The application, installation, and performance of fire alarm systems within protected premises, including fire alarm and supervisory signals, shall comply with the requirements of this chapter.
The requirements of Chapter 14 shall apply.
The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to Chapter 29 unless otherwise noted.
The requirements of 24.4 shall apply where in-building fire emergency voice/alarm communications systems are used.
The systems covered in Chapter 23 shall be for the protection of life or property, or both, by indicating the existence of heat, fire, smoke, or other emergencies impacting the protected premises.
Software and firmware within the fire alarm control system that interfaces to other required software or firmware shall be functionally compatible.
The compatible software or firmware versions shall be documented at the initial acceptance test and at any reacceptance tests.
The features required for a protected premises fire alarm system shall be documented as a part of the system design and shall be determined in accordance with 23.3.1 through 23.3.3.
Features for required systems shall be based on the requirements of other applicable codes or statutes that have been adopted by the enforcing jurisdiction.
The features for a nonrequired system shall be established by the system designer on the basis of the goals and objectives intended by the system owner.
Nonrequired protected premises systems and components shall meet the requirements of this Code.
Nonrequired systems and components shall be identified on the record drawings required in 7.2.1(14).
Protected premises fire alarm systems that serve the general fire alarm needs of a building or buildings shall include one or more of the following systems or functions:
- Manual fire alarm signal initiation
- Automatic fire alarm and supervisory signal initiation
- Monitoring of abnormal conditions in fire suppression systems
- Activation of fire suppression systems
- Activation of emergency control functions
- Activation of fire alarm notification appliances
- In-building fire emergency voice/alarm communications
- Guard's tour supervisory service
- Process monitoring supervisory systems
- Activation of off-premises signals
- Combination systems
In facilities without a building fire alarm system, a dedicated function fire alarm system shall be permitted and shall not be required to include other functions or features of a building fire alarm system.
Where a dedicated function fire alarm system exists and a building fire alarm system is subsequently installed, the systems shall be interconnected and comply with 23.8.2.
Section 23.4 provides information that shall be used in the design and installation of protected premises fire alarm systems for the protection of life and property.
Initiating device circuits, notification appliance circuits, and signaling line circuits shall be designated by class, depending on the circuit's capability to continue to operate during specified fault conditions as indicated in Sections 23.5 through 23.7.
Specified fault conditions shall result in the annunciation of a trouble signal at the protected premises within 200 seconds as required in Section 12.6.
Where the power to a device is supplied over a separate circuit from the signaling line circuit or initiating device circuit, the operation of the power circuit shall meet the performance requirements of the initiating device circuit or signaling line circuit, unless different performance requirements are established in accordance with the evaluation in 23.4.3 and approved by the authority having jurisdiction.
When determining the integrity and reliability of the interconnecting signaling paths (circuits) installed within the protected premises, the following influences shall be considered:
- Transmission media used
- Length of the circuit conductors
- Total building area covered by, and the quantity of initiating devices and notification appliances connected to, a single circuit
- Effect of a fault in the fire alarm system that would hinder the performance objectives of the system that protects the occupants, mission, and property of the protected premises
- Nature of hazards present within the protected premises
- Functional requirements of the system necessary to provide the level of protection required for the system
- Size and nature of the population of the protected premises
The assignment of class designations to initiating device circuits shall be based on their performance capabilities under abnormal (fault) conditions in accordance with the requirements for Class A or Class B pathways specified in Chapter 12.
The assignment of class designations to signaling line circuits shall be based on their performance capabilities under abnormal (fault) conditions in accordance with the requirements for Class A, Class B, Class N, or Class X pathways specified in Chapter 12.
A single fault on a pathway connected to the addressable devices shall not cause the loss of the devices in more than one zone.
For the purpose of this section, each floor of the building shall be considered a separate zone.
For the purpose of this section, if a floor of the building is subdivided into multiple zones by fire or smoke barriers and the fire plan for the protected premises allows relocation of occupants from the zone of origin to another zone on the same floor, each zone on the floor shall be considered a separate zone.
