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907.2 Where Required in New Buildings and Occupancies
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An approved manual, automatic, or manual and automatic fire alarm system shall be provided in new buildings and occupancies in accordance with Sections 907.2.1 through 907.2.24 and NFPA 72. For the purposes of Sections 907.2.1 through 907.2.24, fire barrier walls or fire walls shall not define separate buildings. In buildings containing mixed occupancies that are designed as separated uses (see Section 102.11), fire alarm and detection systems need only be installed in those occupancies where required by this section.
Exception: In areas protected by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, automatic fire detectors required by Section 907.2 need not be provided. Where Section 907.2 requires smoke detectors, such protection shall be installed.
A fire alarm system shall be installed in accordance with Sections 907.2.1 through 907.2.1.3 in Group A occupancies having an occupant load of 300 or more.
Exceptions:
- Assembly areas used solely for worship purposes.
- A fire alarm system is not required in buildings with an occupant load less than 1,000 when an approved automatic fire sprinkler system is installed throughout the building.
- Assembly uses located inside Group E occupancies shall have alarms as required for the Group E occupancy.
- Group A-5 occupancies. See also Section 907.2.11.
The required fire alarm system shall activate an audible and visible notification appliance at a constantly attended location within the building for the purposes of initiating emergency action. A presignal feature and positive alarm sequencing in accordance with NFPA 72 are permitted. Occupant notification shall be by means of voice announcements, either live or prerecorded, initiated by the person in the constantly attended location.
Exception: Where no constantly attended location exists, an automatic fire alarm system providing a general evacuation signal or an approved emergency voice/alarm communications system is permitted.
Activation of the fire alarm system in Group A occupancies with an occupant load of 1,000 or more shall immediately initiate an approved prerecorded message announcement using an approved emergency voice/alarm communications system in accordance with NFPA 72.
Exception: Where approved, the prerecorded announcement is allowed to be manually deactivated for a period of time, not to exceed three minutes, for the sole purpose of allowing a live voice announcement from an approved, constantly attended location.
A fire alarm system shall be installed in accordance with Sections 907.2.2 through 907.2.2.3 in Group B occupancies if:
- The building has an occupant load of 500 or more persons;
- The building has an occupant load of more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge; or
- The building contains an ambulatory care facility.
When automatic sprinkler systems or automatic fire detectors are installed in ambulatory care facilities, such systems or detectors shall be connected to the building fire alarm system.
Exception: In other than ambulatory care facilities, a fire alarm system is not required when an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system is installed throughout the building.
Initiation of the fire alarm system shall be by automatic means. Approved automatic fire detectors shall be provided in boiler and furnace rooms, shops, kitchens, mechanical and electrical rooms, trash-collection rooms, storage rooms and similar areas. In ambulatory care facilities, initiation of the fire alarm system shall also be by manual means.
Activation of the fire alarm system shall initiate a general evacuation signal.
Exception: In lieu of audible notification appliances, visible notification appliances shall be permitted to be used in patient care areas.
A fire alarm system shall be installed in accordance with Sections 907.2.3 through 907.2.3.3 in Group E occupancies having an occupant load of 50 or more.
Initiation of the fire alarm system shall be by manual and automatic means. Approved automatic fire detectors shall be provided in laundry rooms, boiler and furnace rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms, shops, laboratories, kitchens, locker rooms, custodial closets, trash-collection rooms, storage rooms, lounges and similar areas.
Exceptions:
- In buildings protected throughout by an approved, fire sprinkler system, manual fire alarm boxes are only required in the main office and in a custodial area.
- Where all corridors are protected by an approved automatic fire alarm system having smoke detection with alarm verification, manual fire alarm boxes are only required near exits serving shops, chemistry and physics laboratories, boiler rooms, industrial technology and industrial arts rooms, kitchens, custodian's offices and main offices.
Where the only means of egress travel from an interior room or rooms having an aggregate occupant load of more than ten occupants is through an adjoining or intervening room, automatic smoke detectors shall be installed throughout the common atmosphere through which the path of egress travel passes.
Exception: In buildings that are protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, smoke detectors are not required in intervening or adjoining rooms.
Activation of the fire alarm system or automatic sprinkler system shall initiate a general evacuation signal.
A fire alarm system shall be installed in accordance with Sections 907.2.4 through 907.2.4.2 in Group F occupancies that are two or more stories in height and have an occupant load of 500 or more above or below the lowest level of exit discharge.
Exception: A fire alarm system is not required when an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system is installed throughout the building.
Activation of the fire alarm system shall initiate a general evacuation signal.
A fire alarm system shall be installed in accordance with Sections 907.2.5 through 907.2.5.2 in Group H-5 occupancies, occupancies used for the manufacture of organic coatings and, when required by Chapters 60, 62, and 63, at the following locations:
- Rooms or areas where highly toxic compressed gases are stored or used;
- Rooms or areas where Class I, II or III organic peroxides are stored; and
- Liquid and solid oxidizer storage areas.
Initiation of the fire alarm system in Group H-5 occupancies and in occupancies used for the manufacture of organic coatings shall be by manual means. Initiation of fire alarm systems installed for highly toxic gases, organic peroxides and oxidizers shall be by automatic means, as specified in Chapters 60, 62, and 63.
