2. MEP Training
Fire Protection System
Examples of questions to be answered:
1. What is the difference between fire
protection and fire alarm?
2. What are the differences in occupancies?
3. When is a fire alarm system required?
3. MEP Training
Fire Protection System
DEFINITONS
Manual Fire Alarm System
Consists of components and circuits arranged
to monitor and annunciate the states of
manual fire alarm boxes or supervisory signal
initiating devices
Initiates the appropriate annunciation
response to these signals
4. MEP Training
Fire Protection System
DEFINITIONS
Automatic Fire Alarm System
Provides emergency functions without the
necessity of human intervention
Activates as a result of detecting a
developing fire condition
5. MEP Training
Fire Protection System
Fire Protection System can consist of:
Automatic Sprinkler Systems
Standpipe Systems
Fire Alarm and Detection Systems
Central Station Monitoring
6. MEP Training
Fire Protection System
SUPERVISORY DEVICES
Tamper switch
OS & Y valve
Butterfly valve with indicator paddle and
integral tamper switch
Supervisory indication at the Fire Alarm
Control Panel, and Trouble Signal.
7. MEP Training
Fire Protection System
Supervisory Signal
& Initiating Devices
•
•
•
•
Tamper switch
OS&Y valve
Flow switch
Butterfly valve
with indicator
paddle & integral
tamper switch
8. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
A Fire Alarm and Detection System is an active fire
protection system that detects fire or the effects of
fire.
It notifies:
Occupants
Surrounding area
Fire service
The system controls and monitors all the fire alarm
components.
9. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
Fundamental Design
Initiating Devices
Manual
Automatic
Occupant Notification Devices
Visual
Audible
Emergency Voice Alarm Communicator System (EVAC)
Tenant Fire Alarm Systems
Annunciators
Initiating Devices
Notification Devices
Facility (Landlord) Fire Alarm Control
On-site
Off-site
10. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
INITIATING DEVICES
Results in activation of Fire Alarm System
annunciation devices
Manual pull stations
Smoke detectors; duct or area
Water flow switches
Rate-of-Rise and Heat detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors
13. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
Water Flow Switch & Valve supervisory Switches
OS&Y or other
indicating valve
(SUPERVISORY)
Double check
valve
Fire department
connection
1
Flow switch
(INITIATING)
Tamper switch
(SUPERVISORY)
Fire department
check valve
(SUPERVISORY)
15. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
OCCUPANT NOTIFICATION
DEVICES
Use audible and visible alert
Horns
Strobes
Bells
Emergency Voice Alarm
Communications (EVAC) systems
Speakers
Strobes
16. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
EMERGENCY VOICE ALARM
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (EVAC)
Pre-alert tone followed by prerecorded
message directing the occupants
Usually found in large facilities like Covered
Malls
Speakers are automatically activated by the
fire alarm system
17. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
A standard recorded annunciation message is:
Attention. Attention. Attention. An emergency
situation has been detected in the building.
Proceed to the nearest exit and leave the
building. Do not re-enter the building until
directed
to do so by the proper authorities.
Custom recorded annunciation messages can be
provided for specific applications.
Announcement applications might include
instructions concerning Weather Alerts, Bomb
Threats and any other Emergency Evacuation.
18. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
TENANT FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
Annunciators
Provides status information about a circuit, condition or location
within leased space
Non-proprietary-furnished and installed by tenant, may be of any
manufacturer
Alarm condition activates Facility (Landlord) Fire Alarm Control
Panel as a separate zone
Alarm condition activates tenant notification devices within leased
space
Required in tenant leased spaces over 17,000sf
19. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
TENANT FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
Manual and Automatic Initiating Devices
Provide activation of tenant fire alarm system
annunciator
Non-proprietary-furnished and installed by tenant,
manufacturer compatible with tenant fire alarm
system annunciator
Required in Tenant Leased Spaces over 17,000sf
20. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
TENANT FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
Notification Devices
Provide notification of alarm condition within tenant
leased space
Non-proprietary-furnished and installed by tenant,
manufacturer compatible with tenant fire alarm
system annunciator
Powered from tenant fire alarm system
Required in Tenant Leased Spaces over 17,000sf
21. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
CENTRAL STATION
A supervisory station where alarm signals are
transmitted to, recorded in, and maintained by
a firm or business approved to furnish and
monitor supervised fire alarm systems.
22. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
MAIN FACILITY(LANDLORD) FIRE
ALARM CONTROL
Control Panel
Power supply
Wiring
Fire safety control devices
Indicates detailed information of
Landlord alarms and monitors Tenant
Fire Alarm Systems
23. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
Power Supply
Primary supply
Commercial light and power
Secondary Supply
Usually sealed, lead-acid batteries
Generators (under strict rules)
Wiring
Carries data information
Fire safety control devices
Detects abnormal conditions within system
24. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
Codes:
International Building Code (IBC)
International Fire Code (IFC)
International Mechanical Code (IMC)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA
72)
25. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
Examples of types of occupancies:
Assembly (A)
Business (B)
Covered Mall
Mercantile (M)
26. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
SUMMARY OF MANUAL FIRE ALARM
THRESHOLD
Occupancy
Threshold
Occupant Density
Assembly (A-1,
A-2, A-3, A-5)
All, with occupant load ≥300
5 ft²/person where
standing
Business (B)
Total occupant load of ≥ 500 ≥ 100
above/below level of exit discharge.
Mercantile (M)
Total occupant load of ≥ 500 ≥ 100
above/below level of exit discharge.
