Fire protection systems include sprinklers and standpipes, while fire alarm systems detect fires and notify occupants and emergency services. Occupancy classifications like assembly, business, and mercantile have different fire alarm system requirements based on occupant load. A manual fire alarm is required for assembly occupancies over 300 occupants or business/mercantile over 500 occupants located over 100 feet from exit discharge. Automatic detection and voice alarm systems may also be required based on occupancy and occupant load.

1. MEP Fundamentals
Fire Protection System

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

11. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
Manual pull stations

12. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
Smoke detectors
Area
Duct

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)

14. MEP Training
Fire Alarm System
Rate-of-Rise and
Heat detector
Carbon Monoxide
detector

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?