The requirements in 23.6.1 shall not apply to the following:
- Circuits between enclosures containing transponders and control units regardless of the number of initiating devices, notification appliances, or control relays that might be connected to those control units.
- Circuits connecting short-circuit fault isolation modules to enclosures containing transponders and control units where the conductors are installed in metallic raceway or equivalently protected against mechanical injury and where the circuit does not exceed 3 ft (1 m) in length.
The loss of more than one zone shall be permitted on a documented performance-based design approach.
Performance-based designs submitted to the authority having jurisdiction for review and approval shall include documentation, in an approved format, of each performance objective and applicable scenario, together with technical substantiation used in establishing the proposed zone performance.
No area or zone shall be serviced solely by a single device where Class N pathways are deployed, such that a single device failure would render an area or zone incapable of initiating input signals or receiving output signals.
Exception: When a risk analysis is performed to determine areas where a single device is sufficient and acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.
A single fault on a Class N pathway connected to the addressable devices shall not cause the loss of more than one addressable device.
Shared pathways Levels 1 and 2 shall be permitted subject to a thorough written analysis of the risks, the maintenance plans, roles and responsibilities, and a deployment plan as identified in 23.6.3.3 and when approved by an AHJ in consideration of the analysis, maintenance, and deployment plans.
Class N pathways shall not be accessible to the general public for any purpose or building occupants for any purpose other than specified in the analysis, maintenance, and deployment plans.
All equipment connected to shared pathways shall be documented in the deployment plan.
The documentation shall include manufacturer, model, listings, and intended purpose and reason for inclusion on the shared network.
The deployment plan shall identify how and where each piece of equipment is connected.
All connection ports, used or spare, where any unauthorized or unintended equipment may be added to the shared network, shall be identified as for use only by equipment consistent with the deployment plan.
Configuration upgrades and updates shall be governed by a change control plan, which determines the policy and procedure of the change and ensures that all documentation is correspondingly updated.
An organization shall be established and maintained to manage the life safety network and shall perform the following tasks:
Other service personnel, even when certified to service a specific system (i.e., fire alarm or MNS) shall be authorized and managed by this organization to ensure any outages of any system are planned, managed, and documented and appropriate steps are taken during outages to provide alternate protection of life and property.
The analysis shall be performed to determine and document communications capability as follows:
- Calculation of minimum required bandwidth such that all life safety systems can be guaranteed to operate simultaneously and within required time limits
- Total bandwidth provided by the network
- Future bandwidth requirements
- Method of providing and maintaining the prioritization of life safety traffic over non-life safety traffic
The analysis shall determine and document the power distribution capability as follows:
- The methods provided to maintain power to all shared pathway equipment
- A calculation of power requirements of all connected equipment
- Secondary power capacities provided to maintain all life safety equipment with minimum operational capacity in accordance with 10.6.7.2.1.2
- Methods to disengage any non-life safety equipment in the event of emergency operation if required to support the minimum operational capacity requirements
The maintenance plan shall identify policy and procedures to monitor, maintain, test, and control change of the shared pathways.
Written procedures shall be presented in maintenance plans to govern the following:
- Physical access to all parts of the Class N network equipment (i.e., switches, ports, server, controllers, devices, or components)
- Electronic access to all parts of the Class N network (i.e., passwords, addresses)
- *Service outage impairment process with notices of impairment and contingency plans for affected systems
- Upgrade procedures
- Change control procedures, with consideration given to require an updated risk analysis if necessary
- Prioritization and/or segregation configuration information for life safety traffic
- Maintenance and testing plans to ensure the minimum operational capacity with respect to secondary power is maintained
- Other service, maintenance, or reconfiguration plans for any connected equipment
Any other identifiable risk as required by the AHJ shall be discussed and addressed in the analysis and maintenance plans.
The assignment of class designations to notification appliance circuits shall be based on their performance capabilities under abnormal (fault) conditions in accordance with the requirements for Class A, Class B, or Class X pathways specified in Chapter 12.
Systems that have a presignal feature complying with 23.8.1.1 shall be permitted if approved by the authority having jurisdiction.
