The provisions of Chapter 21 shall cover the minimum requirements and methods for emergency control function interfaces to fire alarm systems and emergency communications systems in accordance with this chapter.
The requirements of Chapter 14 shall apply.
The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to Chapter 29 unless otherwise stated.
Emergency control functions shall be permitted to be performed automatically.
The performance of automatic emergency control functions shall not interfere with power for lighting or for operating elevators.
The performance of automatic emergency control functions shall not preclude the combination of fire alarm services with other services requiring monitoring of operations.
Emergency control function interface devices shall be located within 3 ft (1 m) of the component controlling the emergency control function.
The emergency control function interface device shall function within the voltage and current limitations of the fire alarm control unit.
The installation wiring between the fire alarm control unit and the emergency control function interface device shall be Class A, Class B, Class D, Class N, or Class X in accordance with Chapter 12.
Emergency control functions shall not interfere with other operations of the fire alarm system.
The method(s) of interconnection between the fire alarm system and emergency control function interface device shall be monitored for integrity in accordance with Section 12.6.
The method(s) of interconnection between the emergency control function interface device and the component controlling the emergency control function shall comply with the applicable provisions of NFPA 70.
The method(s) of interconnection between the emergency control function interface device and the component controlling the emergency control function shall be achieved by one of the following recognized means:
- Electrical contacts listed for the connected load
- Data communications over a signaling line circuit(s) dedicated to the fire alarm or shared with other premises operating systems
- Other listed methods
If a fire alarm system is a component of a life safety network and it communicates data to other systems providing life safety functions, or it receives data from such systems, the following shall apply:
- The path used for communicating data shall be monitored for integrity. This shall include monitoring the physical communication media and the ability to maintain intelligible communications.
- Data received from the network shall not affect the operation of the fire alarm system in any way other than to display the status of life safety network components.
- Where non-fire alarm systems are interconnected to the fire alarm system using a network or other digital communication technique, a signal (e.g., heartbeat, poll, ping, query) shall be generated between the fire alarm system and the non-fire alarm system. Failure of the fire alarm system to receive confirmation of the transmission shall cause a trouble signal to indicate within 200 seconds.
All fire alarm initiating devices used to initiate elevator Phase I Emergency Recall Operation shall be connected to the required building fire alarm system.
In facilities without a required building fire alarm system, fire alarm initiating devices used to initiate elevator Phase 1 Emergency Recall Operation shall be connected to either a nonrequired building fire alarm system or a dedicated function fire alarm control unit that shall be designated as "elevator recall control and supervisory control unit," permanently identified on the dedicated function fire alarm control unit and on the record drawings.
Unless otherwise required by the authority having jurisdiction, only the elevator lobby, elevator hoistway, elevator machine room, elevator control room, and elevator control space smoke detectors or other automatic fire detection as permitted by 21.3.9 shall be used to initiate elevator Phase I Emergency Recall Operation.
Exception: A waterflow switch shall be permitted to initiate elevator Phase I Emergency Recall Operation upon activation of a sprinkler installed at the bottom of the elevator hoistway (the elevator pit), provided the waterflow switch and pit sprinkler are installed on a separately valued sprinkler line dedicated solely for protecting the elevator pit, and the waterflow switch is provided without time-delay capability.
Each initiating device used to initiate Phase I Emergency Recall Operation shall be capable of initiating elevator recall when all other devices on the same initiating device circuit have been manually or automatically placed in the alarm condition.
A lobby smoke detector shall be located on the ceiling within 21 ft (6.4 m) of the centerline of each elevator door within the elevator bank under control of the detector.
Exception: For lobby ceiling configurations exceeding 15 ft (4.6 m) in height or that are other than flat and smooth, detector locations shall be determined in accordance with Chapter 17.
Smoke detectors shall not be installed in unsprinklered elevator hoistways unless they are installed to activate the elevator hoistway smoke relief equipment or where required by Chapter 30 of the California Building Code.
When sprinklers are required in elevator hoistways by other codes or standards, fire alarm initiating devices shall be installed to initiate elevator recall in accordance with 2.27.3.2.1(c) of ANSI/ASME A.17.1/CSA B44, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, and the following shall apply:
- Where sprinklers are located above the lowest level of recall, the fire detection device shall be located at the top of the hoistway.
- Where sprinklers are located in the bottom of the hoistway (the pit), fire detection device(s) shall be installed in the pit in accordance with Chapter 17.
- Outputs to the elevator controller(s) shall comply with 21.3.13.
Smoke detectors shall not be installed in elevator hoistways to initiate elevator recall unless the smoke detector is listed for the environment.
If ambient conditions prohibit installation of automatic smoke detection used to initiate elevator Phase I Emergency Recall Operation, other automatic fire detection initiating devices shall be permitted.
When actuated, any fire alarm initiating device that is used to initiate elevator Phase 1 Emergency Recall Operation shall be annunciated at the building fire alarm control unit or at the fire alarm control unit described in 21.3.2.
