Maintenance Manual
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PEFS F3 Maintenance Manual, Version 1.2, Feb 2018
© Copyright 2017 Chubb Fire & Security Pty Ltd
MAINTENANCE
General
The following maintenance schedule is a guide and sets out minimum requirements only. All maintenance carried
out on the PEFS F3 system should be carried out in accordance with this manual and Australia Standard AS5062.
In all cases, local conditions where the system is installed should be taken into consideration when setting
maintenance frequencies. For example, in harsh environments the yearly service may need to be carried out every
6 months.
Precautions
Prior to commencing any service activity, the following precautions shall be carried out as applicable:
(a) Inform the owner or agent that service is to be carried out.
(b) Where the system may be temporarily impaired, advise the responsible entity of the nature and expected
duration of the impairment.
(c) On equipment that is remotely monitored, advise the monitoring service provider where service activities
may cause a signal to be transmitted.
(d) Disable the system to prevent testing or other service activities from causing discharge of any extinguishing
agent.
(e) Set the detection and alarm system in the appropriate test mode and isolate ancillary facilities to avoid
inadvertent operation.
(f)
“Lock-Out” the equipment to prevent its operation and movement whilst performing any maintenance
activities in and around the equipment.
On completion of any service, the system shall be restored to its normal operating condition.
Pre-Maintenance Review (Design Survey)
The design survey together with the inspection, test and preventive maintenance regime demonstrates that the fire
protection systems or equipment are functional and capable of performing to a standard not less than that to which
they were originally designed.
Prior to commencing any maintenance activities, a pre-maintenance review shall be undertaken to determine
whether:
(a) the system will perform as it is intended to the design at the time of commissioning or recommissioning;
(b) the date and level of the last scheduled maintenance that has been carried out. Where this cannot be
determined, the level of service is to be based from the cylinder date of manufacture.
(c) neither the fire protection system nor the equipment being protected has changed from the documented
system design (baseline data) as of the last commissioning. For example, obstructions to nozzles or fire
protection system component changes.
The pre-maintenance review shall include a check against the baseline data, including the approved design for
alterations, changes in use or operating environment, or other factors that could adversely affect the performance
of the fire protection system.
Any changes to the design of the system including changing the number and or location of nozzles, the number
and location of cylinders and or increasing or decreasing the length of discharge pipework shall require a system
recommissioning in accordance with the PEFS F3 Design, Installation and Commissioning Manual.
Water Quality
In many areas around Australia, whilst the water may be of drinking quality (potable), it may still contain high levels
of chloride salts that make the water unsatisfactory for prolonged contact under pressure in stainless steel
cylinders. The presence of salts in water that is used to fill PEFS F3 cylinders may have an impact to the
firefighting performance of the foam, can clog the pressure indicator, bind the valve actuation mechanism, inhibit
the removal of the cylinder valve and or lead to pitting corrosion of the cylinder.
The maximum limit of chloride ions in water used to fill PEFS cylinders is 150ppm. Only dry nitrogen (not
compressed air) shall be used to pressurise PEFS F3 systems.