Smoke Detectors In Commercial Bldgs.

[jtester]

A local Town Fire Marshall has proposed an ordinance requiring "battery operated single station smoke detectors installed per manufacturers instructions in all commercial structures, new and existing." The Town is currently under the 2003 IFC, but he has decided to add that requirement.
I am opposed to such an idea, but I am interested in other local ordinances that may have similar requirements. Are single station detectors in commercial structures required in many local ordinances? Are battery powered detectors allowed in any new construction at all?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Jim T

 

[steve66]

Re: Smoke Detectors In Commercial Bldgs.

Sounds good at first, but can they require anyone to install detectors in existing structures??

Won't strobes be required per the ADA?

What good will they be if no one is present when the detector goes off?

What if the building isn't suitable for a smoke detector? Like a kitchen?

Is there a phrase in the IFC that says something like:

"all fire alarm devices, if installed, shall meet the requirements of this code"?

(I know NFPA has something like this). If so, manual pull stations and strobes and the whole 5 yards may be required once you put in a smoke.

Steve

 

[tom baker]

Re: Smoke Detectors In Commercial Bldgs.

A single station smoke detector is for a residential application. They may not be listed for commerical use. I don't have any here at work to check, if some one has a firex or similar what do the instructions state?