NFPA 72

[lady sparks lover]

Hi Everyone,

How has everyone been?? Fire alarms are my weakest subjects, and that's why I'm asking questions. I'm having a dispute with a fire alarm code official. My first question... (just so you know I'm not saying who's right and who's wrong)

1. There's a telephone line that contacts the fire department in alarm mode. For the riser diagram, should the telephone line go to the fire department or to a UL approved central station (i've never heard of it)??

2. He requires that a smoke alarm must be 15 feet from a wall. I thought that was from the end of an area, ie. a corridor??

Please enlighten me!!

 

[bonding jumper]

Re: NFPA 72

Well what we do on our riser diagrams, we just show a line with an arrow from the facp that says "To central station" as far as distances of 15 feet from walls i have no clue what your talking about, u need to supply more details, what if you have a 12x12 bedroom? So u can't put a smoke in there?

 

[lady sparks lover]

Re: NFPA 72

my point exactly.

To make it clearer, he says that in the meeting hall of this church (room is about 40W x 60L), that i didn't locate the smoke detectors 15' from the wall. I thought they can be more that 15', if the it is situated a max of 30' apart, but in case of a corridor, 15' from the end of the corridor. I might be wrong, though...

Originally posted by bonding jumper:
Well what we do on our riser diagrams, we just show a line with an arrow from the facp that says "To central station" as far as distances of 15 feet from walls i have no clue what your talking about, u need to supply more details, what if you have a 12x12 bedroom? So u can't put a smoke in there?

 

[websparky]

Re: NFPA 72

NFPA 72 2002
5.7.3.2* Spot-Type Smoke Detectors.
5.7.3.2.1* Spot-type smoke detectors shall be located on the ceiling not less than 100 mm (4 in.) from a sidewall to the near edge or, if on a sidewall, between 100 mm and 300 mm (4 in. and 12 in.) down from the ceiling to the top of the detector.
5.7.3.2.2* To minimize dust contamination, smoke detectors, where installed under raised floors, shall be mounted only in an orientation for which they have been listed.
5.7.3.2.3 On smooth ceilings, spacing for spot-type smoke detectors shall be in accordance with 5.7.3.2.3(A) through 5.7.3.2.3(E).
(A)* Spacing of 9.1 m (30 ft) shall be permitted to be used as a guide.
(B) In all cases, the manufacturer?s documented instructions shall be followed.
(C) Other spacing shall be permitted to be used depending on ceiling height, different conditions, or response requirements.
(D) For the detection of flaming fires, the guidelines in Annex B shall be permitted to be used.
(E)* For smooth ceilings, all points on the ceiling shall have a detector within a distance equal to 0.7 times the selected spacing

Typically a smoke detector that has a 30' diameter rating needs to be installed 15' from the wall of the room, then every 30' there after. The coverage for the detector is a distance of 30' maximum. In other words, 15' from the detector in all directions would be covered.

NFPA 72 2002 3.3.27 Central Station Service. The use of a system or a group of systems in which the operations of circuits and devices at a protected property are signaled to, recorded in, and supervised from a listed central station that has competent and experienced operators who, upon receipt of a signal, take such action as required by this Code. Related activities at the protected property, such as equipment installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and runner service, are the responsibility of the central station or a listed fire alarm service local company. Central station service is controlled and operated by a person, firm, or corporation whose business is the furnishing of such contracted services or whose properties are the protected premises. (SIG-SSS)

As an example, Brinks, ADT or a private licensed and approved company that remotely monitors the fire alarm system 24/7 and 365.

Don't forget, the Fire Marshall is the AHJ and has final say-so, period.

Hope this helps!
Dave