Shop drawings for fire alarm systems shall be submitted for review and approval prior to system installation, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following where applicable to the system being installed:
- A floor plan that indicates the use of all rooms.
- Locations of alarm-initiating devices.
- Locations of alarm notification appliances, including candela ratings for visible alarm notification appliances.
- Design minimum audibility level for occupant notification.
- Location of fire alarm control unit, transponders and notification power supplies.
- Annunciators.
- Power connection.
- Battery calculations.
- Conductor type and sizes.
- Voltage drop calculations.
- Manufacturers' data sheets indicating model numbers and listing information for equipment, devices and materials.
- Details of ceiling height and construction.
- The interface of fire safety control functions.
- Classification of the supervising station.
All plans and shop drawings shall use the symbols identified in NFPA 170, Standard for Fire Safety and Emergency Symbols.
Exception: Other symbols are allowed where approved by the enforcing agency.
- Electrical schematics showing the fire alarm system and all other information necessary to determine the correct methods of installation. Prior to the commencement of installation, the manufacturer and State Fire Marshal listing shall be included for all components of the system.
- Written sequence of operation describing, in detail, what is to occur upon activation of a system or device and how the system or device interfaces with other systems. Included in this written sequence of operation shall be all other information necessary to determine the operation which would be required for the type of occupancy.
For the purpose of Section 907, fire walls and fire barrier walls shall not define separate buildings.
A fire alarm system shall not be used for any purpose other than fire warning or mass notification and where permitted by NFPA 72.
An approved fire alarm system installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and NFPA 72 shall be provided in new buildings and structures in accordance with Sections 907.2.1 through 907.2.23 and provide occupant notification in accordance with Section 907.5, unless other requirements are provided by another section of this code.
Not fewer than one manual fire alarm box shall be provided in an approved location to initiate a fire alarm signal for fire alarm systems employing automatic fire detectors or waterflow detection devices. Where other sections of this code allow elimination of fire alarm boxes due to sprinklers, or automatic fire alarm systems, a single fire alarm box shall be installed at a location approved by the enforcing agency.
Exceptions:
- The manual fire alarm box is not required for fire alarm control units dedicated to elevator recall control, supervisory service and fire sprinkler monitoring.
- The manual fire alarm box is not required for Group R-2 occupancies unless required by the fire code official to provide a means for fire watch personnel to initiate an alarm during a sprinkler system impairment event. Where provided, the manual fire alarm box shall not be located in an area that is accessible to the public.
- The manual fire alarm box is not required to be installed when approved by the fire code official.
A manual fire alarm system that activates the occupant notification system in accordance with Section 907.5 shall be installed in Group A occupancies where the occupant load due to the assembly occupancy is 300 or more. Group A occupancies not separated from one another in accordance with Section 707.3.10 of the California Building Code shall be considered as a single occupancy for the purposes of applying this section. Portions of Group E occupancies occupied for assembly purposes with an occupant load of less than 1000 shall be provided with a fire alarm system as required for the Group E occupancy.
Exception: Manual fire alarm boxes are not required where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and the occupant notification appliances will activate throughout the notification zones upon sprinkler water flow.
Every Group A building used for educational purposes shall be provided with a manual or automatic fire alarm system. This provision shall apply to, but shall not necessarily be limited to, every community college and university.
Exception: Privately owned trade or vocational schools or any firm or company which provides educational facilities and instructions for its employees.
Activation of the fire alarm in Group A occupancies with an occupant load of 1,000 or more shall initiate a signal using an emergency voice/alarm communications system in accordance with Section 907.5.2.2. For Group A occupancies with an occupant load of 10,000 or more, see Section 907.2.1.3.
Exception: Where approved, the prerecorded announcement is allowed to be manually deactivated for a period of time, not to exceed 3 minutes, for the sole purpose of allowing a live voice announcement from an approved, constantly attended location.
Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 13108.9, for all buildings or structures constructed on or after July 1, 1991, which are intended for public assemblies of 10,000 or more persons, a public address system with an emergency backup power system shall be required.
A manual fire alarm system shall be installed in Group B occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:
- The combined Group B occupant load of all floors is 500 or more.
- The Group B occupant load is more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge.
- The fire area contains an ambulatory care facility.
For Group B occupancies containing educational facilities, see Section 907.2.2.2.
Exception: Manual fire alarm boxes are not required where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and the occupant notification appliances will activate throughout the notification zones upon sprinkler water flow.
Fire areas containing ambulatory care facilities shall be provided with an electronically supervised automatic smoke detection system installed within the ambulatory care facility and in public use areas outside of tenant spaces, including public corridors and elevator lobbies.