A presignal feature shall meet the following conditions:
- The initial fire alarm signals sound only in department offices, control rooms, fire brigade stations, or other constantly attended central locations.
- Where there is a connection to a remote location, the transmission of the fire alarm signal to the supervising station activates upon the initial alarm signal.
- Subsequent system operation is by either of the following means:
Systems that have positive alarm features complying with 23.8.1.2 shall be permitted if approved by the authority having jurisdiction.
The positive alarm sequence operation shall comply with the following:
- To initiate the positive alarm sequence operation, the signal from an automatic fire detection device selected for positive alarm sequence operation shall be acknowledged at the fire alarm control unit by trained personnel within 15 seconds of annunciation.
- If the signal is not acknowledged within 15 seconds, notification signals in accordance with the building evacuation or relocation plan and remote signals shall be automatically and immediately activated.
- If the positive alarm sequence operation is initiated in accordance with 23.8.1.2.1.1(1), trained personnel shall have an alarm investigation phase of up to 180 seconds to evaluate the fire condition and reset the system.
- If the system is not reset during the alarm investigation phase, notification signals in accordance with the building evacuation or relocation plan and remote signals shall be automatically and immediately activated.
- If a second automatic fire detector selected for positive alarm sequence is actuated during the alarm investigation phase, notification signals in accordance with the building evacuation or relocation plan and remote signals shall be automatically and immediately activated.
- *If any other fire alarm initiating device is actuated, notification signals in accordance with the building evacuation or relocation plan and remote signals shall be automatically and immediately activated.
The system shall provide means for bypassing the positive alarm sequence.
Fire alarm systems shall be permitted to combine all detection, notification, and auxiliary functions in a single system or be a combination of component subsystems.
Except as permitted in 23.8.2.3, the fire alarm systems components shall be permitted to share control equipment or shall be able to operate as stand-alone subsystems, but shall be arranged to function as a single system in accordance with 23.8.2.4 through 23.8.2.10.
Where the building is not served by a building fire alarm system, independent dedicated function fire alarm systems and/or releasing fire alarm systems shall not be required to be interconnected to function as a single system.
All component subsystems shall be capable of simultaneous, full-load operation without degradation of the required overall system performance.
The method of interconnection of fire alarm control units shall meet the monitoring requirements of Section 12.6 and NFPA 70 Article 760, and shall be achieved by 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
Where the signaling line circuit is shared by other premises operating systems, operation shall be in accordance with 23.8.4.
All signal control and transport equipment (such as routers and servers) located in a critical fire alarm or emergency control function interface device signaling path shall be listed for fire alarm service, unless the following conditions are met:
- The equipment meets the performance requirements of 10.3.5.
- The equipment is provided with primary and secondary power and monitored for integrity as required in Section 10.6, 10.6.9, Section 10.18, and Section 12.6.
- All programming and configuration ensure a fire alarm system actuation time as required in 10.11.1.
- System bandwidth is monitored to confirm that all communications between equipment that is critical to the operation of the fire alarm system or emergency control function interface devices take place within 10 seconds; failure shall be indicated within 200 seconds.
- Failure of any equipment that is critical to the operation of the fire alarm system or emergency control function interface devices is indicated at the master fire alarm control unit within 200 seconds.
A listed barrier gateway, integral with or attached to each control unit or group of control units, as appropriate, shall be provided to prevent the other systems from interfering with or controlling the fire alarm system.
Where Class N is utilized for shared equipment, the requirements in 23.6.3 shall also apply.
Each interconnected fire alarm control unit shall be separately monitored for alarm, supervisory, and trouble conditions with supervised pathways that are in accordance with the manufacturers' published instructions.
Alarm conditions on interconnected fire alarm control units shall annunciate as alarm signals and initiate the evacuation signals.
Supervisory conditions on interconnected fire alarm control units shall annunciate as supervisory signals.
Where supervised pathways between interconnected fire alarm control units is not achievable, a supervised annunciator shall be installed adjacent to control unit(s) to annunciate the status of the each control unit.
Interconnected fire alarm control unit alarm signals shall be permitted to be monitored by zone or by combined common signals.
