Fire Alarm Questions

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

bphgravity

Senior Member
Location
Florida
I am posting this question that was given to me by a member via a PM. Please feel free to respond:


I request your help pls.

Q1: At what distance should we install F.A Detectors in a room and in a corridor?

Q2: How should we locate a Fire Alarm Manual Pull Station(Break glass) so that the control panel shall correctly identify the location of fire? I mean the occupants may pull it at other location than the fire, while running away during fire(i.e. misleading)

I will appreciate your explanation.
Click to expand...
 
The location of and spacing requirements can be found in NFPA 72 and local or state building codes.

The F/A panel will annunciate the location of the device or devices in alarm or trouble on it's read out as well as all remote annunciators (if remotes are part of the system)

I would think there would also be local devices (detectors) that would go into alarm.

Roger
 
I could be wrong, but I don't think that the fire panel has to identify the location of the fire when a pull station is pulled, just the location of the pull station. Like you said, chances are that the pull station will be pulled while people are going AWAY from the fire, so it just doesn't make sense that it would have to identify the fire.

Just be sure that the panel identifies the location of the pull station itself.

(As always, check with your local codes and AHJ, my advice is worth what you paid for it!)
 
roger said:
The location of and spacing requirements can be found in NFPA 72 and local or state building codes.

The F/A panel will annunciate the location of the device or devices in alarm or trouble on it's read out as well as all remote annunciators (if remotes are part of the system)

I would think there would also be local devices (detectors) that would go into alarm.

Roger
Click to expand...


Yes, the local devices could go into alarm . If not, then FA panel will indicate location of activated Maual Pull station which might be in a scape route which is not in the same location of fire(misleading information)

One guidance suggests- "locate the pull point in sepearte zones to those of detectors, this will avoid misleading information regarding the position of fire, particularly on staircase landings."

I am lost in this. I beleive you can give best explanation out of it.

Regards
ghk
 
Last edited:
What is a F.A. detector? That term does not appear in NFPA 72.

Is it a smoke detector? Is it a heat detector? Is it a flame detector?

What type of occupancy group is this? Group A? Group R?

The spacing requirements differ depending on what is being detected.
 
Last edited:
FA......Fire Alarm and no it is not a smoke detector. I am looking into NFPA 72 as we speak for the reference numbers.....and NFPA 72 is confusing at best. I do know that a FA or AV (audible visual) (strobe) device must be located 15' from end of corridor and every 100' from there.
 
Last edited:
As far as the pull stations and smoke/heat detectors (assuming special detectors are not needed) the devices should be adressable and even if a pull station is activated on another floor, the FACP will log all the hits from the system and chances are the smoke/heat detector will activate first.

If the manual pull is activated first and dumps the building...well, that is why the fire department has a minimal assignment to an occupancy and they investigate the entire building looking for signs of combustion.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top