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Q: Is ARCOM planning to address issues on contractor responsibility for activation, operation, and testing of smoke control systems in new and remodel construction?
A: Recently, we have experienced more difficulty between contractors on this issue; most deny responsibility for the smoke control system. In many cases, the general contractor has pressured subcontractors to participate in a successful conclusion. Some owners have requested third-party testing to alleviate a potential conflict of interest.
Obviously, we'd like to properly address the interaction between the Mechanical and Electrical Divisions to reduce the potential for conflicts in the future and are interested in knowing if future descriptive portions are planned for smoke control systems.
It is important that field quality-control testing is adequately described in each section specifying components of an overall "smoke control system" (i.e., fire alarm, HVAC controls, and air distribution). Section 13851 - Fire Alarm has field quality-control requirements described to perform the requests you are describing. There is room for improvement in the context for smoke control systems because that is not a specifically addressed "system." See the requirements in Article 3.5, "Field Quality Control," Paragraph E, Subparagraphs 6 and 7.
ARCOM is also updating MASTERSPEC Section 15900 - HVAC Instrumentation and Controls where additional focus will be given to this subject. Other sections that specify components of an overall smoke control system also have their specific testing requirements.
Regarding "responsibility," the field coordination rightfully belongs to the general contractor, unless the project is being constructed under multiple prime contracts where the mechanical and electrical contractors are prime. In the latter case, construction coordination rests with the owner, who usually delegates coordination responsibility to the general contractor or third party. MASTERSPEC is mute on assignment of work among subcontractors because it is the prime contractor's (whether single primes or multiple primes) responsibility for coordination and accomplishment of "work" performed by its subcontractors.
Among several bidders on a project, each will have differing capabilities and preferences about who should perform various parts of the overall "Work." You should discuss work responsibility with the prime contractor. Smoke detectors can be provided in fire alarms, air-handling systems, and control systems. In this case, each device must be properly installed and tested on its own and each system (temperature controls, fire alarm, and air distribution) must be properly installed and tested. When one system does not respond to the input from another, the coordinating contractor (usually the general contractor) must manage the corrective action by the subcontractor the coordinating contractor determines as "the one responsible."
These issues foster the emergence of commissioning. ARCOM is working with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and the National Institute of Building Sciences to develop whole building commissioning guidelines and guide specifications. We hope to have the first group of MASTERSPEC sections ready for distribution next year.
You have recognized the coordination issues. The solution is to make sure the project specifications have welldefined and -coordinated testing requirements to validate proper workmanship and to assure proper responses to input by initiating devices and operated devices, whoever is responsible for installation of each. Do not get caught in the middle between a prime contractor and its subcontractor in sorting out their subcontract relationships and scopes of work. If you try to sort out work assignments among a contractor's subcontractors, you may find them all attacking you and convincing you and the owner for the need for extras.
—Michael J. King, FCSI, CCS, ARCOM Director of Engineering Specifications
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