Fire alarm failure

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Oakey

Oakey

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New Jersey
I know this is an electrical code forum but I want to throw this out there to hopefully get some feedback. I failed my 110v fire alarm inspection today for not having the 110v feed on with the "lighting circuit", I ran it to a receptacle.
Specifically I was told either have it be a seperate home run to the panel or to the lites. Fire inspector told the builder that I "must not know what I'm doing as this is the code". I'm trying to find a code reference in the fire alrm book, but can't or is this an AHJ thing?. Thx
 
Interconnected smoke detectors? Generally, people don't call that a fire alarm, but now we know what you're talking about. Nothing in the NEC on that.
 
Oakey said:
I should've been more specific, just a basic 110v interconnected residential system with firex detectors
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Oaky,
The NFPA 72 [11.5.1.1] with signal interconnected wiring 72 [11.5.1.2] must be AFCI powered per [210.12(B)] and does not require a dedicated home run or connection to a lighting circuit in residential. The hookup will be part of a bedroom light circuit is what the AHJ may be making the reference.
Marc,
BTW would your residential soldering project require hard wiring the smokers also?
 
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Check IRC R313.1......As long as they are hard wired, interconnected with battery back up and not on bathroom, small appliance receptacle circuits or switch controlled....No problem.......The fire alarm thing threw me.
 
The reason they want it tied to the lights here is because you will normally know if a light is not working long before you might realize that a receptecale is not working.

Either that or they make it a home run with a breaker lock.

According to what gndrod wrote it must be an AHJ thing (we are not tied to the fire department here and they are contract from the county).
 
You might have a local code.In most houses the lighting and outlets are one and the same and since atleast 1 smoke will be in a bedroom it must be on afci.I dont see why they would care if it was from receptacle circuit or not.And some states are not forcing the afci.Best to call the ahj.
 
What was his code reference for the violation? It certainly wasn't an NEC reference. I agree with dcspector, as long as you're not on one of those circuits the installation is compliant. And as of yet, NJ does not require AFCI protection for any dwelling circuits.
 
The following is the requirement in MA: So there may be a local requirement that you power it from a lighting circuit.​




3603.16.5 Primary electrical power for single​

station and multiple station smoke detectors


:​




Power for single and multiple station smoke​

detectors shall be supplied from a permanently wired

connection directly to an AC primary source of
power. All power for AC powered smoke detectors
shall be taken from a single branch circuit which also

provides other electrical service to​
habitable, occupiable spaces. The power source shall be on the supply side, ahead of any switches.​


​

 
In order for there to be a jurisdictional requirement that smoke detectors in a residence be on a lighting circuit,I would figure that there has to be a requirement for the lighting circuit and receptacles be seperated.

I personally don`t wire receptacles and lights seperatley,especially in a bed room.Some think they should be some don`t.Just a matter of ones opinion.
 
allenwayne said:
I personally don`t wire receptacles and lights seperatley,especially in a bed room.Some think they should be some don`t.Just a matter of ones opinion.
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I generally do separate them. For example, I might run a single 20a circuit for 2 or 3 bedrooms' receptacles, and a 15a circuit for the same rooms' lighting/ceiling fans, as well as hall and bath lighting (within normal load limits, of course.)

I agree, it is personal choice, but I prefer the perceived 'performance' improvement, when a TV is turned on and the ceiling lights don't dim. It's also better for the power-hungry vacuum cleaning, when most lights are generally turned on.
 
It is a matter of personal preferance.In my own home all wiring is 12 gauge and no more than 10 openings on a circuit.But in the working world that would not bottom line any money.Cost of CU etc.To me bedrooms have barely anything that will draw an exorbinent amount of current.What, maybe a TV and a PC ???.Shows what we will do to profit and what we will do for ourselves.
 
I met with Mr fire inspector today and he apologized for what he called "a brain fart". Actually it's what he said after the electrical inspector (great guy btw) called him on the carpet for the explantaion of the violation. He thought he was in a commercial building not the basement of a house??
Mistakes happen and even tho I knew I was not in the wrong, it was nice to walk into the office to meet him and the building inspector with some of the posts given here printed out in my hand to back me up. Thx for the input all
 
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