Protected premises fire alarm control units shall be capable of being reset or silenced only from the fire alarm control unit at the protected premises, unless otherwise permitted by 23.8.2.10.
Where multiple control units of the same manufacturer are interconnected in a network arrangement and serve the same protected premises, the control units shall be arranged to be reset or silenced from one location.
Where multiple control units of the different manufacturers are interconnected in accordance with 23.8.2.5 through 23.8.2.8 and serve the same protected premises, the control units shall be permitted to be reset or silenced individually at each control unit.
Resetting procedures shall be documented and permanently posted beside each control unit and annunciator.
Remote resetting and silencing of a fire alarm control unit from other than the protected premises shall be permitted with the approval of the authority having jurisdiction.
A protected premises fire alarm system shall be permitted to be interconnected to a household fire alarm system(s) for the purpose of activating the notification appliances connected to the household fire alarm system(s).
The activation of dwelling unit smoke alarms shall only be permitted to be displayed at the protected premises control unit and annunciators as supervisory signals.
If interconnected, an alarm condition at the protected premises fire alarm system shall cause the fire alarm notification appliance(s) within the family living unit of the dwelling unit fire warning system to become energized. The notification appliances shall remain energized until the protected premises fire alarm system is silenced or reset.
The interconnection circuit or path from the protected premises fire alarm system to the dwelling unit fire warning system shall be monitored for integrity by the protected premises fire alarm system in accordance with Section 12.6.
An alarm condition occurring at the dwelling unit fire warning system or the operation of any test switches provided as part of the dwelling unit fire warning equipment shall not cause an alarm condition at the protected premises fire alarm system.
Fire alarm systems shall be permitted to share components, equipment, circuitry, and installation wiring with non-fire alarm systems.
Operation of a non-fire system function(s) originating within a connected non-fire system shall not interfere with the required operation of the fire alarm system, unless otherwise permitted by this Code.
For non-fire alarm equipment listed to the performance requirements specified in 10.3.5, the requirements of 23.8.4.3.1 through 23.8.4.3.3 shall apply.
The equipment shall be permitted to be attached to a fire alarm circuit, either among the fire alarm devices or as a branch or extension of the fire alarm pathways, when the following requirements are met:
- All the equipment and pathways shall meet the monitoring for integrity requirements of 10.6.9, Section 10.18, and Section 12.6.
- All the equipment and pathways shall be maintained by a single service organization.
- All the equipment and pathways shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of this Code.
- All the equipment shall be listed as compatible with the fire alarm equipment or the equipment shall have an interface listed as compatible with the fire alarm equipment.
If the equipment is attached to the fire alarm system via separate pathways, then short circuits or open circuits in this equipment, or between this equipment and the fire alarm system pathways, shall not impede or impair the monitoring for integrity of the fire alarm system or prevent alarm, supervisory, or fire safety control signal transmissions.
Grounds in this equipment, or between this equipment and the fire alarm system pathways, shall be reported, annunciated, and corrected in the same manner as grounds in the rest of the fire alarm system.
For non-fire equipment not listed to the performance requirements specified in 10.3.5, the requirements of 23.8.4.4.1 through 23.8.4.4.3 shall apply
Short circuits or open circuits in the equipment, or between the equipment and the fire alarm system pathways, shall not impede or impair the monitoring for integrity of the fire alarm system or prevent alarm, supervisory, or fire safety control signal transmissions.
Grounds in this equipment, or between this equipment and the fire alarm system pathways, shall be reported, annunciated, and corrected in the same manner as grounds in the rest of the fire alarm system.
Removal, replacement, failure, maintenance procedures, or ground on this hardware, software, or circuits shall not impair the required operation of the fire alarm system.
Speakers used as alarm notification appliances on fire alarm systems shall also be permitted to be used for emergency communications systems when installed in accordance with Chapter 24.
In combination systems, fire alarm signals shall be distinctive, clearly recognizable, and shall be indicated as follows in descending order of priority, except where otherwise required by other governing laws, codes or standards, or by other parts of this Code:
If the authority having jurisdiction determines that the information being displayed or annunciated on a combination system is excessive and is causing confusion and delayed response to a fire emergency, the authority having jurisdiction shall be permitted to require that the display or annunciation of information for the fire alarm system be separate from, and have priority in accordance with, 23.8.4.6, over information for the non-fire alarm systems.
