Since the 2012 NFPA has been adopted by CMS the question of Hospital Personnel making repairs to the outlets has come up frequently.  We can see that 5.1.14.2.2.5(1) Allows for this so long as the facility has given the employee proper training and certification.  

My question surrounds the testing after the outlet has been repaired.  A hospital employee fixes a broken outlet.  What is his next step?  Test it and document the repair, or does he have to call a 6030 verifier to test the outlet?

5.1.12.1.12.1 requires the function of the replaced device to be verified, but who is required to do the testing?  Must it be a 6030 verifier?  Can a properly trained hospital employee test the outlet for proper function?

Is the removal of an outlet front body to make a repair considered "Breeched" as stated in 5.1.12.1.4?

No simple answer is - YES.

Any person with the proper qualifications (see #5.1.14.2.2.50 / In-House Training, ASSE 6040 or ASSE 6030) can test the outlets and inlets after a repair, with a documented procedure.

This may be a good time to review. (IMP)

What is really at question.

Lets look at two items.

Section #5.1.12. & #5.1.14.2.2

1) Verification's - Preformed by an ASSE 6030.

Through a documented procedure and a certification report.

See section #5.1.12.1.4  Systems shall be deemed breached at the point of pipeline intrusion by physical separation or by system component removal, replacement, or addition. Plus their are many other sections that support this. Any ASSE 6030 should be totally clear on this section, when and where a certification / verification is required.

2) Inspections & Testing - Preformed by an ASSE 6040, 6030 or In-House Trained Personnel.

The above listed persons can do annual inspections, testing after repairs and schedule maintenance. Section #5.1.14.2.2 will support this.

THE KEY IS ALWAYS QUALIFICIATIONS & DOCUMEATIONS

ANY PROFESSION THAT IS LIVE SUPPORTING CAN BE

LIFE THREATENING IN THE WRONG HANDS

Luke, 

To clarify, in your opinion there is a two fold criteria for what is considered "Breeched".   Physical separation, system component removal, replacement, or addition....... along with any sort of Pipeline Intrusion (i.e. pressure in the pipeline reduced to atmospheric pressure).  

The removal of an outlet front body does not meet the breeched criteria because pressure was not lost on the pipeline system, however if the shutting down of a system is required and the secondary check must be removed then the pipeline has been breeched thus requiring verification performed by an ASSE 6030.

A hospital employee or ASSE 6040 can repair AND TEST outlets as long as they do not need to remove the secondary check.  If they secondary check must be replaced they could still perform the repair, however a 6030 would have to be called to perform the test.

To be clear, I agree with your interpretation.  I think the code is not well written here (along with other places).  As I read the code it does not appear to be a two part criteria I read it as 4 possible conditions:

5.1.12.1.4 Systems shall be deemed breached at the point of pipeline intrusion by physical separation or by system component removal, replacement, or addition. 

Breeched = Pick any 1 of the below 4

1. Pipeline intrusion by physical separation

or

2. System component removal

or

3. Replacement

or

4. Addition

This would lead to almost any work requiring a 6030, which I do not believe was the intent of the code, but seems to be how the code was written.  

Thoughts?

Al, 

It sounds like you differ from Luke concerning secondary checks and shutting of zones.  Do you think a 6030 verifier is required to test after the shutting off of a zone valve for a secondary check repair or can a qualified / trained person (not ASSE 6030), do the testing after the repair via a documented procedure (i.e. testing for labeling, leaks, latching, flows and pressures)?

No, my interpretation is the same as Al's.  A verification is not required to repair an outlet primary or secondary check.

My apologies for not making this more clear initially.  I was answering specifically that I do not interpret removing an outlet front assembly as "breaching."  Nor do I consider it "breaching" to repair the outlet secondary check, replacing a threaded demand check, thread zone valve gauge, area alarm sensor or pressure switch on a demand check, etc.