NFPA 72, chapters applicable to residential

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brantmacga

brantmacga

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EC friend calls me, failed final on a residential project few towns over. Said he couldn't have a smoke detector within 36" of an HVAC return. Hallway is too small to give 36" clearance anyway. Asked for advice .....


Inspector sent this.....
17.7.4 Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC).
17.7.4.1* In spaces served by air-handling systems, detectors
shall not be located where airflow prevents operation of the
detectors.



I sent this....
17.1.5
The requirements of single- and multiple station alarms and household fire alarm systems shall be determined in accordance with Chapter 29.

29.11.3.4 Specific Location Requirements. The installation of smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall comply with the following requirements:
(8) Smoke Alarms and smoke detectors shall not be installed within a 36 in. (910 mm) horizontal path from the supply registers of a forced air heating or cooling system and shall be installed outside of the direct airflow from those registers.


This is the inspectors reply....
We looked over all the material and we are going to keep it as a requirement. I do appreciate your help on it.
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I forwarded it to the state construction codes dept; probably take a few days to hear back, but wanted another opinion on the 17.1.5; I'm interpreting that correctly, right? Chapter 17 isn't applicable to residential?
 
The Kiddie smoke alarm instructions include the following wording:
"Smoke alarms should not be installed within 3 ft (.9m) of the door to a
bathroom containing a tub or shower, forced air supply ducts used for
heating or cooling, ceiling or whole house ventilating fans, or other high
air flow areas"
so, a case can be made that within 3 ft of a air return would be in violation of the manufacturer instructions.
 
augie47 said:
The Kiddie smoke alarm instructions include the following wording:
"Smoke alarms should not be installed within 3 ft (.9m) of the door to a
bathroom containing a tub or shower, forced air supply ducts used for
heating or cooling, ceiling or whole house ventilating fans, or other high
air flow areas"
so, a case can be made that within 3 ft of a air return would be in violation of the manufacturer instructions.
Click to expand...
This smoke is by a return, not a supply.
 
Wouldn't a smoke alarm in front of a return duct actually be better because the moving air will pull the smoke right across the detector? Same priciple applies to a duct detector in a HVAC system.
 
infinity said:
Wouldn't a smoke alarm in front of a return duct actually be better because the moving air will pull the smoke right across the detector? Same priciple applies to a duct detector in a HVAC system.
Click to expand...

That’s also what I think


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brantmacga said:
That’s also what I think


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Better or not, the rule applies only to supply ducts. Ask for a copy of the local rule applying it to return ducts, or politely insist your installation is correct. Or go to the state, as suggested. In NJ, the DCA will remind the local AHJ what's what.
 
brantmacga said:
EC friend calls me, failed final on a residential project few towns over. Said he couldn't have a smoke detector within 36" of an HVAC return. Hallway is too small to give 36" clearance anyway. Asked for advice .....
Click to expand...
Are we sure this is a return? Most returns I'm aware of for residential are mounted lower down than the ceiling. YMMV.
 
gadfly56 said:
Are we sure this is a return? Most returns I'm aware of for residential are mounted lower down than the ceiling. YMMV.
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My lake house has low returns for winter heating and high returns for summer cooling.
 
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Inspectors response for those interested

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Remember... Inspectors are people too ! At times they need to also justify their existence and you may be the answer. When I think of the perfect inspector I think of the City of Glendale. When this one inspector would arrive on the scene, you noticed that he would always open his trunk and pull out his crawling coveralls. If he didn't find a violation, he was very unhappy. So, he remembered you and would make sure your next inspection got special treatment ! ! !
 
gadfly56 said:
Knuckleheads! Appendix A.17.7.4.1 does NOT apply to residential!!
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Yeh. He acknowledges that Chapter 17 says that it doesn’t apply to residential, but his argument is that the IRC doesn’t say only Chapter 29 applies to residential, so therefore the whole of NFPA 72 applies to residential.


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brantmacga said:
Yeh. He acknowledges that Chapter 17 says that it doesn’t apply to residential, but his argument is that the IRC doesn’t say only Chapter 29 applies to residential, so therefore the whole of NFPA 72 applies to residential.


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Click to expand...
OK, I get that this individual has apparently suffered severe head trauma somewhere along the line and is now low-functioning. The IRC says to follow NFPA 72, and NFPA 72 tells you that chapter 17 doesn't apply to residential construction. Nothing in section R314 says otherwise. Game, set, and match. Alas, invincible ignorance seems to rule the day.
 
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