Signals from carbon monoxide detectors and carbon monoxide detection systems transmitted to a fire alarm system shall be indicated as a carbon monoxide alarm signal.
Exception: When in accordance with the building's response plan, evacuation plan, fire safety plan, or similar documentation, signals from carbon monoxide detectors and carbon monoxide detection systems transmitted to a fire alarm system shall be permitted to be supervisory signals.
Signals from carbon monoxide detectors and carbon monoxide detection systems transmitted to a fire alarm system shall be indicated as "Carbon Monoxide Alarm" on the fire alarm system control unit or annunciator.
Fire alarm system processing for and occupant response to carbon monoxide alarm signals shall be in accordance with the building's response plan, evacuation plan, fire safety plan, or similar documentation.
Signals from a fire extinguisher electronic monitoring device or fire extinguisher monitoring system transmitted to a fire alarm system shall be permitted to be supervisory signals.
All initiating devices shall be installed in accordance with Chapter 17 and tested in accordance with Chapter 14.
Where connected to a supervising station, fire alarm systems employing automatic fire detectors or waterflow detection devices shall include a manual fire alarm box to initiate a signal to the supervising station.
Exception: Fire alarm systems dedicated to elevator recall control and supervisory service as permitted in Section 21.3.
Manual fire alarm signal initiation shall comply with the requirements of Section 17.14.
If signals from manual fire alarm boxes and other fire alarm initiating devices within a building are transmitted over the same signaling line circuit, there shall be no interference with manual fire alarm box signals when both types of initiating devices are operated at the same time.
Provision of the shunt noninterfering method of operation shall be permitted for this performance.
Automatic fire alarm signal initiating devices that have integral trouble signal contacts shall be connected to the initiating device circuit so that a trouble condition within a device does not impair alarm transmission from any other initiating device.
Exception: Where the trouble condition is caused by electrical disconnection of the device or by removing the initiating device from its plug-in base.
Automatic fire alarm signal initiating devices that use a nonintegral device to monitor the integrity of the power supply wiring to the individual initiating devices shall have the nonintegral device connected to the initiating device circuit so that a fault on the power supply wiring does not impair alarm transmission from any operational initiating device.
Systems equipped with alarm verification features shall be permitted under the following conditions:
- The alarm verification feature is not initially enabled, unless conditions or occupant activities that are expected to cause nuisance alarms are anticipated in the area that is protected by the smoke detectors. Enabling of the alarm verification feature shall be protected by password or limited access.
- A smoke detector that is continuously subjected to a smoke concentration above alarm threshold does not delay the system functions of Sections 10.7 through 10.16, or 21.2.1 by more than 1 minute.
- Actuation of an alarm-initiating device other than a smoke detector causes the system functions of Sections 10.7 through 10.16, or 21.2.1 without additional delay.
- The current status of the alarm verification feature is shown on the record of completion [see Figure 7.8.2(a), item 4.3].
If automatic drift compensation of sensitivity for a fire detector is provided, the fire alarm control unit shall identify the affected detector when the limit of compensation is reached.
Systems that require the operation of two automatic detectors to initiate the alarm response shall be permitted, provided that the following conditions are satisfied:
- The systems are not prohibited by the authority having jurisdiction.
- At least two automatic detectors are in each protected space.
- The alarm verification feature is not used.
For systems that require the operation of two automatic detectors to initiate emergency control functions or to actuate fire extinguishing or suppression systems, the detectors shall be installed at the spacing determined in accordance with Chapter 17.
For systems that require the operation of two automatic detectors to actuate public mode notification, the detectors shall be installed at a linear spacing not more than 0.7 times the linear spacing determined in accordance with Chapter 17.
Where duct smoke detectors are required to be monitored and a building fire alarm system is installed, a duct detector activation signal shall meet the requirements of 21.7.4.
Where duct smoke detectors are connected to a protected premises fire alarm system, the operation of the power circuit shall meet the requirements of 23.4.2.2.
