Chapter 29 Single- And Multiple-Station Alarms and Household Fire Alarm Systems

The audible emergency evacuation signal shall be permitted to be used for other devices as long as the desired response is immediate evacuation.

Fire-warning equipment producing the audible emergency evacuation signal shall be permitted to incorporate voice notification under either or both of the following conditions:

1. Where the voice message is contained completely within the 1.5-second pause period of the audible emergency evacuation signal
2. Where the voice message complies with 29.3.5.2(2) (a) and 29.3.5.2(2)(b) as follows:
   1. The voice message is first preceded by a minimum of eight cycles of the audible emergency evacuation signal.
   2. The voice message periodically interrupts the signal for no longer than 10 seconds, followed by a minimum of two cycles of the audible emergency evacuation signal between each voice message. The initial eight-cycle period shall not be required to be repeated.

Notification appliances provided for those with mild to severe hearing loss shall comply with the following:

1. An audible notification appliance producing a low frequency alarm signal shall be installed in the following situations:
   1. Where required by governing laws, codes, or standards for people with hearing loss
   2. Where provided voluntarily for those with hearing loss
2. *The low frequency alarm signal output shall comply with the following:
   1. The waveform shall have a fundamental frequency of 520 Hz ±10 percent.
   2. The minimum sound level at the pillow shall be 75 dBA, or 15 dB above the average ambient sound level, or 5 dB above the maximum sound level having a duration of at least 60 seconds, whichever is greater.

Visible notification appliances in accordance with the requirements of 18.5.5.7 and tactile notification appliances in accordance with the requirements of Section 18.10 shall be required for those with moderately severe to profound hearing loss in the following situations:

1. *Where required by governing laws, codes, or standards for people with hearing loss
2. Where provided voluntarily for those with hearing loss

The requirements of this chapter shall assume that the occupants have an escape plan.

An escape route shall be assumed to be available to occupants and to be unobstructed prior to the event of the fire.

The escape route shall be along the normal path of egress for the occupancy.

Where required by other governing laws, codes, or standards for a specific type of occupancy, approved single-and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed as follows:

1. *In all sleeping rooms and guest rooms
2. *Outside of each separate dwelling unit sleeping area, within 21 ft (6.4 m) of any door to a sleeping room, with the distance measured along a path of travel
3. On every level of a dwelling unit, including basements
4. On every level of a residential board and care occupancy (small facility), including basements and excluding crawl spaces and unfinished attics
5. *In the living area(s) of a guest suite
6. In the living area(s) of a residential board and care occupancy (small facility)

Where the area addressed in 29.5.1.1 (2) is separated from the adjacent living areas by a door, a smoke alarm shall be installed in the area between the door and the sleeping rooms, and additional alarms shall be installed on the living area side of the door as specified by 29.5.1.1 and 29.5.1.3.

In addition to the requirements of 29.5.1.1(1) through (3), where the interior floor area for a given level of a dwelling unit, excluding garage areas, is greater than 1000 ft² (93 m²), smoke alarms shall be installed per 29.5.1.3.1 and 29.5.1.3.2.

Fire-warning equipment used to provide required or optional detection shall produce audible fire alarm signals that comply with 29.5.2.1.1 or 29.5.2.1.2.

Unless otherwise permitted by the authority having jurisdiction, audible fire alarm signals shall sound only in an individual dwelling unit, suite of rooms, or similar area and shall not be arranged to operate fire-warning equipment or fire alarm systems outside these locations. Remote annunciation shall be permitted.

Each heat detector and heat alarm, including a heat detector or heat alarm integrally mounted on a smoke detector or smoke alarm, shall detect abnormally high temperature or rate-of-temperature rise, and all such detectors shall be listed for not less than 50 ft (15 m) spacing.

Fixed-temperature detectors or alarms shall have a temperature rating at least 25°F (14°C) above the normal ambient temperature and shall not be rated 50°F (28°C) higher than the maximum anticipated ambient temperature in the room or space where installed.

The system control equipment shall be automatically restoring upon restoration of electrical power.

The system control equipment shall be of a type that "locks in" on an alarm condition. Smoke detection circuits shall not be required to lock in.

If a reset switch is provided, it shall be of a selfrestoring (momentary operation) type.

A means for silencing the trouble notification appliance(s) shall be permitted only if the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The means is key-operated or located within a locked enclosure, or arranged to provide equivalent protection against unauthorized use.
2. The means transfers the trouble indication to an identified lamp or other acceptable visible indicator, and the visible indication persists until the trouble condition has been corrected.

A means for turning off activated alarm notification appliances shall be permitted only if the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The means is key-operated or located within a locked cabinet, or arranged to provide equivalent protection against unauthorized use.
2. The means includes the provision of a visible alarm silence indication.

