Joint Commission discusses Fire Safety Equipment Inventories at ASHE Conference

 By David Stymiest, PE CHFM CHSP FASHE

The Joint Commission (TJC) Engineering Director George Mills addressed the issue of fire safety equipment inventories at his 2013 ASHE Annual Conference plenary in July.

Mr. Mills stated that with respect to Standard EC.02.03.05, Elements of Performance (EPs) # 1 through # 20 inclusive, every device required to be tested must be documented in an inventory. He further stated that TJC surveyors will expect the facility to be able to identify specific variances in devices tested from year to year, and that simply having the total quantity of devices without more specific definition will not be adequate. Finally, Mr. Mills stated that lack of a written, electronic, or other form of inventory addressing the devices covered by any of the 20 EPs could result in a finding against that EP. Needless to say, Organizations who have yet not finalized their EC.02.03.05 inventories can be subject to numerous RFIs during survey.