FA notification in condo units

[bwyllie]

Typically, does a fire alarm horn or speaker located outside of a bedroom in a condo satisfy the sound level requirements or should a device be located within the bedroom of these usits?

 

[hbiss]

Re: FA notification in condo units

This is why they make us put interconnected smokes inside each bedroom in addition to the others. I think the requirement may vary from place to place since it's a building code issue.

-Hal

 

[bwyllie]

Re: FA notification in condo units

smoke detectors do not need to be installed within bedrooms because we have sprinklers.

 

[gndrod]

Re: FA notification in condo units

Would you quote an IRC or NFPA non-requirement article on that?
tx, rbj

 

[hassaf]

Re: FA notification in condo units

Evacuation horn sound levels should be 15 dBA (decibles) above ambient noise level. in residential, ambient noise is 35, so you need to be at 50 dBA in the space. If horn's max setting is, for example 90 dBA, then it's about -6 dBA every 20 feet away from horn, and -20 dBA through a closed door.

so if you want to determine the sound level at a point which is about 60 feet away from horn, and through a closed door, then:

-18 dBA (for 60'), and -20 dBA through a door for a total of -38 dBA loss.

so the setting for the horn should be at least 35 + 38 (loss) + 15 = 88 dBA minimum.

Hopfully this would help

 

[peterelec]

Re: FA notification in condo units

Thanks that helps. Just to note, I believe NFPA requires 15db above ambient or 75db whichever is greater, there is also one other but I do not have the code with me now.