Where duct smoke detectors with separate power and signal wiring are installed and connected to a protected premises fire alarm system, they shall meet the requirements of 23.8.5.3.
Where duct smoke detectors are not resettable from the protected premises fire alarm system, a listed alarm/supervisory indicator with an integral reset switch shall be provided in an accessible location.
Where required by other governing laws, codes, or standards to be electronically monitored, waterflow alarm-initiating devices shall be connected to a dedicated function fire alarm control unit designated as "sprinkler waterflow and supervisory system" and permanently identified on the control unit and record drawings.
Exception: Where waterflow alarm-initiating devices are connected to a building fire alarm system, a dedicated function fire alarm control unit shall not be required.
The number of waterflow alarm-initiating devices permitted to be connected to a single initiating device circuit shall not exceed five.
If a valve is installed in the connection between a sprinkler system and an initiating device, the valve shall be supervised in accordance with 17.16.1.
Where required by other governing laws, codes, or standards to be electronically monitored, supervisory signal-initiating devices shall be connected to a dedicated function fire alarm control unit designated as "sprinkler waterflow and supervisory system" and permanently identified on the control unit and record drawings.
Exception: Where supervisory signal-initiating devices are connected to a building fire alarm system, a dedicated function fire alarm control unit shall not be required.
The number of supervisory signal-initiating devices permitted to be connected to a single initiating device circuit shall not exceed 20.
If a valve is installed in the connection between a sprinkler system and an initiating device, the valve shall be supervised in accordance with 17.16.1 unless the valve is arranged to cause operation of the supervisory signal initiating device when it is in its non-normal position.
Where required by other governing laws, codes, or standards to be monitored and a building fire alarm system is installed, the actuation of a fire suppression system shall annunciate an alarm or supervisory condition at the building fire alarm control unit.
If a valve is installed in the connection between a suppression system and an initiating device, the valve shall be supervised in accordance with 17.16.1.
Where required to be monitored and a building fire alarm system is installed, an off-normal condition of a fire suppression system shall annunciate a supervisory condition at the building fire alarm control unit.
Supervisory signals that latch in the off-normal state and require manual reset of the system to restore them to normal shall be permitted.
If a valve is installed in the connection between a suppression system and an initiating device, the valve shall be supervised in accordance with 17.16.1.
Where fire pumps are required to be monitored and a building fire alarm system is installed, a pump running signal shall be permitted to be a supervisory or alarm signal.
Where fire pumps are required to be monitored and a building fire alarm system is installed, signals other than pump running shall be supervisory signals.
Releasing service fire alarm control units shall be connected to the protected premises fire alarm system.
Fire alarm and supervisory signals generated at the releasing service fire alarm control unit shall be annunciated at a protected premises fire alarm unit.
Where required by other governing laws, codes, or standards, actuation of any suppression system connected to a releasing service fire alarm control unit shall be annunciated at the protected premises fire alarm control unit, even where the system actuation is by manual means or otherwise accomplished without actuation of the releasing service fire alarm control unit.
If a valve is installed in the connection between a suppression system and an initiating device, the valve shall be supervised in accordance with Chapter 17.
In facilities that are not required to install a protected premises fire alarm system, the alarm and supervisory devices shall be connected to the releasing service fire alarm control unit, and their actuation shall be annunciated at the releasing service control unit.
Automatic fire suppression system alarm-initiating devices and supervisory signal-initiating devices and their circuits shall be designed and installed so that they cannot be subject to tampering, opening, or removal without initiating a signal. This provision shall include junction boxes installed outside of buildings to facilitate access to the initiating device circuit.
Exception No. 1: Covers of junction boxes inside of buildings.
Fire alarm systems provided for evacuation or relocation of occupants shall have one or more notification appliances listed for the purpose in each notification zone of the building and be so located that they have the characteristics described in Chapter 18 for public mode or private mode, as required.
Notification appliances shall not be required in exit stair enclosures, exit passageways, and elevator cars in accordance with 23.8.6.2.1 through 23.8.6.2.4.