Actuation from the elevator hoistway, elevator machine room, elevator machinery space, elevator control space, or elevator control room smoke detectors or other automatic fire detection as permitted by 21.3.9 shall cause separate and distinct visible annunciation at the building fire alarm control unit or at the fire alarm control unit described in 21.3.2.
Where approved by the authority having jurisdiction, the detectors used to initiate elevator recall shall be permitted to initiate a supervisory signal in lieu of an alarm signal.
Separate outputs from the building fire alarm control unit or the fire alarm control unit described in 21.3.2 to the elevator controller(s) shall be provided to implement elevator Phase I Emergency Recall Operation in accordance with Section 2.27 of ANSI/ASME A17.1/CSA B44, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, as required in 21.3.13.1 through 21.3.13.3.
For each elevator or group of elevators, an output shall be provided to signal elevator recall to the designated level in response to the following:
- Activation of smoke detectors or other automatic fire detection as permitted by 21.3.9 located at any elevator lobby served by the elevator(s) other than the lobby at the designated level
- Activation of smoke detectors or other automatic fire detection as permitted by 21.3.9 located at any elevator machine room, elevator machinery space, elevator control space, or elevator control room serving the elevator(s), except where such rooms or spaces are located at the designated level
- Activation of smoke detectors or other automatic fire detection as permitted by 21.3.9 located in the elevator hoistway serving the elevator where sprinklers or elevator control spaces or elevator machinery spaces are located in the hoistway, unless otherwise specified in 21.3.13.2(3)
For each elevator or group of elevators, an output shall be provided to signal elevator recall to the alternate level in response to the following:
- Activation of smoke detectors, or automatic fire detection as permitted by 21.3.9, located at the designated level lobby served by the elevator(s)
- Activation of smoke detectors, or other automatic fire detection as permitted by 21.3.9, located in the elevator machine room, elevator machinery space, elevator control space, or elevator control room serving the elevator(s) if such rooms or spaces are located at the designated level
- *Activation of the initiating devices identified in 21.3.13.1(3) if they are installed at or below the lowest level of recall in the elevator hoistway and the alternate level is located above the designated level
For each elevator or group of elevators, an output shall be provided to the elevator controller in response to any of the following:
- Activation of the elevator machine room, elevator machinery space, elevator control space, or elevator control room initiating devices identified in 21.3.13.1(2) or 21.3.13.2(2)
- Activation of the elevator hoistway initiating devices identified in 21.3.13.1(3) or 21.3.13.2(3)
Where heat detectors are used to shut down elevator power prior to sprinkler operation, the detector shall have both a lower temperature rating and a higher sensitivity as compared to the sprinkler.
If heat detectors are used to shut down elevator power prior to sprinkler operation, they shall be placed within 24 in. (610 mm) of each sprinkler and be installed in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 17.
Engineering methods, such as those specified in Annex B, shall be permitted to be used to select and place heat detectors to ensure response prior to any sprinkler operation under a variety of fire growth rate scenarios.
If pressure or waterflow switches are used to shut down elevator power immediately upon, or prior to, the discharge of water from sprinklers, the use of devices with time-delay switches or time-delay capability shall not be permitted.
Control circuits to shut down elevator power shall be monitored for the presence of operating voltage. Loss of voltage to the control circuit for the disconnecting means shall cause a supervisory signal to be indicated at the building fire alarm control unit or at the control unit described in 21.3.2.
The initiating devices described in 21.4.2 and 21.4.3 shall be monitored for integrity by the fire alarm control unit required in 21.3.1 and 21.3.2.
Where one or more elevators are specifically designated and marked as fire service access elevators, 21.5.l and 21.5.2 shall apply.
Status of elevator(s), including location within the hoistway, direction of travel, and whether the elevator(s) are occupied, shall be permitted to be displayed on a building fire alarm system annunciator located at the fire command center.
Temperature and presence of smoke in associated lobbies, machine rooms, control rooms, machinery spaces, or control spaces shall be continuously monitored and displayed on a building fire alarm system annunciator located at the fire command center.
The conditions in 21.5.1 and 21.5.2 shall be permitted to be displayed on a standard emergency services interface complying with Section 18.11.
Where one or more elevators are specifically designated and marked for use by occupants for evacuation during fires, they shall comply with all of the provisions of Sections 21.5 and 21.6.
Outputs from the fire alarm system to the elevator controller(s) shall be provided to implement elevator occupant evacuation operation in accordance with Section 2.27 of ASME A17.1/CSA B44 (2013), Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, as required in 21.6.2.1 and 21.6.2.2.
Where an elevator or group of elevators is designated for use by occupants for evacuation, the provisions of 21.6.2.1.1 through 21.6.2.1.4 shall apply for partial evacuation.
Output signal(s) shall be provided to initiate elevator occupant evacuation operation upon automatic or manual detection of a fire on a specific floor or floors as a result of either or both of the following:
- Activation of any automatic fire alarm initiating device in the building, other than an initiating device used for elevator Phase I Emergency Recall Operation in accordance with 21.3.13
- *Activation of manual means at the fire command center by authorized or emergency personnel
The identified floors shall be a contiguous block of floors including the following:
- The floor with the first activated automatic initiating device.
