The document provides an overview of key changes between the 8th and 9th editions of UL 864, including more stringent requirements for ground fault supervision, device installation, wiring practices, alarm and trouble signal processing times, voice alarm systems, releasing devices, transmission technologies, software compliance, power supply capacity, and notification appliance circuits. Significant changes include a reduction in allowable signal processing times from 90 to 10 seconds, additional supervision for networked and voice alarm systems, and more flexible but stringent component reliability requirements. Compatibility between devices and panels is also a new critical focus area.
1. UL Code 864 9th Edition
An Overview of the Foremost Code
Updates
2. 9th Edition of UL 864, ANSI/UL 864
•Note that UL 864 is
an ANSI standard.
•ANSI is national
Latest Norm.
incarnation of •ANY NRTL can
a standard certify.
first •FM and UL are
published in equivalent
1948
HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
3. UL 864 9th Edition
• When published in October 2003 the 9th edition
had an effective date of October 31, 2005
• Three subsequent extensions by UL has moved the
effective date to June 30, 2007
• UL no longer accepts products for certification to
the 8th edition
HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
4. Ground Fault Supervision
June 30, 2007 December 31, 2007
• Ground faults are no longer just a short to ground
• Manufacturer specifies the amount of leakage to ground and UL
tests to verify the trip point
• Wiring installation workmanship is very important!
HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
5. Products installed in Air-handling Spaces
June 30, 2007
• This is an issue particularly for speakers and associated wiring
HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
6. Devices Installed in an Outlet Box
June 30, 2007
• You can not just lay a device in an outlet box!
HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
7. Wiring the Fire Alarm
June 30, 2007
• It is vital that the installer follow minimum wire gage size specified
in the installation wiring diagram
HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
8. Alarm Signal Processing Time
• This is a major change from 90 seconds that has been the requirement
for fire for more than 30 years
HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
9. Trouble Signal Processing Time
• Trouble signal process time remains essentially unchanged
• Provision is now made to delay transmission of a battery trouble to
avoid overloading the central station when an area loses power
HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
10. Alarm and Trouble Signals Annunciation
• Voice systems must have a command center and this location
must indicate all alarm and trouble signals for the system.
0 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
11. Visual Signal Annunciation at the Control
Can be a hold-up alarm!
1 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
12. Alarm Signaling
• This is the “Temporal Three”
• Synchronization introduces new complexities in the 9th edition
- Compatibility is a critical issue
- Current calculations and wire size are critical
- Power supply loading
• Note the exception – The whole alarm system does not need to be
synchronized!
2 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
13. Supervisory Signals
• Supervisory Signals must be distinctly different than trouble
signals. This calls for a separate device to be used unless the
sounder can make different sounds.
• Note supervisory signals generally do not latch
3 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
14. Voice Alarm Command Center
• Controls Active LED on all ONYX panels
4 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
15. Emergency Voice/Alarm Function Sequence
• This is consistent with NFPA 72
• Some major communities (i.e. Chicago) follow a different
sequence
• It is vital to be familiar with the local “High Rise Code”
5 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
16. Fire Warden Telephone Circuit
• The Telephone circuit must be supervised for opens, shorts
and grounds.
• In today’s environment, communications for the fire service
personnel is a vital function.
6 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
17. Operation Time Requirements
• Operating time requirements are greatly changed from the 8th
Edition of UL’s 864 Code.
• Operating time for alarm and supervisory annunciation
reduced to 10 seconds from 90.
• Trouble signals remain at 200 seconds.
7 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
18. Releasing Device Service
• False tripping of a releasing device circuit, besides being an
expensive mishap, can be very dangerous.
• This requirement specifically addresses a situation when the
alarm panel is being serviced.
8 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
19. Networked Releasing Device Panels
• Concern for false dumps carries over to networked systems.
• If multiple systems can trigger a dump in the same system, the
status of any panel on the system must be annunciated at the
other panels connected to the system.