Visible signals shall not be required in exit stair enclosures and exit passageways.
Visible signals shall not be required in elevator cars.
The evacuation signal shall not be required to operate in exit stair enclosures and exit passageways.
The evacuation signal shall not be required to operate in elevator cars.
Upcodes Diagrams
Notification zones shall be consistent with the emergency response or evacuation plan for the protected premises.
The boundaries of notification zones shall be coincident with building outer walls, building fire or smoke compartment boundaries, floor separations, or other fire safety subdivisions.
Circuit configuration for addressable notification appliances shall comply with the applicable performance requirements for notification zones.
Where there are addressable notification appliances on a signaling line circuit that serves different notification zones, a single open, short-circuit, or ground on that signaling line circuit shall not affect operation of more than one notification zone.
Riser conductors installed in accordance with 24.4.8.5.3 that are monitored for integrity shall not be required to operate in accordance with 23.8.6.4.2.
In-building fire emergency voice/alarm communications shall meet the requirements of Chapter 24.
All live voice communications systems shall meet the requirements of Chapter 24.
Two-way communication service shall meet the requirements of Chapter 24.
The requirements of Section 23.10 shall apply to tone and visible notification appliance circuits.
Fire alarm systems used for partial evacuation and relocation shall be designed and installed such that attack by fire within an evacuation signaling zone shall not impair control and operation of the notification appliances outside the evacuation signaling zone. Performance features provided to ensure survivability shall be described and technical justification provided in the documentation submitted to the authority having jurisdiction with the evaluation required in 23.4.3.1.
Speakers that transmit tone signals shall be permitted to be used as fire alarm notification appliances.
Releasing service fire alarm control units used for automatic or manual activation of a fire suppression system shall be listed for releasing service.
Releasing devices for suppression systems shall be listed for use with releasing service control units.
Each releasing device (e.g., solenoid, relay) shall be monitored for integrity (supervised) in accordance with applicable NFPA standards.
The installation wiring shall be monitored for integrity in accordance with the requirements of Section 12.6.
Releasing service fire alarm systems used for fire suppression-releasing service shall be provided with a disconnect switch to allow the system to be tested without actuating the fire suppression systems.
Operation of a disconnect switch or a disable function shall cause a supervisory signal at the releasing service fire alarm control unit.
Sequence of operation shall be consistent with the applicable suppression system standards.
Each space protected by an automatic fire suppression system actuated by the fire alarm system shall contain one or more automatic fire detectors installed in accordance with Chapter 17.
Suppression systems or groups of systems shall be controlled by a single releasing service fire alarm control unit that monitors the associated initiating device(s), actuates the associated releasing device(s), and controls the associated agent release notification appliances.
If the configuration of multiple control units is listed for releasing device service, and if a trouble condition or manual disconnect on either control unit causes a trouble or supervisory signal, the initiating device on one control unit shall be permitted to actuate releasing devices on another control unit in lieu of 23.11.8.
If the releasing service fire alarm control unit is located in a protected premises having a separate fire alarm system, it shall be monitored for alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals, but shall not be dependent on or affected by the operation or failure of the protected premises fire alarm system.
Releasing fire alarm systems performing suppression system releasing functions shall be installed in such a manner that they are effectively protected from damage caused by activation of the suppression system(s) they control.
Systems requiring transmission of signals to continuously attended locations providing supervising station service (e.g., central station, proprietary supervising station, remote supervising station) shall also comply with the applicable requirements of Chapter 26.
Relays or modules providing transmission of trouble signals to a supervising station shall be arranged to provide fail-safe operation.
Means provided to transmit trouble signals to supervising stations shall be arranged so as to transmit a trouble signal to the supervising station for any trouble condition received at the protected premises control unit, including loss of primary or secondary power.
It shall be permitted to provide supplementary transmission of real-time data from the fire system to off-premises equipment.
Transmission of real-time data off-premises shall not affect the operation or response of the fire alarm control unit.
Any data transmitted shall be consistent with the data generated by the system.
Guard's tour reporting stations shall be listed for the application.
The number of guard's tour reporting stations, their locations, and the route to be followed by the guard for operating the stations shall be approved for the particular installation in accordance with NFPA 601.
