Voice Evac Rough-In

[Kansas Mountain]

Does anybody have a rule-of-thumb they follow for placing strobes and speaker strobe locations on electrical drawings for a voice-evac fire alarm system?

Our specs still require the FA contractor to provide their own shop drawings that have been approved by the fire marshal, so it's not critical that device quantities/locations shown on the electrical plans are 100% accurate, but I would like to be at least be somewhat close to what's actually needed. I understand that the ceiling height, finished surfaces, use of space, etc. all affect qty of devices required. My main applications are,

1) Classroom w/ 10' ceilings, approx 650 square feet
• is (1) speaker strobe OK to handle a typical classroom?
2) Corridors w/ 14' ceilings
3) Group spaces w/ 20' ceilings, approx 4000 square feet

 

[Strathead]

Does anybody have a rule-of-thumb they follow for placing strobes and speaker strobe locations on electrical drawings for a voice-evac fire alarm system?

Our specs still require the FA contractor to provide their own shop drawings that have been approved by the fire marshal, so it's not critical that device quantities/locations shown on the electrical plans are 100% accurate, but I would like to be at least be somewhat close to what's actually needed. I understand that the ceiling height, finished surfaces, use of space, etc. all affect qty of devices required. My main applications are,

1) Classroom w/ 10' ceilings, approx 650 square feet
• is (1) speaker strobe OK to handle a typical classroom?
2) Corridors w/ 14' ceilings
3) Group spaces w/ 20' ceilings, approx 4000 square feet

Ceiling space actually doesn't matter unless you are using ceiling mount devices. So, you can find plenty of references on the internet. I typed in strobe spacing chart and many came up. One is as good as another. Here is one for System sensor. https://www.firelite.com/CatalogDocuments/SSD_AV_Application_Guide.pdf for your purposes figure all devices will have strobes so use that to lay it out. speakers or horns are less needed.

1) Usually one is enough. just don't place it near an inside corner or blocked by shelving.
2) within 15' of every end of the corridor and I forget the spacing in between.
3) Totally depends When you use 110 CD wall mount strobes they cover a space, 55 ft wide (actually 22.5 feet on each side of the device,) and 55 feet deep. It the room is more than 110 feet across then provisions need to be made.

 

[Kansas Mountain]

"Ceiling space actually doesn't matter unless you are using ceiling mount devices."

I typically do ceiling mount. Wall devices always seem to end up in the middle of a mural or something that'll piss off the architect.

Thanks for the all the great advice, I appreciate it!