Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: False-alarm fire drills

Q: Can accidental fire alarm activations, such as burnt popcorn, be counted toward a quarterly fire drill requirement if documentation of staff response is received in regard to said accidental activation?

A: I would think so. A long as you evaluated the staff’s response; the building’s response; and the fire alarm system’s response, I would believe a false alarm activate of the fire alarm system should be considered the same as a fire drill.

Brad Keyes, CHSP, is the owner of KEYES Life Safety Compliance, and his expertise is in the management of the Life Safety Program, including the Environment of Care and Emergency Management programs.