Article V — Alarm and Communication Systems

Every highrise building shall be provided with a fire alarm and communication system that is electrically supervised, meets the provisions of UBC Standard 18.1, N.F.P.A. Standards, and is approved and listed by the state fire marshal and shall consist of the following:

• Local alarm system,

• Public address system,

• Fire department communication system.

The systems shall be designed and installed so that damage to any terminal unit or speaker will not render more than one zone of the system inoperative.

The local alarm and public address systems may be a combined system. When approved, the fire department communication system may be combined with the local alarm system and the public address system. A. Local Alarm. The local alarm system shall employ approved sounding devices. The sounding devices shall have a distinctive tone and shall be arranged to emit intermittent, prolonged or continuous sound signals for a full period of ten (10) seconds, to be immediately followed by an intermission, or period of silence, of five seconds before the signal is repeated. Such signal shall continue to sound until manually terminated in the fire control room, but in no case shall such manual operation be arranged to cause termination in less than three minutes. Devices for the hearing impaired (strobes) shall be installed, at a minimum, in all public restrooms and adjacent to all illuminated exit signs.

B. Public Address System. Speakers of signaling devices used to sound the local or fire alarm shall be so located as to be clearly heard by all occupants on the floor where activated, one floor above, and one floor below, except as may be otherwise found necessary. The public address communication system shall operate from the fire control room. It shall be established on a selective or general basis to the following terminal areas:

1. Elevator machine rooms;

2. Corridors within ten (10) feet of the exit doors and not more than one hundred (100) feet apart;

3. Within exit stairways, at least every third level.

C. Fire Department Communication System. A supervised two-way communication system shall be provided for fire department use. An operator's telephone headset, with one earpiece, shall be permanently connected to the console with an approved cord of sufficient length to reach all controls and annunciating devices within the fire control room. It shall operate between the fire control room and every connection device(s) at the following locations:

1. On each side of the exit stairway door;

2. Mechanical equipment rooms;

3. On the exterior of the emergency generator room door;

4. Fire department equipment storage rooms;

5. Fire pump room;

6. When travel distance to a phone jack exceeds two hundred (200) feet, an outlet shall be placed midway between the two points at an approved location. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1220, 15.11.1101)

Upon activation of the automatic sprinkler system, manual fire alarm sending station, any automatic fire alarm detecting or other initiating device required by this chapter or any special hazard fire protection or extinguishing system, an automatic local alarm signal shall sound on the floor where activated, one floor above and one floor below, and shall transmit an audible and visual signal to the fire control room. This shall include all public areas, kitchens, mechanical rooms, roof areas, attached parking structures and all remote areas not normally occupied. The actuation of any device required by this chapter shall place into operation all equipment necessary to prevent the recirculation of smoke.

Exception: Manual fire alarm sending stations. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1221, 15.11.1102)

In areas of high noise levels or where amplified sound is employed, such as bars, nightclubs, dance clubs, occupancies with stages, raised platforms and ballrooms or any other similar areas of high noise levels, a device shall be installed in the power supply of the noise producing or amplifying equipment to interrupt all power to the equipment when any fire alarm device is activated. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1222, 15.11.1103)

All signaling line circuits shall be Class 6 or 7 and all initiating device circuits shall be Class D or E as per N.F.P.A. 72-D Table 3-10.1 and 3-9.1. (Prior code §§ 19.28.1223, 15.11.1104)

• A. Each fire sprinkler control value and water flow detecting device shall be considered separate zones.

Exception: Control valves in fire pump room.

• B. Smoke detection zones and manual pull station zones shall be annunciated separately.

• C. Smoke detectors located in ducts or plenums shall be annunciated separately from ceiling detectors.

• D. Parking garages shall have each floor zoned separately. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1224, 15.11.1105)

A. The fire alarm annunciator panel shall be a graphic illustration of the building elevation, and shall be of sufficient size to accommodate any control switches, visual displays, lettering and be clearly legible, and showing the following:

1. All floor levels to include below grade and helistop;

2. All stairways to include upper and lower terminus of each stair;

3. All elevator banks and floors served;

4. Fire equipment storage rooms;

5. Fire pump(s);

6. Generator(s).

B. In addition to the graphic illustration, the fire alarm annunciator panel shall visually display alarm, trouble and supervisory signals immediately adjacent to the floor, area or zone the devices are serving. When zones are divided, they shall be displayed separately. Each zone shall display, but not be limited, to the following:

1. Every smoke detection zone; 2. Every duct detection zone; 3. Every water flow alarm/tamper zone; 4. Every manual pull station zone; 5. Every heat detection zone; 6. Any other fire extinguishing system. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1225, 15.11.1106) 15.100.270 Annunciation panel graphics. In addition to the graphic illustration (elevation) an illustration of the ground floor shall be provided. The panel shall be of sufficient size to accommodate any control switches, visual displays, lettering and be clearly legible. This shall not be an annunciation device, but shall show the following items: A. Location of stairway and/or corridor systems to the exterior of the building; B. All elevator lobbies; C. Location of the fire control room; D. All hydrant locations within the area of the building; E. Fire department standpipe connection locations; F. CO2 system connection (when provided); G. Piped air system inlet location; H. Emergency generator and fire pump fuel fill location(s). (Prior code §§ 9.28.1226, 15.11.1107) 15.100.280 Auxiliary supervised annunciation. An auxiliary supervised annunciation system shall be installed in the fire control room. A "trouble condition" in these systems shall be indicated by an audible signal and a visual display that clearly indicates the following: A. Low fuel status (when fuel level falls below minimum required amount) for: 1. Standby and emergency generator(s), and 2. Fire pump(s); B. Low water status of the auxiliary water supply (below minimum required amount); C. Fire pump(s) running; D. Generator(s) running; E. Fire department breathing air system. (Note: Where a trouble condition exists on any of the above items a system trouble shall be transmitted.)

This may be integrated within the main fire alarm annunciator panel. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1227, 15.11.1108)

A graphic illustrated control panel for the smoke removal system shall be installed with the following controls and show the location of the following items:

A. Controls.

1. Fan control switches and indicator lights;

2. Damper control switches and indicator lights;

3. Stair pressurization fan controls and indicator lights.

B. Locations.

1. All smoke removal fans, duct work and area(s) served;

2. Stair pressurization fan(s) locations. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1228, 15.11.1109)