No Fire Alarm Speakers?

[MD88]

Hello,

I've been approached by a client (a mill with many little buildings) to design a fire alarm system that doesn't have any directly activated signalling devices... instead, if there's a fire, a signal will be sent to the main control room, then they will dispatch a maintenance crew member to go see if there really is a fire, then if there is, the control room guy will announce an evacuation over the P/A system. This seems really sketchy to me, but does anyone know any code or NFPA references that might prohibit this?

Thanks!

 

[peter d]

It all depends on any state and local codes you have in force in your area. You must check your local and/or state authorities.

What you describe is how typical voice evac systems work anyway, only it's typically the fire fighters who announce the evacuation commands and routes over the PA, not a maintenance person. Although in a rural area with no fire department, I can see how the maintenance person would be charged with this task.

 

[MD88]

Really? Wow, it just seems there are so many points of failure... communications lost with the control room, control operator error (or asleep!), communications lost with the maintenance dept, P/A system down...!

 

[ron]

You're looking for "Private Mode" notification.
This is generally only permitted in a hospital like setting where the people cannot get out themselves and often have a "defend in place" type emergency plan.
I would check your building/fire code to see if this is permitted. Also the AH can make the call.

 

[ron]

BTW, you can't use just regular willy nilly type PA speakers, they must be fire alarm types, where ADA would also typically require strobes too.