MONTHLY

QUARTERLY

SEMI- ANNUALLY

ANNUALLY

MONTHLY

QUARTERLY

SEMI- ANNUALLY

ANNUALLY

MONTHLY

QUARTERLY

SEMI- ANNUALLY

ANNUALLY

NFPA-72 Fire Alarm Testing Frequency (Summary)

Please be aware that this list is abbreviated for clarity. Please refer to NFPA-72 for the complete list of devices, test
frequencies, and procedures.
Monitored Fire Alarm Panels
WeeklyRequirement
Visual inspection of panel trouble signal leds.
QuarterlyRequirement
Visual inspection of all fire sprinkler devices connected to the alarm. This includes water flow
switches and valve tamper switches.
Test of fire pump monitored points (loss of phase, phase reversal, pump running etc...)

SemiannualRequirements
Test of sprinkler waterflow switches (flow water or manually trip flapper)

Test of sprinkler valve tamper switches (operate valves)

Visual inspection lead-acid battery (swelling or loose connections)

Test batteries - load voltage

AnnualRequirements
Test & visual inspection of panel functionality, LED's, fuses, etc

Test panel battery charger

Battery discharge test

Test & visual inspection of horns, strobes, chimes, & bells etc

Test & visual inspection of smoke detectors

Test & visual inspection of heat detectors

Test & visual inspection of duct smoke detectors

Test & visual inspection of Electromechanical Releasing Devices (Solenoid)

Test & visual inspection of Voice Evacuation equipment

Other
Replace sealed lead-acid batteries every 5 years or as test results require.

Smoke Detector Cleaning: as test results require. Many newer fire alarm panels are capable of
issuing maintenance alerts and adjusting sensitivity as the detector becomes dirtier. Both of
these features reduce false alarms.

Smoke & heat detector replacement recommended after 10 years of service.

Unmonitored Fire Alarm Panels
WeeklyRequirement

Visual inspection of panel lamps & leds, fuses, primary power supply, and interface equipment.

QuarterlyRequirement

Test of panel lamps & leds, fuses, primary power supply, and interface equipment.

Visual inspection of all fire sprinkler devices connected to the alarm. This includes water flow
switches and valve tamper switches.

Test of fire pump monitor points (loss of phase, phase reversal, pump running etc...)

SemiannualRequirements
Test of sprinkler waterflow switches (by flowing water)

Test of sprinkler valve tamper switches

Visual inspection lead-acid battery (swelling or loose connections)

Test batteries - load voltage

AnnualRequirements
Battery discharge test (30 minutes)

Test & visual inspection of horns, strobes, chimes, & bells etc

Test & visual inspection of smoke detectors

Test & visual inspection of heat detectors

Test & visual inspection of duct smoke detectors

Test & visual inspection of Electromechanical Releasing Devices (Solenoid)

Test & visual inspection of Voice Evacuation equipment

Other
Replace sealed lead-acid batteries every 5 years or as test results require.

Smoke Detector Cleaning: as test results require. Many newer fire alarm panels are capable of
issuing maintenance alerts and adjusting sensitivity as the detector becomes dirtier. Both of
these features reduce false alarms.

Smoke & heat detector replacement recommended after 10 years of service.

Please be aware that the above list is abbreviated for clarity. Please refer to NFPA 72 for the complete list of devices,
test frequencies, and procedures.