JustWork
Member
- Location
- New Jersey
Hello to everyone and thank you in advance for any information. I have a situation with an existing multi family dwelling (now 3 apts) in New Jersey that was an illegal 5 apt set up. The dwelling had no smoke alarms at all. I proposed to install one hard wired smoke ALARM interconnected system with battery back up with all of the apartments and common areas interconnected as requested by the town. The original permit was submitted with 10 smoke alarms some of which are combo units. As the g/c went throught the process of getting all of his required building inspections and me getting mine the request for additional smoke alarms from the officials are now putting me at 15 smoke Alarms including the combo units. I have used Kidde alarms which is good for 18 - 24 interconnected units.
I know the NFPA limits the number of interconnected units to 12 (why im not sure). My question is now how do I address the issue that we will or have exceeded the NFPA requirement? Do I just let it go and if it passes its done(not comfortable thinking that way)? Do I count the combo units as a smoke alarm (I did because it is one)? Shouldn't each apartment be its own system and the common areas its own system with maybe one alarm in each apartment unit located within 10' of bedrooms? What would be some thoughts regarding this situation. Also the only construction that was performed in this dwelling was they removed walls that made up the 5 apartments, not one new wall was constructed. They pretty much had me put a smoke detector in every room (no bath or kitchen)because the officials said they will/can use any room as a bedroom.
I know the NFPA limits the number of interconnected units to 12 (why im not sure). My question is now how do I address the issue that we will or have exceeded the NFPA requirement? Do I just let it go and if it passes its done(not comfortable thinking that way)? Do I count the combo units as a smoke alarm (I did because it is one)? Shouldn't each apartment be its own system and the common areas its own system with maybe one alarm in each apartment unit located within 10' of bedrooms? What would be some thoughts regarding this situation. Also the only construction that was performed in this dwelling was they removed walls that made up the 5 apartments, not one new wall was constructed. They pretty much had me put a smoke detector in every room (no bath or kitchen)because the officials said they will/can use any room as a bedroom.
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