EXPANSION OF EXISTING FACILITY WITHOUT FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

[jonno]

We are designing an expansion to an existing industrial facility (has existing offices, process areas, storage etc) which has a sprinkler system but no building fire alarm system.

Would the expansion need a building fire alarm system to satisfy current codes ?

Just wondering how you would shut down AHU’s and MAU’s etc in the event of a fire to satisfy IMC and NFPA 90A etc without a building fire alarm system ?

Many thanks for all replies in advance.

 

[gadfly56]

We are designing an expansion to an existing industrial facility (has existing offices, process areas, storage etc) which has a sprinkler system but no building fire alarm system.

Would the expansion need a building fire alarm system to satisfy current codes ?

Just wondering how you would shut down AHU’s and MAU’s etc in the event of a fire to satisfy IMC and NFPA 90A etc without a building fire alarm system ?

Many thanks for all replies in advance.

Check your state codes for renovation requirements. In PA, IIRC, only Philadelphia is allowed by the state to write its own codes. Everywhere else has to follow whatever the state adopts. If you are following the ICC codes, fully sprinklered buildings do not generally need fire alarm systems in the sense of heat detectors, pull stations, and smoke detectors. You still need to provide notification to the building occupants in the event of a fire, and you may be required to transmit a waterflow condition to a central station. The easiest way to do these is to install a fire alarm control panel (FACP) to perform ONLY THESE FUNCTIONS. You will need one smoke detector at the FACP and at any locations containing fire alarm system components such as remote annunciators (if any) and notification booster power supplies (if any).

AHU's and MAU's frequently come with a duct smoke detector installed that can be used to shut the unit down if smoke is detected in the duct system. They don't need to be attached to an FACP to do this. See here for an example.

 

[jonno]

Check your state codes for renovation requirements. In PA, IIRC, only Philadelphia is allowed by the state to write its own codes. Everywhere else has to follow whatever the state adopts. If you are following the ICC codes, fully sprinklered buildings do not generally need fire alarm systems in the sense of heat detectors, pull stations, and smoke detectors. You still need to provide notification to the building occupants in the event of a fire, and you may be required to transmit a waterflow condition to a central station. The easiest way to do these is to install a fire alarm control panel (FACP) to perform ONLY THESE FUNCTIONS. You will need one smoke detector at the FACP and at any locations containing fire alarm system components such as remote annunciators (if any) and notification booster power supplies (if any).

AHU's and MAU's frequently come with a duct smoke detector installed that can be used to shut the unit down if smoke is detected in the duct system. They don't need to be attached to an FACP to do this. See here for an example.

Many thanks for your response, much appreciated. I thought duct smokes had to initiate a Supervisory Signal to a Fire Alarm Control Panel to satisfy IBC and Life Safety Code or is it ok for them to be stand-alone devices that just shut units down ?

 

[gadfly56]

Many thanks for your response, much appreciated. I thought duct smokes had to initiate a Supervisory Signal to a Fire Alarm Control Panel to satisfy IBC and Life Safety Code or is it ok for them to be stand-alone devices that just shut units down ?

IFF you have a fire alarm system and the duct detectors are connected to it, then yes, you would send a supervisory signal to the FACP. IIRC, the ICC Mechanical Code does not require the duct detectors to be connected to a fire alarm system, only that they perform the required shutdown function. Satisfying the Life Safety code depends on whether your jurisdiction enforces it. Lots of folks don't use NFPA 101. I also couldn't find anything on duct detectors per se in a cursory review of the 2015 edition. Find out for sure before you start designing.

 

[steve66]

If you are under the International Building Code (IBC), it will tell you if a fire alarm system is needed.

If you don't connect the duct detectors to the FACP, at least provide a remote test/annunciator station so someone will know why the AHU isn't running if the detector is activated. The detector manufacturers make these as an option.

 

[jonno]

If you are under the International Building Code (IBC), it will tell you if a fire alarm system is needed.

If you don't connect the duct detectors to the FACP, at least provide a remote test/annunciator station so someone will know why the AHU isn't running if the detector is activated. The detector manufacturers make these as an option.

Guys, many thanks for all the help.