- Floors with any subsequently activated automatic initiating device(s).
- Floors identified by manual means from the fire command center.
- Two floors above the highest floor identified by 21.6.2.1.2(C)(1) through 21.6.2.1.2(C)(3).
- Two floors below the lowest floor identified by 21.6.2.1.2(C)(1) through 21.6.2.1.2(C)(3).
The identified floors shall be displayed on a standard emergency services interface along with the other elevator status information required by 21.6.1.
A means shall be provided at the fire command center to allow the manual selection of floors.
The in-building fire emergency voice/alarm communications system shall transmit co-ordinated messages throughout the building.
Automatic voice evacuation messages shall be transmitted to the floors identified in 21.6.2.1.2 to indicate the need to evacuate and that elevator service is available.
Automatic voice messages shall be transmitted to the floors not being evacuated to inform occupants of evacuation status and shall include an indication that elevator service is not available.
Automatic voice messages shall be transmitted to the floors identified in 21.6.2.1.2 to indicate that elevator service is not available when all elevators have been recalled on Phase I Emergency Recall Operation.
Where an elevator or group of elevators is designated for use by occupants for evacuation, the provisions of 21.6.2.2.1 through 21.6.2.2.3 shall apply for total evacuation.
Output(s) to signal elevator occupant evacuation operation for total evacuation shall be manually activated from the fire command center by a means labeled "ELEVATOR TOTAL BUILDING EVACUATION."
The output(s) shall identify that all floors are to be evacuated.
The in-building fire emergency voice/alarm communications system shall transmit an evacuation message throughout the building to indicate the need to evacuate.
The provisions of Section 21.7 shall apply to the basic method by which a fire alarm system interfaces with the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.
If connected to the fire alarm system serving the protected premises, all detection devices used to cause the operation of HVAC systems, smoke dampers, fire dampers, fan control, smoke doors, or fire doors shall be monitored for integrity in accordance with Section 12.6.
Connections between fire alarm systems and the HVAC system for the purpose of monitoring and control shall operate and be monitored in accordance with applicable NFPA standards.
Smoke detectors mounted in the air ducts of HVAC systems shall initiate a supervisory signal.
Smoke detectors mounted in the air ducts of HVAC systems in a fire alarm system without a constantly attended location or supervising station shall be permitted to initiate an alarm signal.
Smoke detectors mounted in the air ducts of HVAC systems shall be permitted to initiate an alarm signal where required by other governing laws, codes, or standards.
If the fire alarm control unit actuates the HVAC system for the purpose of smoke control, the automatic alarm-initiating zones shall be coordinated with the smoke control zones they actuate.
If carbon monoxide detection or a dedicated carbon monoxide system initiates a ventilation response, a smoke control response of the fire alarm system shall take precedence over the response of the carbon monoxide detectors during a fire alarm condition.
Where interconnected as a combination system, a fire fighter's smoke control station (FSCS) shall be provided to perform manual control over the automatic operation of the system's smoke control strategy.
Where interconnected as a combination system, the smoke control system programming shall be designed such that normal HVAC operation or changes do not prevent the intended performance of the smoke control strategy.
The provisions of Section 21.8 shall apply to the methods of connection of door and shutter hold-open release devices and to integral door and shutter hold-open release, closer, and smoke detection devices.
All detection devices used for door and shutter hold-open release service shall be monitored for integrity in accordance with Section 12.6.
Exception: Smoke detectors used only for door and shutter release and not for open area protection.
All door and shutter hold-open release and integral door and shutter release and closure devices used for release service shall be monitored for integrity in accordance with Section 12.6.
Magnetic door and shutter holders that allow doors to close upon loss of operating power shall not be required to have a secondary power source.
Electrically locked doors in a required means of egress shall unlock in the direction of egress where required by other laws, codes, and governing standards.
For all means of egress doors connected in accordance with 21.9.1 where secondary power supplies of fire alarm control units are used, they shall comply with 10.6.7.
Secondary power supplies of fire alarm control units shall not be utilized to maintain means of egress doors in the locked condition unless the fire alarm control unit is arranged with circuitry and sufficient secondary power to ensure that the means of egress doors will unlock within 10 minutes of loss of primary power.
Locks powered by independent power supplies dedicated to lock power and access control functions, and that unlock upon loss of power, shall not be required to comply with 21.9.2.
If means of egress doors are unlocked by the fire alarm system, the unlocking function shall occur prior to, or concurrent with, activation of any public-mode notification appliances in the area(s) served by the normally locked means of egress doors.
All doors that are required to be unlocked by the fire alarm system in accordance with 21.9.1 shall remain unlocked until the fire alarm condition is manually reset.
Where required by other governing laws, codes, standards, or the authority having jurisdiction, exit marking audible notification appliances shall be activated by the building fire alarm system.
Exit marking systems shall meet the requirements of Chapter 18.