Fire alarm systems
Submit one complete set of construction documents that are signed and sealed, properly scaled, on same-size pages, and legible, showing fire-alarm components only, with all rooms identified and all fire-rated walls, floors, and ceilings identified.
Construction documents must show
- Symbols conforming to NFPA 170, or a symbol key for non-standard symbols
- Location of devices and appliances
- Height of all pull stations and horn or horn/strobe components
- End-of-line devices
- Conduit wire runs and conduit size
- Number and size of conductors
- Zone indication placed adjacent to the appropriate end-of-line device
- Full or typical point-to-point wiring configuration
- All initiating and notification circuits, identified
- Any auxiliary functions
- Total number of all alarm-initiating devices and alarm-indicating appliances
- A sequence-of-operation matrix
Also provide
- Manufacturer's catalog cut sheets for all devices and appliances (all equipment must be listed for commercial use)
- Documentation on sealing of all penetrations, including the fire rating of walls, floors, and ceilings; confirmation that materials meet ASTM E814 or E119; the method used to provide the fire rating of each penetration; fire-stop systems or devices listed by UL or an independent testing lab; and approved methods attached to the construction documents
- Battery calculations, including voltage-drop calculations, circuit amperage, and standby and alarm-condition calculations
- Central station information (must be UL or FM listed): company name, address, business phone number, contact person, method of transmission, and the phone number to our dispatch center
At the acceptance test, the following are checked
- Whether sound-pressure levels for audible devices meet NFPA 72 and the International Building Code
- Whether visible appliances meet NFPA 72, the International Building Code, and ADA guidelines
- That fire-alarm control panels and remote annunciators visibly display the location of the alarm in alphanumeric text, specific enough to determine the source of the alarm
Fire lanes
Fire lanes must be a minimum of 18 feet in unobstructed width, with a turning radius capable of accommodating the largest fire apparatus of the District or any responding mutual-aid apparatus, and a minimum vertical clearance of 13 feet 6 inches.
Pavement in front of the curb, and the top and face of the curb, must be marked to designate a fire lane:
- The designating color must differ from the color used for parking spaces.
- Pavement lettering must be at least 12 inches tall.
- Pavement lettering must read NO PARKING FIRE LANE.
- Pavement lettering must be placed at 50-foot intervals.
Pole signs are also required:
- At each corner.
- At 50-foot intervals along the entire length of the fire lane.
- With the top of the sign five feet above grade.
- Signs may be mounted on columns or the building if the fire lane is directly in front.
Designated fire lanes must be kept free of obstructions and vehicles. All fire-lane signs and markings must be maintained in clean, legible condition and replaced as needed to ensure visibility.
Fire stopping
- All through-penetrations in rated walls, floor/ceiling, and roof/ceiling assemblies must be restored to the original rating of the penetrated assembly using an approved, listed product (UL or another independent laboratory) capable of preventing the passage of flames and hot gases per ASTM E814.
- Construction documents must include the specific listed product and all manufacturer specification sheets, documentation, and drawings for each type and size of penetration.
- The architect must specify on the drawings where penetrations of rated walls and floors are located and the design used to restore each penetration, including the size of the opening as it relates to the annular-space limits of the specific design.
- All penetrations must be perpendicular to the penetrated surface unless a specific design for non-perpendicular penetrating items is provided and used.
- The contractor must demonstrate proper application through on-site inspections. During inspections, the District may disassemble a completed fire-stopped assembly to confirm code compliance.
- All fire-stopping materials must be listed for use as a component of an approved design, used exactly as specified, and must clearly meet the UL 1479 and/or UL 2079 standard. Additional requirements are found in Chapter 7 of the 2021 International Building Code.
- Once a method or material is approved, it must be used as approved unless the architect submits a design change that is approved by the District.
Fire suppression checklist
The following is required per Chapter 23 of the 2019 edition of NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
Required information on drawings
- Name of owner and occupant; location, including street address; point of compass
- Ceiling construction and full-height cross section
- Location of fire walls and partitions
- Occupancy class of each area or room
- Any questionable small enclosures where no sprinklers are to be installed
- Size of main in the street, pressure, and whether dead-end or circulating
- Location of concealed spaces, closets, attics, and bathrooms
- City main test results and other sources of water supply
- Make, type, model, and nominal K-factor of sprinklers; temperature rating and location of high-temperature sprinklers
- Number of sprinklers on each riser and system, by floor and total area
- Number of sprinklers on each dry-pipe, preaction, or deluge system
- Make, type, model, and size of alarm, dry-pipe, preaction, or deluge valves
- Approximate capacity in gallons of each dry-pipe system
- Location of all control valves, checks, drain pipes, and test pipes
- Nominal pipe size and cutting lengths, center-to-center dimensions
- Location and size of riser nipples and the Post Indicator Valve
- Size, location, piping arrangement, and distance of fire hydrant to the Fire Department Connection
- Size and location of fire hydrants (outlets and shutoff valves), including static and residual hydrants used in flow tests
- Type and location of alarm bells
- Type and location of hangers and how attached to the structure, including calculation of sprinkler-piping loads on roof structures
- Type of lateral, longitudinal, and four-way sway bracing and how attached
- Size and location of standpipe risers, hose outlets, hand hose, and monitor nozzles
- Private underground pipe size and length, depth below grade, point of connection to city main, and type of valves, meters, and valve pits
- Name, address, and phone number of the contractor and sprinkler designer
- Plans and calculations signed and sealed
- Graphic scale on all plans and a legend for all abbreviations
- Hydraulic reference points that correspond to the calculation sheets
- System design criteria (density, design area, hose-stream requirements)
- Actual calculated requirements (total water quantity and pressure at a common reference point)
- Relative elevation of sprinklers
- A signed copy of the owner's certificate
Required information for calculations
Location; name of owner and occupant; building identification; description of hazard; name and address of contractor and designer; calculations signed and sealed.
System design requirements
Design area of water application; minimum rate of application (density); area of sprinkler coverage (hazard/commodity classification, building height, storage height and method); total water requirements including hose demand and water-supply information (location and elevation of test hydrants, flow location, static and residual pressures, flow in gpm, date and time of test, and who conducted it); and a sketch of the gridded-system calculation.
Additional information necessary
Sprinkler description and K-factor; hydraulic reference points; flow in gpm; actual internal pipe diameter; pipe length and equivalent length for fittings; friction loss per foot and total friction loss between reference points; elevation difference between reference points; required pressure at each reference point; notes indicating starting points and data classification; all plan sheets the same size; manufacturer cut sheets for all devices, appliances, and piping; gauges shown on all risers; and a semi-logarithmic graph plotting a 20% safety factor, the water-supply curve, the sprinkler-system demand, hose demand, and any in-rack sprinkler demand.