Do I NEED a fire alarm annunciator panel?

[MD88]

Hi there, here's my situation...

I'm designing the fire alarm system for a mill and there are a bunch of small (~5000 sq ft) buildings around, each with their own FACP. The entire system is monitored at a central location in the main mill, so I was wondering if I need to have an annunciator at each building? There's an FACP in the electrical room of each building, and each electrical room has a direct access door to outside.

Thanks

 

[peter d]

Here that is a call that the fire marshall would make. You need to check with your local authorities.

 

[brennan]

The code now states that the FACP or an Ann will be within 10' of the entrance.

 

[cadpoint]

The code now states that the FACP or an Ann will be within 10' of the entrance.

Well the Pull station needs to be with-in fifeteen feet of the door.
I was told by an F/A tech that five feet was required for the Pull stations.

I have two differnt building on the same property (by deeding) with two different addresses and there's no interlink between building they both have a FACP. Your milage may vary...

 

[brennan]

Pull stations are to be within 5' of the exit.

 

[cadpoint]

Pull stations are to be within 5' of the exit.

That's what I'm try'n to state to my Friend >>>
over there!

For the record there installed @ 5'

 

[gadfly56]

The code now states that the FACP or an Ann will be within 10' of the entrance.

"THE" code? Which code? NFPA 72? IBC? IFC? Local? Blanket assertions aren't helpful.

A quick Google search reveals that a number of jurisdictions have adopted this as a guideline or "code" requirement, but it is by no means universal.

 

[cadpoint]

NFPA-70 of the NEC

 

[gadfly56]

NFPA-70 of the NEC

The only occurance of "annunciator" in the 2008 edition has to do with running a generator to failure.

The 2007 edition of NFPA 72 says:

"4.4.6.3* Annunciator Access and Location. All required annunciation means shall be readily accessible to responding personnel and shall be located as required by the authority having jurisdiction to facilitate an efficient response to the fire situation."

Still nothing about 10'.

 

[nscherneck]

Agreed. No code gives a specific requirement for annunciator locations. This is an AHJ question.

 

[wbalsam1]

NFPA-70 of the NEC

NFPA-70 is the NEC. :wink:

 

[cadpoint]

NFPA-70 is the NEC. :wink:

I just came off your other post on inspectors adopting, I can only think "word-smith". :wink:

 

[wbalsam1]

I just came off your other post on inspectors adopting, I can only think "word-smith". :wink:

Yup. You got me! :smile: Blame it on years of trying to make sense of the NEC. I'm just pokin' at you anyways. There's just too few pita's left on this site....so, well you know.