FIRE ALARM SYSTEMThe Basics

NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code® 2007Not a Code unless adapted by AHJ

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code® 2006Not a Code unless adapted by AHJ

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code®2006 “The purpose of the code is to provide minimum

requirements, with regard to function, for the design, operation and maintenance of buildings or structures for safety of life from fire”

This is accomplished by: 1.) Protection of occupants not intimate with the

Initial fire development 2.) Improvement of the survivability of occupants intimate

with the initial fire development.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

NFPA 72 “The purpose of this code is to define the

means of signal initiation, transmission, notification, and annunciation; the levels of performance; and the reliability of the various types of fire alarm systems.”

“The purpose of fire alarm systems shall be primarily to provide notification of fire alarm, supervisory, and trouble conditions; to alert the occupants; to summon aid; and to control fire safety functions.”

Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm System

Visible Signaling Terminology

Candela (cd) Candela effective

(cd eff.) Direct signaling Indirect signaling

Visible Signaling

Strobes Not just Strobes

Textual Graphical

Mass Notification.

Truth or ConsequencesVisible Signaling

NFPA 72 Prescriptive requirements Do Not Performance requirements Agree

Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm System

Visible Signaling in Corridors

Direct signaling For corridors no wider thatn 20ft

Appliances rated at not less thatn 15 cd Located no more than 15 fr from end Separation not greater than 100 ft

between appliances Any interruptions in viewing path treated

as separate areas

Fire Alarm System

Sleeping Areas

16 feet max between

110 or 177 cd eff

Visible Appliance Synchronization

Appliance flash rate limited by U.L.If more than two applieances can be viewed-synchronizeIf more than two synchronized groups can be viewed – synchronize the synchronized groupsIf more than two synchronized systems can be viewed – synchronize the synchronized systemsNot required for viewing from outside.

Visual Signaling in LargeSpaces

Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm System