Reducing Unwanted Alarms Through Plan Review and Inspection

Reducing Unwanted Alarms Through Plan Review and Inspection: An AHJ Perspective Presented by: Tim Knisely

Introduction Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Unwanted Alarms • What is an ‘Unwanted Alarm’? • Any alarm that occurs that is not the result of a potentially hazardous condition • • Malicious Nuisance Unintentional Unknown • Many times referred to as ‘False Alarms’ Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Unwanted Alarms • According to the NFPA… • Fire departments respond to 2. 5 million false alarms in a year • Twice the number of fires • Five times the number of structure fires Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Unwanted Alarms • Managing unwanted alarms • Relocate smokes • Cover / remove pulls • Use alternative devices in prone locations • Follow minimum code • Use proper devices Automatic Fire Alarm Association

The Impact of Unwanted Alarms • These alarms cause… …complacency • Occupants / First responders / Building owners …increased costs to the fire department …delayed response to a confirmed emergency …increased risk of injury responding to/from Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Compounding the issue… • Where do we see alarm systems being installed today? • Are all of these installations required to be installed? • Are some of these combination systems, such as burglar or hold-up alarms with fire devices added • Now systems can be purchased on-line and installed by the owner? Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Today’s Discussion – • Examine the required elements of systems in accordance with the adopted code and referenced standards. • Consider alternative devices in areas that are subject to unwanted activations • Utilize the exceptions that are provided in the code, or follow the minimum requirements • Review options for the ‘Sequence of Operations’ to best meet the needs of the use group. Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Ownership • Understanding how a building will be occupied is essential before we can design and install a system • Codes and standards will only tell us so much • Education, experience and common sense will guide us • This path may help us fix the system before it becomes a problem Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Ownership • Will you ever return to this building? • Treat all jobs as if you will • Or, as if you’ll live there • Or, as if you’ll respond as a firefighter and expect to know what is wrong Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Design by Use Group: • What building and/or fire code is adopted? • What NFPA-72 standard is referenced • Can you use a more current standard? • It depends! • State or local amendments • Design professional in responsible charge – • IBC 107. 3. 4 Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Codes and Standards • International Building Code - 2015 • International Fire Code - 2015 • NFPA 72 – 2013 Automatic Fire Alarm Association

IBC 907. 1. 1 Construction Documents • Construction documents must show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of the IBC and the IFC • Shop drawings must contain all information as required by the referenced installation standards in Chapter 9. Automatic Fire Alarm Association

IBC 907. 1. 2: Shop Drawings • Shop drawings for fire protection systems must be submitted and approved prior to the start of system installation. Automatic Fire Alarm Association

IFC 907. 1. 2 Fire alarm shop drawings 1. A floor plan that indicates the use of all rooms: 2. Locations of alarminitiating devices 3. Locations of alarm notification appliances, including candela ratings for visible appliances 4. Design minimum audibility level for occupant notification Automatic Fire Alarm Association

IFC 907. 1. 2 Fire alarm shop drawings: 5. Location of FACU, transponders and notification power supplies 6. Location of the Annunciator(s) 7. Power connections 8. Battery calculations 9. Conductor type and sizes Automatic Fire Alarm Association

IFC 907. 1. 2 Fire alarm shop drawings: 10. Voltage drop calculations 11. Manufacturers’ data sheets, including model numbers and listing information: 12. Details of ceiling height and construction Automatic Fire Alarm Association

IFC 907. 1. 2 Fire alarm shop drawings: 13. The interface of fire safety control functions 14. Classification of the supervising station Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Shop Drawings • What statement is on your drawings? • By Use Group in accordance with the code THESE DRAWINGS ARE PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE IBC/2015 AND NFPA-72/2013 Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Shop Drawings • What statement is on your drawings? • Designed using the project specification, and not in verified for code compliance THESE DRAWINGS ARE PREPARED PER PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THIS PROJECT. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REVIEWED FOR STATE AND LOCAL CODE COMPLIANCE. Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Construction Drawings • What statement is on your drawings? • Designed using the Construction Drawings Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Use Group Examples Automatic Fire Alarm Association

IFC 907. 2. 8: R-1: Hotel/Motel A manual fire alarm system that activates the occupant notification system shall be installed • Exceptions: 1. A manual fire alarm system is not required in buildings not more than two stories in height, sleeping units have a 1 -hour fire partition and the sleeping rooms exit directly to a public way, egress court or yard. Automatic Fire Alarm Association

IFC 907. 2. 8: R-1: Hotel/Motel • Exception 2: Manual fire alarm boxes are not required throughout the building where all of the following conditions are met: 2. 1 Building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA-13 or NFPA-13 R 2. 2 The notification appliances will activate upon sprinkler water flow. 2. 3 Not fewer than one manual fire alarm is installed at an approved location. Automatic Fire Alarm Association

R-1: Hotel/Motel (IFC 907. 2. 8. 2) • An automatic smoke detection system that activates the occupant notification system in accordance with Section 907. 5 shall be installed throughout all interior corridors serving sleeping units. Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Hotel Conference Area Automatic Fire Alarm Association

System Smoke Detection (IFC 907. 2. 11. 7 #3) • Activation of a smoke detector in a sleeping unit shall not activate alarm notification appliances outside of the sleeping unit, • Provided that a supervisory signal is generated Automatic Fire Alarm Association

R-2: Apartments (IFC 907. 2. 9. 1) A manual fire alarm system must be installed in R-2 occupancies where any of the following conditions apply: 1. Any dwelling unit is located three or more stories above the lowest level of exit discharge. 2. Any dwelling unit located more than one story below the highest level of exit discharge 3. The building contains > 16 units Automatic Fire Alarm Association

R-2: Apartments (IFC 907. 2. 9. 1) • Exception: • Manual fire alarm boxes are not required where the building is equipped with sprinklers installed in accordance with NFPA 13 or 13 R… • And, the notification appliances will activate upon a sprinkler water flow. Automatic Fire Alarm Association

R-2: Apartments Automatic Fire Alarm Association

System Smoke Detection (IFC 907. 2. 11. 7 #3) • Activation of a smoke detector in a dwelling unit shall not activate alarm notification appliances outside of the dwelling unit, • Provided that a supervisory signal is generated Automatic Fire Alarm Association

B – Business • A Manual fire alarm system must be installed where one of the following exists: • Combined occupant load of all floors is 500 or more • Occupant load is more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge. • Exception: • Manual fire alarm boxes are not required where the building is equipped with sprinklers and the notification appliances will activate upon sprinkler flow. Automatic Fire Alarm Association

M: Mercantile • A manual system that activates the occupant notification system must be installed in Group M occupancies where ONE of the following conditions exist: The combined occupant load of all floors is >500 persons, or >100 persons below grade. Exception: Manual fire alarm boxes are not required where the building is equipped throughout with a sprinkler system that automatically activates the notification zones upon sprinkler flow. Automatic Fire Alarm Association

More on Design Stage • If the proposed systems exceeds the code, or more importantly is poorly designed… • Can you re-design it ? • Or, do you install what you were given? • Will the design be rejected by the AHJ… Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Supervision • Is it required by the code? • Who does Supervising Station call first? • Why? • Should it always be the fire department? Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Coordination of other trades • Between GC and all others • Electrical • Mechanical • Sprinkler Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Maintenance Contract • How to maintain? • IBC / IFC • Don’t use this as a time to ‘improve’ the existing system • Is maintenance required? • Why is this important? Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Inspections • Rough Wiring methods Device placement • Final • What is involved? 100% • What if we find something wrong now? • Can we fix it? • Verify signal transmission and messaging – is it accurate to the device Automatic Fire Alarm Association

General Smoke alarms/detectors • Installation near cooking appliances: • In residential use • In non-residential use • Installation near bathrooms • High-Rise Buildings: • Mechanical, electrical transformer, telephone or similar that is not provided with sprinkler protection • In each elevator machine/space and elevator lobbies • That’s it! (Specific use groups aside) Automatic Fire Alarm Association

General – smoke alarms/detectors • Duct smoke detectors: • Must be connected to a FACU when present/installed • Duct detector activation shall initiate a visible and audible supervisory signal at a constantly attended location and perform the intended fire safety function in accordance with the IMC. • Protection of the FACU: • Areas not continuously occupied, a single smoke detector must be provided at the location of eaoch FACU, NAC power extender and supervising station transmission equipment. • Except where ambient conditions prohibit installation of a smoke det, a heat detector shall be permitted. • Examples!!!!! • 907. 4. 3 Automatic sprinkler system – smoke detectors may be omitted if ambient conditions exist and a heat detector or sprinkler may be acceptable Automatic Fire Alarm Association

General Thoughts: • Protective covers 907. 4. 2. 5 • Two step exception • Record of Completion • Storage Document Box Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Cry Wolf • Over design or poor design • Creates unwanted alarm issues • Is more always better? Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Household or Public • Primary or Secondary System • Explain • Detectors vs Alarms • And, require supervisory signal – check code req Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Question • Where are smoke detectors typically required in the code? • Mostly where people sleep Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Questions? Thank you! Tim Knisely (814) 933 -8552 firecodeinstructor@yahoo. com Follow on Facebook: Fire Protection Systems for Firefighters Automatic Fire Alarm Association