While we have seen postings on our respective Florida Fire Marshal and Inspectors' Association (FFMIA) and Building Officials' Association of Florida (BOAF) Web discussion groups to the effect that, technically, we in Florida are very advanced in our understanding of Codes and Standards, it never hurts to review our knowledge and possibly revise our understandings.
The information provided in this article and subsequent articles will reflect requirements from both the Florida Building Code (FBC), 2007 Ed. w/ 2009 Revisions and Florida Fire Prevention Code (FFPC), 2007 Ed. These articles and the combined information are intended to provide a broader spectrum and view to both groups of Code professionals certified under FS 468 for Building and FS 633 for Fire. I would like to take a moment and remind our readers that unless they are cross certified they may not be able to use some of the information put forth in given situations. Still, it is very important that we know each other's Codes to help alleviate past foibles.
There is a saying from an unknown individual, "The truly educated never stop learning". With that, let's launch this article and perhaps many more in the future.
The basic concept for our first installment deals with fire alarm system requirements for new alarm systems and system design documents. Now I know some are going to say "we know all this" but we do have new folks in our organizations, there have been changes made to some of the existing requirements, and we must start somewhere.
As you may already know, section 13.7.1.1 of the 2006 Edition of NFPA 1 as published in the 2007 Edition of the FFPC and section 907.2 of the Building Volume in the 2007 Ed. with 2009 Rev. of the FBC require fire alarm systems to be installed in accordance with NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code. Currently the 2002 Ed. of NFPA 72 is recognized by the Florida Fire Prevention Code, 69A-60, 69A-60.005 and the Florida Building Code, Building Volume, Chapter 35, Referenced Standards. While, NFPA 72 deals with the functions, installation, and working plans for new systems, it does not establish the need for a system in a given facility.
The National Fire Alarm Code itself states that it is not the source document for when a fire alarm system is required and explains in Chapter 1, NFPA 72, Section 1.2.4, "This Code shall not be interpreted to require a level of fire protection that is greater than that which would otherwise be required by the applicable building or fire code." The supplemental information in Annex A states, "A.1.2.4 Some building and fire codes include requirements that imply NFPA 72 requirements that do not exist. The intent of this paragraph is to make it clear that the protection requirements are derived from the applicable building or fire code, not from NFPA 72."
So to establish the need for a fire alarm system in a given building, either the Florida Building Code or the Florida Fire Prevention Code must require it. Section 13.7.2, of the 2006 Edition of NFPA 1 and/or the applicable Chapter(s) in the Life Safety Code, 2006 Ed. as adopted in the FFPC and Section 907,FBC, 2007 Ed. w/ 2009 Rev. set the requirements for when a fire alarm system is needed in a given occupancy or facility. Some jurisdictions may have applicable local amendments to Code as allowed per Florida Statute, but, for this article we will be dealing with base Code requirements.
Once it has been established that a facility must be equipped with a fire alarm system, both the Florida Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention Code require details be provided in the construction documents. The Florida Building Code stipulates in Section 106 that plans and details be submitted for review and the FFPC requires plans be submitted in Section 1.14.1, of the 2006 Edition of NFPA 1 as adopted therein.
Florida Statute 553 also requires construction documents be reviewed for both Building and Fire Code compliance prior to issuance of a building permit. This is contained in section 553.079 (2) which states, "In addition, an enforcing agency may not issue any permit for construction, erection, alteration, modification, repair, or demolition of any building until the appropriate firesafety inspector certified pursuant to s. 633.081 has reviewed the plans and specifications required by the Florida Building Code, or local amendment thereto, for such proposal and found that the plans comply with the Florida Fire Prevention Code and the Life Safety Code. Any building or structure which is not subject to a firesafety code shall not be required to have its plans reviewed by the firesafety inspector."
The Florida Building Code provides further guidance and details in section 105.3.1.2 "No permit may be issued for any building construction, erection, alteration, modification, repair or addition unless the applicant for such permit provides to the enforcing agency which issues the permit any of the following documents which apply to the construction for which the permit is to be issued and which shall be prepared by or under the direction of an engineer registered under Chapter 471 Florida Statutes:
Any specialized mechanical, electrical, or plumbing document for any new building or addition which includes a medical gas, oxygen, steam, vacuum, toxic air filtration, halon, or fire detection and alarm system which costs more than $5,000.
Documents requiring an engineer seal by this part shall not be valid unless a professional engineer who possesses a valid certificate of registration has signed, dated, and stamped such document as provided in Section 471.025, Florida Statutes."
While plan details vary depending upon the complexity of the system proposed for installation, there are some requirements provided so that a certain amount of information is available for the local plan reviewing authorities.
Guidance is found in the Florida Administrative Code (FAC) which governs what information the design professional must supply to the local authority. FAC 61G15-33 governs the layout of electronic systems and the fire alarm requirements are contained in 61G15-33.006 Design of Alarm and Signaling Systems which states,
(1) Alarm and signaling systems include motor control systems, emergency alarm circuits, activation of life safety system controls and remote signaling of emergency conditions (See Rule 61G15-32.008, F.A.C., for Fire Alarm Systems), surveillance and access control systems, temperature control, and systems related to energy conservation and facility management systems. The design documents shall be based on standards set forth in NFPA 72, the Florida Building Code, the Florida Fire Prevention Code, or as required by the local authority having jurisdiction.
(2) The Electrical Engineering Documents for alarm and signaling systems construction documents shall at a minimum indicate the following:
(a) Description of the control system functions, or a functional diagram.
(b) Equipment legend.
(c) System riser diagram.
(d) Cabling and conductor types and requirements.
(e) Installation, identification and testing requirements.
(f) Back-up power.
(g) Location and characteristics of surge protective devices.
(h) Details and requirements indicated by Rule 61G15-32.008, F.A.C.
(i) Complete requirements for operations and maintenance procedures, manuals, system documentation, and instruction of Owner's operating personnel, as needed to operate the systems as intended over time."
As can be seen in Item (h) above, 61G15-32, the Florida Administrative Code that governs design documents for fire protection systems is also referred to and specifically 61G15-32.008 Design of Fire Alarms and Detection Systems which requires;
"(1) Fire alarms and detection systems include fire protection supervision, emergency alarm circuits, activation of life safety system controls and remote signaling of emergency conditions.
(2) The design specifications shall be based on the Florida Building Code (2007), the Florida Fire Prevention Code, or as required by the local authority having jurisdiction.
(3) For fire alarm plans on small systems below the threshold requirements for mandatory use of professional engineering services, the Engineer of Record shall specify the minimum system requirements.
[Please take note here, if the fire alarm system proposed for installation is under the $5,000 value as reflected in section 105.3.1.2 , FBC, the Engineer of Record may simply specify the minimum requirements, this may be as simple as a written outline, explanatory DRM]
(4) To ensure minimum design quality of Fire Alarm and Detection Systems Engineering Documents, said documents shall include as a minimum the following information when applicable:
(a) The plans shall be clear, with a symbols legend, system riser diagram showing all initiation and notification components, and cabling requirements. Indicate locations where fire ratings are required as determined by the system's survivability requirements. Identify the general occupancy of the protected property, and for each room and area unless it is clear from features shown.
(b) Locate initiation and notification devices and connections to related systems on the floor plans and sections when needed for clarity. Related systems include elevator controls smoke control systems, dampers, and doors.
(c) Strobe intensity and speaker output ratings for all notification devices.
(d) Identify the Class and Style of circuits as listed in the NFPA 72.
(e) Identify the functions required by the alarm and control systems including the transmission of emergency signals being monitored or annunciated.
(f) Indicate whether the fire alarm is conventional or addressable, and indicate all zoning.
(g) Locate surge protective devices and required protective features.
(h) Locate system devices that are subject to environmental factors, and indicate requirements for the protection of equipment from temperature, humidity or corrosive atmospheres, including coastal salt air.
(i) The plans shall include a site plan of the immediate area around the protected building, structure or equipment when alarm devices are required outside the structure.
(j) In buildings were smoke detection will be obstructed by walls, beams or ceiling features, the Engineer of Record shall provide applicable design and details to direct the installer to mitigate the obstructions. In buildings with smoke detection under a pitched roof, the plans shall indicate the roof pitch and a building section shall be provided as part of the Engineering Design Documents.
(k) Fire detection systems utilizing smoke detection in situations where smoke stratification is anticipated, the design shall provide the necessary criteria to mitigate the detection problems.
(l) Systems designed using Performance Based criteria shall be identified and referenced to design guides or standards approved by the local authority having jurisdiction consistent with standards adopted by the Florida Fire Prevention Code and the Florida Building Code (2007).
(m) The system design must indicate if the system is to provide a general evacuation signal or a zoned evacuation for all high-rise buildings or multi-tenanted properties as defined in the Florida Building Code (2007).
(n) Wiring requirements for underground, wet locations, campus style wiring, protection against damage and burial depth shall be specified or indicated on the engineering design documents.
(o) Requirements for operations and maintenance procedures, manuals, system documentation, and instruction of Owner's operating personnel, as needed to operate the systems as intended over time.
(5) In the event that the Engineer of Record elects to specify specific equipment and to show the required wiring, battery and voltage drop (circuit analysis) calculations shall be completed. The calculations shall be completed using the equipment manufacture's data and applicable NFPA 72 procedures.
(6) System test requirements shall be noted on the Engineering Design Documents.
(7) When the engineer determines that special requirements are required by the owner, insurance underwriter or local fire code amendments these requirements shall be documented or referenced on the Engineering Design Documents.
We can now see that what absolutely has to be included in a fire alarm design documents. Accordingly, these documents must illustrate or have nomenclature that is much more detailed than what has been provided in the past. Most of these detail changes have occurred relatively recently with updates to 61G15-32 taking effect March 26, 2009 and updated to 61G15-33 taking effect November 13, 2008.
For our next installment, we'll deal with the installation or working drawings.
Hope this helps.
Article Provided by:
By: Dennis Marshall, CET, FCO, Fire Marshal
Maitland Fire Rescue Department
