Basic Fire Alarm Code
Some basic code requirements. Be sure to look up the current code that your State has adopted to verify the code references:
All fire alarm systems require documentation and a new requirement for new systems is to have a document box installed at the fire alarm panel location.
Fire alarm drawing shall use NFPA 170 symbols. Often this does not happen and most of the time the fire marshal does not call you on it although it is a code requirement.
Documentation shall be given to owner on completion including owner’s manual, record as built drawings, record of completion and site-specific software.
Equipment shall be listed for the purpose used.
Equipment powered from the IDC or SLC shall be listed with the control. The SLC is the addressable loop circuit that powers and receives signals from devices like smoke detectors, heat detectors, pull stations, modules that monitor or turn things on and off like door holders or dampers. The IDC refers to conventional zones where you may have several smoke detectors on one zone. For example you may have all the north side first floor smoke detectors on IDC circuit 2 and the south side ones on IDC 3 etc…
All Power Supplies shall be installed to conform to NFPA 70 and they shall be UL listed for fire alarm. This means you cannot use a camera power supply to power horn strobes and you need to make sure the power supplies are supervised. I have gone on job sites where the fire alarm panel supply was not supervised so if the batteries went dead the power supply would not alert the main panel.
Fire alarm shall have two reliable power supplies: Primary and secondary. Normally this is the building power and the backup batteries. In some cases the building has a backup generator. Normally the batteries will function for 5 minutes in alarm after the main power has gone out for 24 hours.
All voice evac systems will have enough battery power to last 15 minutes in alarm after 24 hours of power loss. Voice Evacuation systems verbally tell you to leave the building or other instructions such as to stay in place if it is a mass evacuation system for disasters etc..
The secondary power supply shall switch within 10 seconds
Batteries shall re charge within 48 hours
Actuation of alarm notification appliances shall happen within 10 seconds after the alarm. This means that the sounders and flasher strobes shall start to make sound within 10 seconds after the alarm is turned on by a smoke, pull or other alarm. This notification is normally horn/strobes, strobes, horns or speaker strobes for voice.
Call Larry Love with any questions 801 898 6003
Larry works for Johnson Controls Fire Protection Larry.Love@JCI.com