9 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
20. Pre-Discharge Notification
• Releasing device control panels must provide a predischarge
warning to alert the building occupants.
0 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
21. Temporal Three
• Note the panel must have the capability of Temporal Three
• Some municipalities do not permit the Temporal Three;
therefore, the requirement is one must have the capacity.
1 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
23. Abort Switches
• Abort Switches must be manually-operated.
• Abort Switches must be self-restoring.
• Abort Switches must NOT be used with pre-action or deluge
water systems.
3 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
24. Abort Switch Circuit Supervision
• The abort switch circuit must meet the supervision and style
requirements applicable to initiating circuits.
4 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
25. Abort Switch Operation
• Operation of the abort switch during a fire alarm requires a
distinctive visual and audible trouble signal.
• The visual indicator must be dedicated to the abort function.
• The audible may be the control panel common trouble sounder
or a dedicated audible
5 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
26. Manual Release Switch
• Manual release switch must override all delays except manual
release delay period
• Release must occur within 30 seconds
• The manual abort switch is not required to override the manual
release switch. This can be a programming function.
• Operator’s manual must specify if manual override is provided.
6 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
28. Protected Premise Controls Timing # 2
• Report time can be 1 minute to 4 hours based on FCC regulations.
• Battery trouble signal shall be transmitted within 4 hours.
• Battery trouble signal shall be transmitted for 7 days.
• Immediate local annunciation.
• Transmission of signal within 60 to 180 minute delay.
• Immediate local annunciation.
• Transmission over working path within 4 minutes.
8 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
29. Protected Premise Signal Annunciation
• If the signals sent to a remote supervisory station do not
include zone information for a multi-zone panel, zone
information must be indicated at the panel.
• If indication is not lamp per zone, it must include:
- Signal prioritization
- Indication by type
- Indication by zone
9 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
30. Digital Radio Alarm Transmitters
• “Mechanically protected” means conduit
• If the transmitting antenna of transmitter/antenna combination
are remote, conduit is required
0 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
31. DACT Dual Line Requirement
• Requirement includes:
- Indication of fault subscriber location
- Can not inhibit other subscriber
- Faults include single open, ground, wire-to-wire short & noise
- Signal restoration of service
- Fault condition and restorations must be annunciated at the
supervising station within 200 seconds
1 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
32. New Transmission Technologies
• NFPA 72, including the 2007 edition, is basically a prescriptive
standard
• Each technology is treated differently
- There is no correlation between technologies
- Technologies are not rated as to their strength
• NFPA technical committee recognized this limitation and
created the Other Technologies Transmission section
• This is where Internet based requirements originated
2 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
33. Time to transmit an alarm signal
• The “10 seconds” applies to all signal processing at the
protected premise.
• Trouble annunciation or signal retransmission remains at 200.
3 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
34. Multi Zone Systems
Note: Burglar
A holdup Alarm
alarm can
have same
priority as
fire
4 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
35. Component Reliability
• In 8th edition, 50% derating was required.
• In 9th edition, 864 adopts a process first introduced in UL217.
• This change permits more design flexibility.
5 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
36. Software
• Software has become a major concern.
• It is critical that the A&E and installer be familiar with the
programming function.
• It is particularly critical that each of the programming options be
understood with regard to standard compliance.
6 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
37. Software compliance with the standard
• Software has made possible the concept of a universal panel.
• All features and options may not be compliant with UL 864 or
NFPA 72.
• It is vital that the A&E review the options selected to assure
compliance.
7 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
38. Executive Software tracking
• Knowing the Rev. level of the software is very important
particularly when a problem occurs.
8 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
39. User Access and Programming
• Mapping of output circuits is permitted.
• Mapping input circuits to supervising station is not permitted.
• The executive program does automatic mapping of critical
functions.
9 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
40. Combination Systems
• Anything non-fire connected to a fire alarm system can not
cause any degradation of supervision or alarm functions.