Household fire alarm system smoke detectors, initiating devices, and notification appliances shall be monitored for integrity so that the occurrence of a single open or single ground fault in the interconnection, which prevents normal operation of the interconnected devices, is indicated by a distinctive trouble signal.

System control equipment shall be in compliance with applicable standards such as ANSI/UL 985, Standard for Household Fire Warning System Units; ANSI/UL 1730, Standard for Smoke Detector Monitors and Accessories for Individual Living Units of Multifamily Residences and Hotel/Motel Rooms; or ANSI/UL 864, Standard for Control Units and Accessories for Fire Alarm Systems.

Any data exchange between the fire alarm system and separate independent devices via remote access shall not compromise the integrity of the fire alarm system.

Remote resetting and silencing of a fire alarm control unit from other than the protected premises shall be inhibited for a minimum of 4 minutes from the initial activation of the fire alarm signal.

If designed and installed to perform additional functions, fire-warning equipment shall operate reliably and without compromise to its primary functions.

Fire signals shall take precedence over any other signal or functions, even if a non-fire signal is activated first.

Signals shall be distinctive so that a fire signal can be distinguished from signals that require different actions by the occupants.

Faults in other systems or components shall not affect the operation of the fire alarm system.

Where common wiring is employed for a combination system, the equipment for other than the fire alarm system shall be connected to the common wiring of the system so that short circuits, open circuits, grounds, or any fault in this equipment or interconnection between this equipment and the fire alarm system wiring does not interfere with the supervision of the fire alarm system or prevent alarm or trouble signal operation.

In a fire/burglar system, the operation shall be as follows:

1. A fire alarm signal shall take precedence or be clearly recognizable over any other signal, even when the non-fire alarm signal is initiated first.
2. Distinctive alarm signals shall be used so that fire alarms can be distinguished from other functions, such as burglar alarms. The use of a common-sounding appliance for fire and burglar alarms shall be permitted where distinctive signals are used.

Installations that include the connection of single-or multiple-station alarms with other input or output devices shall be permitted. An open, ground fault or short circuit of the wiring connecting input or output devices to the single- or multiple-station alarms shall not prevent operation of each individual alarm.

Household fire alarm systems utilizing low-power wireless transmission of signals within the protected dwelling unit shall comply with the requirements of Section 23.16, except as modified by 29.7.8.1.1.

Means to transmit alarm signals to a constantly attended, remote monitoring location shall be processed by a household fire alarm system and shall perform as described in Chapter 26, except as modified by 29.7.9.1.1 through 29.7.9.1.6.

Remote monitoring stations shall be permitted to verify alarm signals prior to reporting them to the fire service, provided that the verification process does not delay the reporting by more than 90 seconds.

Household fire alarm systems shall be programed by the manufacturer to generate at least a monthly test of the communication or transmission means.

The activation of a keypad fire alarm signal shall require a manual operation of two simultaneous or sequential operations.

All equipment shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's published instructions and applicable electrical standards.

All devices shall be so located and mounted that accidental operation is not caused by jarring or vibration.

All fire-warning equipment shall be mounted so as to be supported independently of its attachment to wires.

The supplier or installing contractor shall provide the system owner or other responsible parties with the following:

1. An instruction booklet illustrating typical installation layouts
2. Instruction charts describing the operation, method, and frequency of testing and maintenance of fire-warning equipment
3. Printed information for establishing an emergency evacuation plan
4. Printed information to inform system owners where they can obtain repair or replacement service, and where and how parts requiring regular replacement, such as batteries or bulbs, can be obtained within 2 weeks
5. Information noting both of the following:
   1. Unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer's published instructions, smoke alarms shall be replaced when they fail to respond to tests.
   2. Smoke alarms installed in one- and two-family dwellings shall not remain in service longer than 10 years from the date of manufacture.

The interconnection of smoke or heat alarms shall comply with the following:

1. Smoke or heat alarms shall not be interconnected in numbers that exceed the manufacturer's published instructions.
2. In no case shall more than 18 initiating devices be interconnected (of which 12 can be smoke alarms) where the interconnecting means is not supervised.
3. In no case shall more than 64 initiating devices be interconnected (of which 42 can be smoke alarms) where the interconnecting means is supervised.
4. Smoke or heat alarms shall not be interconnected with alarms from other manufacturers unless listed as being compatible with the specific model.
5. When alarms of different types are interconnected, all interconnected alarms shall produce the appropriate audible response for the phenomena being detected or remain silent.

A single fault on the interconnecting means between multiple-station alarms shall not prevent single-station operation of any of the interconnected alarms.

