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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL
APPLICATIONS NOT WHAT YOU’RE THINKING
WHAT IS THIS PRESENTATION ABOUT?
I wasn’t sure when I started.
Started based on suggestions from previous seminars but they were
general in nature
The Code DOES offer lots of design options!
This is not going to be what you’re thinking likely
For example, it’s like expecting this for Christmas:
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS NOT WHAT YOU’RE THINKING
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Lamborghini Veneno Roadster: $4.5 million
• And getting this instead:
– Chevy Roadster $1.99
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS OBC APPROACH
OBC APPROACH TO “SPECIAL
APPLICATIONS”
OBC fire alarm requirements that are out of the norm or can be
interpreted several ways
OBC permitted design options for different occupancies
How grammar and punctuation affects our interpretation
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS NOT WHAT YOU’RE THINKING
GRAMMAR MATTERS:
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS GRAMMAR MATTERS
PUNCTUATION MATTERS:
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS BUILDING CODE GRAMMAR
1.2.3.4.
– (a),
– (b),
– (c), and
– (d)
EQUALS = All of a, b, c, and d must be achieved to
comply
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS BUILDING CODE GRAMMAR
1.2.3.4.
– (a),
– (b),
– (c), or
– (d)
EQUALS = You can do a, or b, or c, or d to achieve
compliance.
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS BASIC APPLICATION ISSUES
CONTINUITY OF FIRE ALARM 3.2.4.2
if there is a fire wall, and there are any openings other than for piping, tubing, and non-
combustible raceways, 3.2.4 applies to the both sides of the fire wall as if it was a single
building.
If one major occupancy requires a fire alarm then all occupancies require a fire alarm
If a fire alarm system is required in any portion of a building, it is required to be installed
throughout the building
If you have a building less than three stories, 3.2.4 can be applied to each portion of a
building if there is a fire separation and there are no openings in that fire separation
(does not apply to storage rooms or service rooms)
Buildings interconnected by code permitted walkways and vestibules, can be treated as
separate buildings (ie can have separate fire alarm systems).
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS BY DEFINITION
HOW DO MALLS GET SILENT FIRST STAGE
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS?
By Definition, that’s how:
Alert: an audible signal designed to alert designated persons of a
fire emergency.
If system is constantly monitored in person 24/7, then no signals
need to ring in a mall. This can apply to ANY type of building
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS BY DEFINITION
APPENDIX NOTE FOR ALERT SIGNALS:
Alert signals are part of a two stage system. The intent of the
first, alert, stage is to notify persons in authority of a potential
threat to building occupants. In certain occupancies, such as a
hospital, it may not be desirable for an alert signal to sound
throughout the floor area. In such cases, the alert signal may be
restricted to a continuously staffed location. Examples are: a
nursing station, a building security desk in an office tower, where
staff are available every day at all times.
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS BY DEFINITION
SECOND APPENDIX NOTE FOR ALERT
SIGNALS (be prepared to have your mind blown)
3.2.4.4.(2)(c)
In a two stage system, the alert signal may be transmitted to audible signal
devices in designated locations or to all devices throughout the building. If
activated, the second stage alarm signal may sound throughout all zones in the
building and typically activated by a keyswitch on an manual pull station
A zoned two stage operation is permitted where the alarm signal sounds in the
zone of key switch activation (and perhaps in adjacent zones which may be the
floor above and below) and the alert signal throughout the rest of the building.
This sequence would be created automatically by the fire alarm control unit.
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS ZONE CODED FIRE ALARMS
Special rules apply
NOT a defined term in the code
What the heck is this anyway?
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS ZONE CODED FIRE ALARMS
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS ZONE CODED FIRE ALARMS
basic intent of a coded system was to audibly identify
what area an alarm was initiated in by sounding a coded
signal over the bells (or gongs) in a building (2-3-2 =
Area 2, Level 3, Stair 2)
Why do we have this now? Never once used in my 30
year career – not even hospitals for where they were
originally intended.
Can cause confusion with the temporal pattern that will
play for the EVAC message that is legislated
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS ZONE CODED FIRE ALARMS
• OBC Requirements:
– must be a two stage system in the building, AND
– first stage broadcasts the coded alert signals
indicating the zone of alarm; AND
– repeated a minimum of 4 times then the continuous
alert signal is sounded afterwards AND
– If not acknowledged after 5 minutes, then the
temporal pattern is to be broadcast.
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS ARE YOU STILL WITH ME?
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS ZONING 3.2.4.9.
NEED SPECIFIC ZONES FOR:
Contained Use Area (a supervised area containing one or more rooms
in which occupant movement is restricted to a single room by security measures
not under control of the occupant)
Impeded Egress Zone (a supervised area where occupants have free
movement but require the release, by security personnel, of security doors at the
boundary before being able to leave the area, but does not include a contained
use area)
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS ZONING 3.2.4.9.
NEED SPECIFIC ZONES FOR:
2 hour fire rated compartment with vertical fire
separations (Appendix says: if multi level room – zone based on entry
level of space. Elevator shaft zones on annunciator should be lettered or
numbered to reflect the elevator car numbering/lettering)
Interior undivided open spaces (rinks, swimming pool,
air hangar) can exceed Code area limitations but:
Rest of building to be zoned per code
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS ZONING 3.2.4.9.