• Testing is conducted by placing opens, shorts, grounds on
these circuits to verify NOTHING has been compromised.
0 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
41. Interconnected Fire Alarm Control Units
• This is a concern for A&E and Installer - how and where you
install is very important.
• Unless you can see the displays on all of the alarm panels at
the same time, ALL panels must concurrently display:
- Alarm
- Supervisory
- Trouble
- Reset
- Alarm Silence
- Trouble Silence
1 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
42. Power Supply Capacity
• The power supply shall be capable of operating the system
under full load with supply voltage at 85% of rated with battery
disconnected.
• The system must be capable of fully charging the battery when
the supply voltage is reduced to 85% (or transfer voltage) of
rated voltage.
2 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
43. Notification Appliance Circuits
• Compatibility of Notification Appliances with specific panels
is now critical
• Voltage calculations are very important-one can’t add just
one more device
• Synchronization is a critical factor as the steady-state load
can be very much less then the peak load
• Great care must be taken in selecting notification appliances
for use with a particular panel.
• The panel installation instructions and wiring diagrams are
your primary guide.
3 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
44. Rating Designations
• All NAC circuits must be identified by one of these designations
• All NAC circuits must operate within the specified voltage range
• Note the special application category
4 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
47. Regulated NAC Surge Current Loading
• Loading for first surge is 10X steady state rating of circuit
• Loading for repetitive surges is 5X steady state rating
7 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
48. Special Application Surge Current Loading
• Only devices specified in the panel installation documentation
are permitted!
8 HONEYWELL - CONFIDENTIAL File Number
Editor's Notes
The first edition of UL 864 was published in 1948. The first 8 editions were developed through the IAC Industry Advisory Committee process. The 9 th edition was published through the STP Standards Technical Panel process. UL 864 9 th edition is an ANSI standard. This means it is a “National Norm” Third party certification to this standard is a strong test of due diligence. Any NTRL OSHA designated “National Recognized Test Laboratory” can certify to UL 864. FM and UL are most recognized in fire alarm
The 9 th edition was published in October 2003 with a two year effective date of October 31, 2005 The effective date is a UL term specifically relating to their condition of certification. Other NRTLs may choose a different effective date that could be immediate or some future date. It is a matter of internal process UL extended their effective date three times and now designates June 30, 2007 as the date. UL no longer accepts new submittals to the 8 th edition. But will process revisions for some component substitutions. As of June 30, 2007 Notifier will no longer ship 8 th edition products Notifier will continue to support the existing installed base of 8 th edition products.
Ground fault supervision is no longer limited to a short to ground. Leakage current to ground is now monitored. Wiring neatness is more important then ever
This is part of the requirement in NFPA 72 that “the equipment shall be listed for the application”
The 90 seconds was established about 1970 when the Digetor 1000 the first multiplex system was listed by UL That system used a motorized arm to sweep a set of contacts. Today’s electronics can easily handle this tine to process requirement
The change to the priority sequence is very significant. For the first time there is recognition that fire is not the only event that can be life threatening.
Compatibility of Notification appliances horns and strobes is now more complicated You need to be concerned about synchronization protocol You need to be concerned weather the NAC circuit is or is not regulated. If not regulated only the devices specified in the control unit documentation is compatible. Current calculations is critical!
Requirement is Sound the alarm Alert tone and voice message Manual capability to activate zones with alarm signal. In Chicago the requirement is: Flash the strobes Fire department personnel will manually activate an alarm signal
This requirement appears several times in the 9 th edition of UL 864
Deactivated releasing zones must be indicated by individual visual indicators When zones are deactivated during normal condition, an audible trouble signal is required Oferation of the deactivation switch shall not result in restoration of the HVAC system
Once again 10 seconds is the majic number for alarm signal annunciation Note that the 10 is applicable to the start of off-premise signal transmission
This timing sequence is intended to prevent overwhelming the remote receiving center.
