Fire Alarm Question

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Alwayslearningelec

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If you had a fire alarm system that had to be 100% EMT what would be the most practical way to go in/out of wall devices such as pull stations.

1. Two conduits.
2. One conduit with box above.

Assume these would be the only real scenarios to get in/out.
 
Pull stations are typically fed from above, so a single stick with a feed and return from a box above for the SLC or IDC circuit is usual.

Heat detectors, smoke detectors, modules, etc. might be fed either way, depending on the equipment layout and how accessible the space is. The more isolated from other devices some item is, the more likely that a single run of EMT will be the easiest solution, but it is impossible to be more general than that. Every job is going to be different, and a lot is going to depend on the experience and skill of the installing technicians. Some folks are really good at visualizing an efficient network, others, not so much.
 
gadfly56 said:
Pull stations are typically fed from above, so a single stick with a feed and return from a box above for the SLC or IDC circuit is usual.

Heat detectors, smoke detectors, modules, etc. might be fed either way, depending on the equipment layout and how accessible the space is. The more isolated from other devices some item is, the more likely that a single run of EMT will be the easiest solution, but it is impossible to be more general than that. Every job is going to be different, and a lot is going to depend on the experience and skill of the installing technicians. Some folks are really good at visualizing an efficient network, others, not so much.
Click to expand...
I thought notification and initiating circuits can't be in same conduit....or just for a limited distance?
 
horsegoer said:
I thought notification and initiating circuits can't be in same conduit....or just for a limited distance?
Click to expand...
Power limited and non-power limited can't go in the same conduit. Siemens, for one, doesn't have a problem running initiating circuits and notification circuits in the same conduit, unless you are running cables for the ZAM-180. But then, the ZAM-180 is a non-power limited source.

All that said, I will comment that it's good practice not to run them together, unless it's a floor-to-floor riser. Once you are on a floor, there's not likely to be a good match in the locations of alarm devices and notification appliances.
 
gadfly56 said:
Power limited and non-power limited can't go in the same conduit. Siemens, for one, doesn't have a problem running initiating circuits and notification circuits in the same conduit, unless you are running cables for the ZAM-180. But then, the ZAM-180 is a non-power limited source.

All that said, I will comment that it's good practice not to run them together, unless it's a floor-to-floor riser. Once you are on a floor, there's not likely to be a good match in the locations of alarm devices and notification appliances.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much.
 
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