A building having a hotel provided with a “trouble
signal sounding device with a silence switch”
requires a trouble light at the main reception
desk or at another continually supervised
location
Interesting (to me) fact: a trouble signal sounding
device is not a defined term and is not a device
prescribed to be installed anywhere in the OBC
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS ZONING 3.2.4.9.
In a long term care home, a remote “audiovisual
fire alarm trouble signal” shall be located at the
main nursing station
This is not a defined term in the Code or the fire alarm
world. Often this ends up being an LCD display.
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS ZONING 3.2.4.9.(4)
“if an annunciator is not provided as part of a fire alarm system in
conformance with sentence 1, a visual and audible trouble signal device
shall be provided inside the main entrance of the building”
Sentence 1: except as permitted by sentences 3 to 5, an annunciator shall be installed in close proximity to a
building entrance that faces a street or access route for fire department vehicles”
Sentence 3: annunciator not required if only one zone is required by sentence 2
Sentence 4: this clause we are talking about
Sentence 5: no annunciator required if the building is not more than 3 storeys and not more than an
aggregate of 2000m2
This can be interpreted to mean that an annunciator
does NOT have to be installed in any building if you
so chose. Why have the requirements for an
annunciator then?
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS ELECTRICAL SUPERVISION 3.2.4.10.
3.2.4.10.6. if a building is regulated by 3.2.6. and is sprinklered, the
indication of a supervisory signal in accordance with sentence
3.2.4.10.(3) must be transmitted to a proprietary control centre or
independent central station.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? If building is sprinklered and under 36
m in height, 18 m residential, then you don’t have to monitor the
supervisory signals of the sprinkler system. How is the risk reduced
any further solely based on building height?
Contrary to 3.2.4.8.(2) : a fire alarm system that has waterflow
indicating devices shall be designed to notify the fire department…
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS LATERAL THINKING (EDWARD DE BONO)
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS DETECTION
Fire detector required in rooms where
hazardous substances are to be used or stored.
(“hazardous” not defined).
Fire detectors required in “hazardous class
rooms and change rooms in an elementary or
secondary school”
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS DETECTION
A Hazardous change room?
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS DETECTION
• Smoke detectors in a room in a contained use area (but not
impeded egress zone) and “corridors serving those rooms”
• Smoke detectors in a Group B occupancy: sleeping rooms and each
corridor serving as part of a means of egress from sleeping rooms
(means of egress: includes exits and access to exits and means a continuous
path of travel provided for the escape of persons from any point in a building)
• Smokes in corridors in portions of buildings that have an A1 and
heats in all rooms in A1 buildings
• Heat detectors in “in every room in a suite and in every room not
located in a suite other than washrooms within a suite, saunas,
refrigerated areas and swimming pools”
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS DETECTION
3.2.4.12.(3)
Smoke detectors in a care, care and treatment, or detention
occupancy shall upon actuation provide an audible and visible signal
to staff serving those rooms so that the room or location containing
the smoke detector can be readily identified.
Appendix note: If staff located in each zone or compartment can see each
sleeping room door, , visible signals can be located above each door. If staff
cannot see each door, it is intended that the visible signals be provided at the
location where staff are normally in attendance. The audible signal is intended to
alert the staff to check the visual signal.
The inference, again, is that the smoke detector can be silent and not activate
the building signals and activate only the audible signal at the supervised
location.
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS 3.2.4.12.(7)
Fire detectors are permitted to be installed in
lieu of smoke detectors required in sentence (5)
(walkways and vestibules) for Group F
occupancies, where the smoke detectors may
be subjected to false alarms due to the activities
within the building.
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS VOICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS 3.2.4.23.(3)
Silencing of alarm signals to provide voice messages, in
a single stage system, are permitted after the alarm
signals have sounded for 30 seconds
Silencing of the alert signal and the alarm signal to
provide voice messages, in a two stage system, are
permitted after the alarm signals have sounded for:
10 s in hospitals with 24/7 supervisory personnel
30s all other occupancies
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS 3.2.4.19.(2)
YES, Yes, Virginia there is a clause that lets you
use the voice communication system for
something other than emergencies.
If audible signal devices with voice reproduction
capabilities are intended for paging and similar voice
message use, other than during a fire emergency,
they shall be installed so that the alert and alarm
signals take priority over all other signals.
Can’t use it for background noise or music. Boo!
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS 3.2.4.19.(4)(c)
Visual Signals
I’ve spent a lot of engineering time debating this
one with colleagues:
Visual signals are required in (c): In a corridor used by the public and in
a floor area or part of it where the public may congregate in Group A
occupancy.
MY VERSION: Comma splice it: In a corridor used by the public and in
a floor area or part of it where the public may congregate , in Group A
occupancy.
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FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS YOU MADE IT!
I’LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS GRAMMATICALLY
HORRIFIC QUOTE
WE PASSED OVER A LOT
OF GOOD PEOPLE AND
COMPANIES TO GET TO
YOU GUYS www.secur-fire.com
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIAL APPLICATIONS THANK YOU
QUESTIONS?
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