A permanent record indicating every time each signal-transmitting station is operated shall be made at a protected premises fire alarm control unit.
A signal-transmitting station shall be provided at intervals not exceeding 10 intermediate stations.
The system shall automatically transmit a delinquency signal within 15 minutes after the predetermined actuation time if the guard fails to actuate a tour station as scheduled.
A finish signal shall be transmitted within a predetermined interval after the guard's completion of each tour of the premises.
For periods of over 24 hours during which tours are continuously conducted, a start signal shall be transmitted at least every 24 hours.
Emergency elevator operations shall meet the requirements of Sections 21.3, 21.4, 21.5, and 21.6.
HVAC systems shall meet the requirements of Section 21.7.
Door release service shall meet the requirements of Section 21.8.
Door-unlocking devices shall meet the requirements of Section 21.9.
Exit marking audible notification systems shall meet the requirements of Section 21.10.
Compliance with Section 23.16 shall require the use of low-power radio equipment specifically listed for the purpose.
A primary battery(s) (dry cell) shall be permitted to be used as the sole power source for devices incorporating a low-power radio transmitter/transceiver where all of the following conditions are met:
- Each transmitter/transceiver shall serve only one device and shall be individually identified at the system control Unit.
- The battery(s) shall be capable of operating the low-power radio transmitter/transceiver and its associated device for not less than 1 year before the battery depletion threshold is reached.
- A low battery signal shall be transmitted before the device is no longer capable of providing 7 days of trouble signal operation followed by the signaling of a single non-trouble response. The low battery signal shall be distinctive from alarm, supervisory, tamper, and trouble signals, shall visibly identify the affected low-power radio transmitter/transceiver, and, when silenced, shall automatically re-sound at least once every 4 hours.
- Catastrophic (open or short) battery failure shall cause a trouble signal identifying the affected low-power radio transmitter/transceiver at the system control unit. When silenced, the trouble signal shall automatically re-sound at least once every 4 hours.
- Any mode of failure of a primary battery in a low-power radio transmitter/transceiver shall not affect any other low-power radio transmitter/transceiver.
When a wireless initiating device is actuated, its low-power radio transmitter/transceiver shall automatically transmit an alarm signal.
Each low-power radio transmitter/transceiver shall automatically repeat alarm transmissions at intervals not exceeding 60 seconds until the initiating device is returned to its non-alarm condition.
A fire alarm signal from a low-power radio transmitter/transceiver shall latch at its system control unit until manually reset and shall identify the particular initiating device in alarm.
The low-power radio transmitter/transceiver shall be specifically listed as using a communication method that is highly resistant to misinterpretation of simultaneous transmissions and to interference (e.g., impulse noise and adjacent channel interference).
The occurrence of any single fault that disables communication between any low-power radio transmitter/ transceiver and the receiver/transceiver system control unit shall cause a latching trouble signal within 200 seconds at the system control unit that individually identifies the affected device.
A single fault on the signaling channel shall not cause an alarm signal.
Removal of a low-power radio transmitter/transceiver from its installed location shall cause immediate transmission of a distinctive trouble signal that indicates its removal and individually identifies the affected device.
Reception of any unwanted (interfering) transmission by a retransmission device or by the receiver system control unit for a continuous period of 20 seconds or more shall cause an audible and visible trouble indication at the system control unit.
The indication required by 23.16.4.6 shall identify the specific trouble condition as an interfering signal.
When the receiver/transceiver or system control unit is used to actuate remote devices, such as notification appliances and relays, by wireless means, the remote devices shall meet the following requirements:
- Power supplies shall comply with Chapter 10 or the requirements of 23.16.2.
- All monitoring for integrity requirements of Chapters 10, 12, 23, and 23.16.4 shall apply.
- Response time shall be in accordance with 10.11.1.
- Each transceiver/system control unit shall automatically repeat activated response signals associated with life safety events at intervals not exceeding 60 seconds or until confirmation that the output device has received the alarm signal.
- The remote devices shall continue to operate (latch-in) until manually reset at the system control unit.