LIFE SAFETY CODE CSA C282

What Is It? Why You Should Care. Are You Compliant?

As buildings change and with more uses that are non-traditional, so comes the need for greater life safety standards. The Life Safety Code C282 is the most widely used source for strategies to protect people based on building construction, protection, and occupancy features that minimize the effects of fire and related hazards.

Generators and back-up power systems that provide power to your lighting systems, elevators, stairway pressurization fans, fire pumps, and fire alarm systems, within your building structure are classified as life safety. In Canada, many regions have adopted the national CSA C282 standard for emergency power for buildings which covers:

• Design
• Installation
• Operation
• Maintenance

Code compliant generator maintenance will reduce exposure to the owner, property manager or landlord from pending
lawsuits or injury to their tenants during an emergency power failure. Buildings and facilities that do not meet the new Fire
Code standards are subject to one or more of the following:

• Order to comply
• Fines
• Eviction

In order to comply with the CSA’s Code C282 your generator needs to be inspected, tested and maintained on a weekly and monthly basis.

The weekly tests include:

• Confirming engine fluid levels
• Confirming fuel level in the day tank (2 hours minimum), inspect condition of the tanks, and the proper operation of the fuel transfer pump
• Inspecting engine, fuel tanks and cooling systems for evidence of leakage
• Inspecting battery electrolyte level, specific gravity and electrical connections
• Checking lubricant and/or coolant heater operation, inspecting governor linkage and fan belt
• Inspecting control panel covers for security, test annunciator lamps, inspect control panel settings and test remote annunciation panels
• Correcting all defects found
• Entering all inspections, tests and corrective actions in the system logbook

The Monthly tests include:

• Performing weekly inspections
• Performing a 60-minute building load test at least 30% of the rated load
• Inspecting for proper operation of all auxiliary equipment (i.e., room ventilation)
• Draining the exhaust system condensate trap
• Correcting all defects found
• Entering all inspections, tests, corrective actions and instrument readings in the system logbook

The semi-annual, annual and 5-year inspections will need to be completed by a qualified contractor.

TOTAL POWER ON LOAD BANK TESTING