If a fire alarm or automatic sprinkler system is out of service for 4 hours within a 24-hour period, what action is required?

• A. No notification is required
• B. Only after a 6-hour outage
• C. If out of service for 4 hours within 24 hours, the AHJ will evacuate or an approved fire watch will be provided
• D. Only if a fire occurs during the outage

Answer: (C)

When a fire alarm or automatic sprinkler system is out of service, you must have a temporary life-safety plan in place. If the outage reaches four hours within any 24-hour period, the Authority Having Jurisdiction requires protective action: either evacuation of occupants or an approved fire watch must be provided. This ensures there’s active monitoring and a way to alert and protect people while the system is down, since automatic detection and suppression aren’t available.

A fire watch consists of trained personnel who monitor for signs of fire, maintain clear egress, and can summon emergency responders, keeping occupants safe until the system is restored. Evacuation is the alternative if the AHJ deems it necessary for safety.

Notifying none or waiting until a fire occurs aren’t acceptable strategies because they don’t provide the necessary protection during the outage, and a 6-hour threshold isn’t the controlling rule in this scenario.