Exception: Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 provided the occupant notification appliances will activate throughout the notification zones upon sprinkler water flow.
Every Group B building used for educational purposes shall be provided with a manual or automatic fire alarm system. This provision shall apply to, but shall not necessarily be limited to, every community college and university.
Exception: Privately owned trade or vocational schools or any firm or company which provides educational facilities and instructions for its employees.
AnA manual and automatic fire alarm system that initiates the occupant notification signal utilizing an emergency voice/alarm communication system meeting the requirements of Section 907.5.2.2 and installed in accordance with Section 907.6 shall be installed in Group E occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or more persons or containing more than one classroom or one or more rooms used for Group E or I-4 day care purposes in accordance with this section. When automatic sprinkler systems or smoke detectors are installed, such systems or detectors shall be connected to the building fire alarm system. One additional manual fire alarm box shall be located at the administration office or location approved by the AHJ.
Exceptions:
- For public school state funded construction projects see Section 907.2.29.
- For public schools see Section 907.2.3.7.
- For private schools see Section 907.2.3.8.
- Emergency voice/alarm communication systems meeting the requirements of Section 907.5.2.2 and installed in accordance with Section 907.6 shall not be required in Group E occupancies with occupant loads of 100 or less, provided that activation of the manual fire alarm system initiates an approved occupant notification signal in accordance with Section 907.5.
- Manual fire alarm boxes are not required in
Group E occupancies where all of the following
apply:
- Interior corridors are protected by smoke detectors.
- Auditoriums, cafeterias, gymnasiums and similar areas are protected by heat detectors or other approved detection devices.
- Shops and laboratories involving dusts or vapors are protected by heat detectors or other approved detection devices.
- Manual fire alarm boxes shall not be required in
Group E occupancies where all of the following
apply:
- The building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
- The emergency voice/alarm communication system will activate on sprinkler water flow.
- Manual activation is provided from a normally occupied location.
- The capability to activate the evacuation signal from a central point is provided.
- For public school state funded construction projects see Section 907.2.29.
Where more than one fire alarm control unit is used at the school campus, they shall be interconnected and shall operate all notification appliances.
Exception: Interconnection of fire alarm control units is not required when all of the following are provided:
- Buildings that are separated a minimum of 20 feet (6096 mm) and in accordance with the California Building Code; and
- There is a method of two-way communication between each classroom and the school administrative office approved by the fire enforcing agency; and
- A method of manual activation of each fire alarm system is provided.
Assembly occupancies with an occupant load of less than 1,000 and located within a Group E occupancy campus or building shall be provided with a fire alarm system as required for the Group E occupancy.
The fire alarm system notification shall comply with the requirements of Section 907.5.
Annunciation of the fire alarm system shall comply with the requirements of Section 907.6.4.1.
School fire alarm systems shall be monitored in accordance with Section 907.6.6.3.
Automatic detection shall be provided in accordance with this section.
Smoke detectors shall be installed at the ceiling of every room and in "ceiling-plenums" utilized for environmental air. Where the ceiling is attached directly to the underside of the roof structure, smoke detectors shall be installed on the ceiling only.
Exception: Where the environment or ambient conditions exceed smoke detector installation guidelines, heat detectors or fire sprinklers shall be used.
Heat detectors shall be installed in combustible spaces where sprinklers or smoke detectors are not installed.
- A manual fire alarm system may be provided for a relocatable building that is sited with the intent that it be at the site for less than three years and is sited upon a temporary foundation in a manner that is designed to permit easy removal. Also see CCR, Title 24, Part 1, California Administrative Code, Section 4-314 for definition of relocatable building.
- A fire alarm system is not required for
detached buildings designed and used for noninstructional
purposes that meet the applicable
requirements for that occupancy. Buildings
would include, but not be limited to:
Concession Stand
Press Box
Restroom Facilities
Shade Structure
Snack Bar
Storage Building
Ticket Booth
An automatic fire alarm system shall be provided in new buildings of private schools.
Exception: Automatic detection devices are not required where an approved automatic sprinkler system is installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and the occupant notification appliances will activate on sprinkler water flow and manual activation is provided from a normally occupied location.
An automatic fire alarm system shall be provided in all buildings used as or containing a Group E day care.
Exception: Automatic detection devices are not required where an approved automatic sprinkler system is installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and the occupant notification appliances will activate on sprinkler water flow and manual activation is provided from a normally occupied location.
Smoke detectors shall be installed in every room used for sleeping or napping.