Boston Fire Department Releases New NFPA 4 Integrated System Testing Guidelines

NFPA 4, the Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing, became applicable in Massachusetts when the commonwealth formally adopted the 10th edition of 780 CMR, Massachusetts Amendments to the International Building Code 2021 edition. This important standard will help building owners test and maintain their increasingly complex and integrated life safety systems over the life of the building.

Adopting NFPA 4 adds end-to-end acceptance testing to the Boston Fire Department’s (BFD) Certificate of Occupancy requirements.
As a newly adopted standard, the BFD has developed guidelines for design teams, contractors, and owners to reference when planning for construction at new or existing buildings. A link to the guidelines can be found here: https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2025/02/Integrated%20Systems%20Submittal%20Guidelines%202025.docx.

The following are some of the key major takeaways:
• NFPA 4 is applicable to all new high-rise construction projects.
• NFPA 4 is applicable for renovations to existing high-rise buildings where alterations are expected to include the fire alarm system and/or one or more auxiliary systems to which it’s integrated.
• A preliminary integrated fire protection and life safety system test plan is now required when submitting a building permit application to Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD).
• If a project includes a phased occupancy approach, a phased occupancy plan must be developed and submitted to ISD and BFD for review and approval. The phased occupancy plan and NFPA 4 test plan must be coordinated, and the level of integrated testing at each occupancy phase must be detailed.
• The test plan should be updated throughout construction for any design changes, corrections, etc. Any revisions must be highlighted for review and approval by BFD and ISD before the Certificate of Occupancy.
• Individual system and component pre-functional acceptance testing must be finalized before BFD schedules and performs final integrated fire protection and life safety acceptance tests.

Application of any information provided, for any use, is at the reader’s risk and without liability to Code Red Consultants. Code Red Consultants does not warrant the accuracy of any information contained in this blog as applicable codes and standards change over time. The application, enforcement and interpretation of codes and standards may vary between Authorities Having Jurisdiction and for this reason, registered design professionals should be consulted to determine the appropriate application of codes and standards to a specific scope of work.