Remote notification appliance circuits of multiple-station alarms shall be capable of being tested for integrity by activation of the test feature on any interconnected alarm. Activation of the test feature shall result in the operation of all interconnected notification appliances.

Smoke alarms or smoke detectors mounted on a peaked ceiling shall be located within 36 in. (910 mm) horizontally of the peak, but not closer than 4 in. (100 mm) vertically to the peak.

Smoke alarms or smoke detectors mounted on a sloped ceiling having a rise greater than 1 ft in 8 ft (1 m in 8 m) horizontally shall be located within 36 in. (910 mm) of the high side of the ceiling, but not closer than 4 in. (100 mm) from the adjoining wall surface.

Smoke alarms or smoke detectors mounted on walls shall be located not farther than 12 in. (300 mm) from the adjoining ceiling surface.

The installation of smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall comply with the following requirements:

1. Smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall not be located where ambient conditions, including humidity and temperature, are outside the limits specified by the manufacturer's published instructions.
2. Smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall not be located within unfinished attics or garages or in other spaces where temperatures can fall below 40°F (4°C) or exceed 100°F (38°C).
3. *Where the mounting surface could become considerably warmer or cooler than the room, such as a poorly insulated ceiling below an unfinished attic or an exterior wall, smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall be mounted on an inside wall.
4. *Smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall not be installed within an area of exclusion determined by a 10 ft (3.0 m) radial distance along a horizontal flow path from a stationary or fixed cooking appliance, unless listed for installation in close proximity to cooking appliances. Smoke alarms and smoke detectors installed between 10 ft (3.0 m) and 20 ft (6.1 m) along a horizontal flow path from a stationary or fixed cooking appliance shall be equipped with an alarm-silencing means or use photoelectric detection.
   Exception: Smoke alarms or smoke detectors that use photoelectric detection shall be permitted for installation at a radial distance greater than 6 ft (1.8 m) from any stationary or fixed cooking appliance when the following conditions are met:
   1. The kitchen or cooking area and adjacent spaces have no clear interior partitions or headers and
   2. The 10 ft (3.0 m) area of exclusion would prohibit the placement of a smoke alarm or smoke detector required by other sections of this code.
5. Effective January 1, 2022, smoke alarms and smoke detectors used in household fire alarm systems installed between 6 ft (1.8 m) and 20 ft (6.1 m) along a horizontal flow path from a stationary or fixed cooking appliance shall be listed for resistance to common nuisance sources from cooking.
6. *Smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall not be installed within a 36 in. (910 mm) horizontal path from a door to a bathroom containing a shower or tub unless listed for installation in close proximity to such locations.
7. Smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall not be installed within a 36 in. (910 mm) horizontal path from the supply registers of a forced air heating or cooling system and shall be installed outside of the direct airflow from those registers.
8. Smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall not be installed within a 36 in. (910 mm) horizontal path from the tip of the blade of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan.
9. Where stairs lead to other occupiable levels, a smoke alarm or smoke detector shall be located so that smoke rising in the stairway cannot be prevented from reaching the smoke alarm or smoke detector by an intervening door or obstruction.
10. For stairways leading up from a basement, smoke alarms or smoke detectors shall be located on the basement ceiling near the entry to the stairs.
11. *For tray-shaped ceilings (coffered ceilings), smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall be installed on the highest portion of the ceiling or on the sloped portion of the ceiling within 12 in. (300 mm) vertically down from the highest point.
12. Smoke alarms and detectors installed in rooms with joists or beams shall comply with the requirements of 17.7.3.2.4.
13. Heat alarms and detectors installed in rooms with joists or beams shall comply with the requirements of 17.6.3.

On smooth ceilings, heat detectors and heat alarms shall be installed within the strict limitations of their listed spacing.

For sloped ceilings having a rise greater than 1 ft in 8 ft (1 m in 8 m) horizontally, the detector or alarm shall be located within 36 in. (910 mm) of the peak. The spacing of additional detectors or alarms, if any, shall be based on a horizontal distance measurement, not on a measurement along the slope of the ceiling.

Heat detectors or alarms shall be mounted on the ceiling at least 4 in. (100 mm) from a wall or on a wall with the top of the detector or alarm not less than 4 in. (100 mm), nor more than 12 in. (300 mm), below the ceiling.

In rooms with open joists or beams, all ceiling-mounted detectors or alarms shall be located on the bottom of such joists or beams.

Detectors or alarms installed on an open-joisted ceiling shall have their smooth ceiling spacing reduced where this spacing is measured at right angles to solid joists; in the case of heat detectors or heat alarms, this spacing shall not exceed one-half of the listed spacing.