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

2. Introduction

3. 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’

4. 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

5. Unwanted Alarms Managing unwanted alarms Relocate smokes
Cover / remove pulls
Use alternative devices in prone locations
Follow minimum code
Use proper devices

6. 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

7. 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?
Use example of pull stations as outlined in NFPA-72. Mandatory recommendations.
Respond to alarms at all hours
Chased unwanted alarms for years
All systems were already installed – hard to fix
Some system installs just don’t make sense
If at final the system is wrong, it will always be wrong if we don’t fix it.
Hotel detector at air supply – corp complained it was wrong – but they didn’t fix it. Blamed the inspector. It is their building.
But, hard to fix non-required detectors, or where det’s are abundant in space
Nothing worse than a smoke det activation in a bathroom, mechanical closet, kitchen at 0309 hrs.
Need to get in front of installs – never too early to meet and discuss
Meet early and often. Include the design team, electrical eng, electrical contractor, alarm contractor, HVAC, etc.
Conduct rough inspections, both of wiring practices and device placement. Prior to framing inspection or covering of components with drywall or other finishes.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Codes and Standards International Building Code - 2015
International Fire Code
NFPA 72 – 2013

13. 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.

14. IBC : Shop Drawings
Shop drawings for fire protection systems must be submitted and approved prior to the start of system installation.

15. IFC 907.1.2 Fire alarm shop drawings
A floor plan that indicates the use of all rooms:
Locations of alarm- initiating devices
Locations of alarm notification appliances, including candela ratings for visible appliances
Design minimum audibility level for occupant notification

16. 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

17. 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

18. IFC 907.1.2 Fire alarm shop drawings:
13. The interface of fire safety control functions
14. Classification of the supervising station

19. 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

20. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REVIEWED FOR STATE AND LOCAL CODE COMPLIANCE.
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.

21. Construction Drawings
What statement is on your drawings?
Designed using the Construction Drawings

22. Use Group Examples
Maybe add NFPA requirements for plans and compare to IFC? Minimize the number of slides and items covered.

23. IFC : R-1: Hotel/Motel
A manual fire alarm system that activates the occupant notification system shall be installed
Exceptions:
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.

24. 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-13R
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.

25. R-1: Hotel/Motel (IFC )
An automatic smoke detection system that activates the occupant notification system in accordance with Section shall be installed throughout all interior corridors serving sleeping units.

26. Hotel Conference Area

27. 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

28. R-2: Apartments (IFC )
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

29. 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 13R…
And, the notification appliances will activate upon a sprinkler water flow.

30. R-2: Apartments

31. 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

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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…

35. Supervision Is it required by the code?
Who does Supervising Station call first?
Why?
Should it always be the fire department?

36. Coordination of other trades
Between GC and all others
Electrical
Mechanical
Sprinkler

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

38. 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

39. 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)

40. 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!!!!!
Automatic sprinkler system – smoke detectors may be omitted if ambient conditions exist and a heat detector or sprinkler may be acceptable

41. General Thoughts: Protective covers 907.4.2.5 Two step exception
Record of Completion
Storage Document Box

42. Cry Wolf Over design or poor design Creates unwanted alarm issues
Is more always better?

43. Household or Public Primary or Secondary System Detectors vs Alarms
Explain
Detectors vs Alarms
And, require supervisory signal – check code req

44. Question Where are smoke detectors typically required in the code?
Mostly where people sleep

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Questions?
Thank you!
Tim Knisely
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