18,000sf for 80/20% sales/warehouse ratio
Covered Mall
(Special)
15,000sf for 100% sales area
Not required
15 ft²/person where
tables and chairs
100 ft²/person
30 ft²/person sales
300 ft²/person stock
27. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
SUMMARY OF AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION THRESHOLD
Occupancy
Threshold
Occupant Density
Assembly (A-1,
A-2, A-3, A-5)
Not required
N/A
Business (B)
Not required
N/A
Mercantile (M)
Not required
N/A
Covered Mall
(Special)
Not required
N/A
28. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
SUMMARY OF ANNUNCIATION FIRE THRESHOLD
Occupancy
Threshold
Occupant Density
Assembly (A-1,
A-2, A-3, A-5)
All, with occupant load ≥300 required for
occupant evacuation. Occupant load ≥ 1000
voice/alarm communications system
required.
5 ft²/person where
standing
Business (B)
Mercantile (M)
All, Total occupant load of ≥ 500 ≥ 100
above/below level of exit discharge, for
occupant evacuation.
All, Total occupant load of ≥ 500 ≥ 100
above/below level of exit discharge, for
occupant evacuation.
18,000sf for 80/20% sales/warehouse ratio
Covered Mall
(Special)
15,000sf for 100% sales area
Square foot > 50,000 voice/alarm
communications system required.
15 ft²/person where
tables and chairs
100 ft²/person
30 ft²/person sales
300 ft²/person stock
29. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
Examples of questions answered:
1. What is the difference between fire
protection and fire alarm?
2. What are the differences in occupancies?
3. When is a fire alarm system required?
Editor's Notes
<number>
We will answer all these questions in this presentation.
The questions will be repeated at the end.
<number>
Developing fire condition:
temperature rise
rate of temperature rise
combustion products.
<number>
Developing fire condition:
temperature rise
rate of temperature rise
combustion products.
<number>
<number>
A standpipe system allows large volumes of water to be brought to any floor of a building to supply firefighters’ hose lines.
<number>
We will focus on Fire Alarm and Detection System during this presentation.
<number>
Initiating devices sense the effects of a fire or are manually activated by personnel, resulting in a signal to the fire alarm panel.
Fire Alarm Control Unit (Panel) – provides required functions, and has inputs and outputs.
Fire safety control device- detects a condition in fire protection systems which is not normal and could prevent the fire protection from functioning as intended in the event of a fire. Ex. Closed valve which controls the water supply to a fire sprinkler system.
<number>
Fire alarm systems have devices connected to them to detect fire/smoke
<number>
Pull station can be single action vs. double action, describing how the alarm is activated.
<number>
An automatic device that senses the visible or invisible products of combustion (typically senses fire conduction prior to ignition).
Smoke detector are “zoned” to pinpoint the location of the fire
Duct detectors are in installed in the heating and air conditioning ductwork. If a duct detector senses smoke, the duct detector shuts down the building’s heating and air conditioning system to stop the spread of smoke to other areas.
Types
Ionization-
Photoelectric-
Light beam-
Duct-
<number>
A detector that senses heat produced by burning substances. (Generally fire/flame is already present)
Rate-of-Rise (ROR) heat detectors react to the sudden change or rise in ambient temperature from a normal baseline condition. A typical alarm sound when the rate of temperature rise exceeds 12º to 15ºF (6.7º to 8.3ºC) per minute.
Ambient temperature also referred to as room temperature (18º C to 23º C) (64º F to 73º F)
Heat detectors will be specified in area that smoke detectors will not perform well, such as a cold unheated warehouse or dusty areas.
CO detectors can alarm people about faulty fuel burning devices.
<number>
Fire alarm systems have devices connected to them to detect fire/smoke
Notification Appliances
Sound (audible signals) – 45dB to 120dB for human hearing
Light (visible signals) – 1 to 2 flashes
Located ……
Colors…..
<number>
Refers to the panel that displays the status of the monitored fire protection systems and devices.
It is not the fire alarm control unit; however, the control panel may include an annunciator.
Annunciators usually display where in the building an alarm originates. It may also indicate the type of device.
<number>
Refers to the panel that displays the status of the monitored fire protection systems and devices.
It is not the fire alarm control unit; however, the control panel may include an annunciator.
Annunciators usually display where in the building an alarm originates. It may also indicate the type of device.
<number>
Refers to the panel that displays the status of the monitored fire protection systems and devices.
It is not the fire alarm control unit; however, the control panel may include an annunciator.
Annunciators usually display where in the building an alarm originates. It may also indicate the type of device.
<number>
Fire alarm systems have devices connected to them to detect fire/smoke
<number>
Fire alarm systems have devices connected to them to detect fire/smoke
<number>
<number>
Many types of occupancies. We will focus on Mercantile and Covered Mall.
<number>
IBC Figure 907.2
Threshold requirements for when a manual fire alarm system is required based on the occupancy group.
Although the requirement for manual pull stations may not apply (e.g. sprinkled buildings), alarm and occupant notification may still be required.
Mercantile square footage of the entire mercantile occupancy must be used for this calculation, unless individual tenants are separated by a 2 hour fire barrier, or fire barriers are located to limit the square footage.
Example: Using an 80% to 20% ratio of sales area to stock area, the maximum floor area of a tenant requiring a manual fire alarm system is 18,000sf, and a 100% sales area is 15,000sf.
<number>
Refer to IBC Figure 907.2
Threshold requirements for when an automatic fire detection system is required based on the occupancy group.
<number>
Threshold requirements for when an annunciation fire is required based on the occupancy group.
Mercantile square footage of the entire mercantile occupancy must be used for this calculation, unless individual tenants are separated by a 2 hour fire barrier, or fire barriers are located to limit the square footage.
Example: Using an 80% to 20% ratio of sales area to stock area, the maximum floor area of a tenant requiring a manual fire alarm system is 18,000sf, and a 100% sales area is 15,000sf.
<number>
Answer questions
1. Fir alarm is a component within the fire protection system
2.
3.