Activation of the fire alarm system in Group H-5 occupancies and in occupancies used for the manufacture of organic coatings shall initiate a general evacuation signal. Activation of the automatic detection systems installed for highly toxic gases, organic peroxides and oxidizers shall sound a local alarm.
A fire alarm system shall be installed in accordance with Sections 907.2.6 through 907.2.6.4.2 in Group I occupancies.
A manual and automatic fire alarm system shall be installed in Group I-1 occupancies in accordance with Sections 907.2.6.1.1 through 907.2.6.1.3.
Initiation of the fire alarm system shall be by manual and automatic means. Approved automatic fire detectors shall be installed in laundry and soiled linen rooms, boiler and furnace rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms, shops, laboratories, kitchens, locker rooms, custodial closets, trash-collection rooms, storage rooms, lounges, gift shops and similar areas. Automatic smoke detectors shall be provided in corridors and areas that are open to corridors.
Exception: Manual fire alarm boxes in patient sleeping areas of Group I-1 occupancies shall not be required at exits if located at all nurses' stations or other constantly attended staff locations, provided such fire alarm boxes are visible and continuously accessible, if travel distances required by Section 907.4.2 are not exceeded.
Activation of the fire alarm system or automatic sprinkler system shall initiate a general evacuation signal. In addition, activation of the fire alarm system shall immediately transmit an alarm to an approved central station or remote station service.
Exceptions:
- In lieu of audible notification appliances, visible notification appliances shall be allowed to be used in critical care areas.
- Where occupants are incapable of evacuating themselves because of age, physical/mental disabilities or physical restraint, only the attendants or other personnel required to evacuate occupants from a zone, area, floor or building shall be required to be notified. This notification shall include means to readily identify the zone, area, floor or building in need of evacuation.
A manual and automatic fire alarm system shall be installed in Group I-2 occupancies in accordance with Sections 907.2.6.2 through 907.2.6.2.4.
Initiation of the fire alarm system shall be by manual and automatic means. Approved automatic fire detectors shall be installed in laundry and soiled linen rooms, boiler and furnace rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms, shops, laboratories, kitchens, locker rooms, custodial closets, trash-collection rooms, storage rooms, lounges, gift shops, and similar areas. Hospitals, nursing homes (both intermediate care and skilled nursing facilities), board and care homes, and detoxification facilities shall be provided with smoke detection throughout the corridor and areas open to the corridors, other than nurses' stations.
Exceptions:
- Corridor smoke detection shall not be required where the sleeping room smoke detectors required in Section 907.2.6.2.3 are connected to an approved fire alarm system and activate a general evacuation signal.
- Manual fire alarm boxes shall not be required at exits from patient sleeping areas if located at all nurses' stations or other constantly attended staff locations, provided such fire alarm boxes are visible and continuously accessible and that travel distances horizontally on the same floor shall not exceed 200 feet to reach a manual fire alarm box.
Activation of the fire alarm system or automatic sprinkler system shall initiate a signal that is distinctive from audible signals used for other purposes in the same building. Such signal is intended to notify staff and need not meet the minimum sound pressure levels required for general evacuation fire alarm notification. In addition, activation of the fire alarm system shall immediately transmit an alarm to an approved central station or remote station service.
Exceptions:
- In lieu of audible notification appliances, visible notification appliances shall be allowed to be used in critical care areas.
- Where occupants are incapable of evacuating themselves because of age, physical/mental disabilities, or physical restraint, only the attendants or other personnel required to evacuate occupants from a zone, area, floor, or building shall be required to be notified. This notification shall include means to readily identify the zone, area, floor, or building in need of evacuation.
- Where total evacuation of occupants is impractical due to building configuration, only the occupants in the affected zones shall be initially notified. Provisions shall be made to selectively notify occupants in other zones to afford orderly evacuation of the entire building.
Smoke detectors shall be installed in patient sleeping rooms of hospitals and nursing homes. Such detector's primary power shall be other than battery power. Actuation of such detectors shall cause a visual display on the corridor side of the room where the detector is located and shall cause a distinct audible and visual alarm at the nurses' station attending the room. Such detectors may be part of the facility's fire alarm system, nurses' call system, or a standalone system.
Integral smoke detectors for automatic door-closing devices on sleeping room doors can meet the requirement for patient room smoke detectors found in Section 907.2.6.2.3 provided they perform all the required alerting functions found in Section 907.2.6.2.3.
For Group I-2 facilities, other than hospitals and nursing homes, single station smoke alarms shall be installed in resident sleeping rooms.
A manual and automatic fire alarm system shall be installed in Group I-3 occupancies in accordance with Sections 907.2.6.3 through 907.2.6.3.4.
Initiation of the fire alarm system shall be by manual and automatic means. Approved automatic fire detectors shall be installed in laundry and soiled linen rooms, boiler and furnace rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms, shops, laboratories, kitchens, locker rooms, custodial closets, trash-collection rooms, storage rooms, lounges, gift shops, commissaries and similar areas. Actuation of an automatic fire-extinguishing system, a manual fire alarm box or a fire detector shall initiate an approved fire alarm signal, which automatically notifies staff. Presignal systems shall not be used.
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