Testing of Fire Protection Equipment

The Los Angeles Fire Department is pleased to offer guidance for your testing of Fire Protection Equipment in accordance with Chief's Regulation Number 4. Please scroll down for further information.

For the Chief's Regulation Number 4 Procedure Manual in PDF format, please click here.

• LAFD Bureau of Fire Prevention & Public Safety, Chief's Regulation No. 4 Unit

     -or-

• Your Neighborhood Fire Station

It is important that you first identify:


1. Which Fire Protection Systems are in your building.
2. The date that each system was last tested.
3. The testing frequency required for such systems, as outlined below:



• Basic Fire Warning Systems - 1 year
• Complex Fire Warning Systems - 1 year
• Central Station Signalling Systems - 1 year
• Smoke Management Systems - 1 year
• Elevators, Automatic - 1 year
• Emergency Generator and Lighting Systems
• High-Rise Buildings - 1 year
• Fire Doors:
  • High-Rise Buildings - 1 year
  • All Other Buildings - 5 years
• Fire Escapes - 1 year
• Class I Standpipe Systems - 5 years
• Class II Standpipe Systems - 5 years
• Class III Standpipe Systems - 5 years
• Combined Standpipe Systems - 5 years
• Class H Standpipe Systems:
  • For Systems with a Booster Pump - 2 years
  • For all other Systems - 5 years
• Fire Pumps - 1 year
• Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems - 5 years
• Note: Preaction, Deluge and Dry Pipe Systems are tested annually.
• Pressure Reducing Valves (PRV's) - 1 year
• Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems - Every 6 months

• If a Chief's Regulation No. 4 test is required, please contact a certified tester to schedule and perform your test.
• A list of currently certified testers is available from the Chief's Regulation No. 4 Unit.
• An LAFD Fire Inspector (or your Neighborhood Fire Station) must be given 2 working days notice prior to conducting the test. (Monday through Friday, not including Holidays).
• The certified tester must provide two copies of the test results on Fire Department approved forms, with all defects clearly noted. Within 7 days, copies of the report must be forwarded through the Chief's Regulation No. 4 Unit.
• Repair and Restest: If defects are found in equipment that is being tested, correction on such defects shall commence forthwith and shall be completed as soon as possible, but in every case within 30 days of the initial test. At the completion of such repair, the system or device shall be retested as necessary to determine that it is fully operable.
• Defects in a building's fire life safety systems may be found during the routine annual fire inspection. At such annual inspection, a notice to conduct a Regulation No. 4 test will be given to building management.

Los Angeles Fire Department

Bureau of Fire Prevention & Public Safety

Chief's Regulation No. 4 Unit

200 North Main Street, Room 1700

Los Angeles, CA 90012 USA




 Phone: (213) 978-3596

     Fax: (213) 978-3614

E-mail: lafdreg4@lacity.org

OR CONTACT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FIRE STATION Enter an address or intersection Example: 200 N Main St or Nordhoff/De Soto Find your Fire Station and more!


You may also view a roster of all Neighborhood Fire Stations