Understanding Fire Alarm Understanding Fire Alarm Requirements - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Understanding Fire Alarm Understanding Fire Alarm Requirements & Inspections Requirements & Inspections Presented By Bill Conroy Presented By Bill Conroy Technical Sales For Technical Sales For Briscoe Protective Systems Inc Briscoe Protective Systems Inc

Introduction Introduction Fire Alarm Requirements are Fire Alarm Requirements are structured through a system of structured through a system of codes. Codes provide guidance codes. Codes provide guidance and uniformity. They ensure Life and uniformity. They ensure Life Safety and protection of property by Safety and protection of property by regulating Fire Alarm System regulating Fire Alarm System standards. The main standard for standards. The main standard for codes in the Fire Safety Industry is codes in the Fire Safety Industry is the NFPA. the NFPA.

What Is NFPA? What Is NFPA?  The National Fire  The National Fire Protection Agency. Protection Agency.  Originated in1896 by a  Originated in1896 by a group of insurance firms to group of insurance firms to standardize fire sprinkler standardize fire sprinkler systems. systems.  Today they minimize risk &  Today they minimize risk & effect of fire by setting a effect of fire by setting a standard criteria of standard criteria of regulations. regulations.

Code Requirements Code Requirements NYS & LI Municipalities have NYS & LI Municipalities have adopted NFPA 72 as their adopted NFPA 72 as their Guideline for Fire Code Guideline for Fire Code Regulation. However, there are Regulation. However, there are occasions whereby a Municipality occasions whereby a Municipality will differ from NFPA 72 on will differ from NFPA 72 on specific code regulation. specific code regulation. An Example would be Full Area Smoke An Example would be Full Area Smoke Detection. Detection.

CODES CODES Code can be driven by technology changes and the Code can be driven by technology changes and the constant flurry of changes in technology and terminology constant flurry of changes in technology and terminology can make it confusing to keep up with. can make it confusing to keep up with. It is important to have a basic understanding of some of It is important to have a basic understanding of some of these changes. We will start by taking a look at Central these changes. We will start by taking a look at Central Station Monitoring codes. Station Monitoring codes. Here is a short list of some of the terminology being used Here is a short list of some of the terminology being used today. today. POTS- - Plain Old Telephone Service Plain Old Telephone Service POTS VOIP_ Voice Over Internet Provider VOIP_ Voice Over Internet Provider MFVN – – Managed Facilities Based Voice Network Managed Facilities Based Voice Network MFVN PSTN- PSTN - Public Switched Telephone Network Public Switched Telephone Network

Central Station Monitoring Central Station Monitoring NFPA and local AHJ’ ’s (Authorities having s (Authorities having NFPA and local AHJ jurisdiction) recognized that new technologies jurisdiction) recognized that new technologies such as VOIP, are increasingly being used to such as VOIP, are increasingly being used to connect to Fire Alarms. Some of their concerns connect to Fire Alarms. Some of their concerns were reliability of the voice service and were reliability of the voice service and continuing operation during power outages. continuing operation during power outages. Performance requirements for voice Performance requirements for voice communications technology and providers are communications technology and providers are the main concern and not so much the specific the main concern and not so much the specific voice communication technology. voice communication technology.

Central Station Monitoring - - Central Station Monitoring What is MFVN? A Managed Facilities– –Based Based A Managed Facilities Voice Network is a physical Voice Network is a physical network owned and operated network owned and operated by a service provider that by a service provider that delivers traditional telephone delivers traditional telephone service via a loop start analog service via a loop start analog telephone interface. They are telephone interface. They are interconnected with public interconnected with public switched telephone network switched telephone network (PSTN) and provide dialtone to (PSTN) and provide dialtone to end users. end users. MFVN providers include cable MFVN providers include cable operators and telephone operators and telephone companies, but do not include companies, but do not include internet based providers such internet based providers such as Vonage and Magic Jack. as Vonage and Magic Jack.

Central Station Monitoring - - Central Station Monitoring Town of Brookhaven ( other LI jurisdictions are following similar requirements). Division of Fire Prevention Policy Division of Fire Prevention Policy Memorandum Dated February 3, 2012 Memorandum Dated February 3, 2012 A Managed Facilities- -Based Voice Network Based Voice Network A Managed Facilities (ie. Cablevision Systems) is, as of this (ie. Cablevision Systems) is, as of this date, an acceptable means of fire alarm date, an acceptable means of fire alarm signal transmission by fire alarm systems signal transmission by fire alarm systems located within the Town of Brookhaven Brookhaven located within the Town of NOTE: Reference to NFPA 72.2010 Edition, NOTE: Reference to NFPA 72.2010 Edition, is specific and limited to Annex A.3.3.141 for is specific and limited to Annex A.3.3.141 for the purpose of MFVN equivalence the purpose of MFVN equivalence requirements. NFPA 72, 2007 Edition is the requirements. NFPA 72, 2007 Edition is the reference standard for the 2010 Fire Code of reference standard for the 2010 Fire Code of NYS and the 2010 Building Code of NYS. NYS and the 2010 Building Code of NYS.

Central Station Monitoring – – Central Station Monitoring continued continued New And Existing Approved Fire Alarm Systems New And Existing Approved Fire Alarm Systems A change to an MFVN signal transmission path or A change to an MFVN signal transmission path or request submitted with a permit for application to install, request submitted with a permit for application to install, requires the submission of documentation on the MFVN requires the submission of documentation on the MFVN providers letterhead attesting that: providers letterhead attesting that:   The signal transmission path utilizes an approved The signal transmission path utilizes an approved method that is listed and tested in accordance with method that is listed and tested in accordance with UL864 for fire alarm signal transmissions. UL864 for fire alarm signal transmissions.   The MFVN communications equipment installation at the The MFVN communications equipment installation at the premises is compliant with all of the functionality premises is compliant with all of the functionality equivalence requirements set forth in Annex A.3.3.141 of equivalence requirements set forth in Annex A.3.3.141 of NFPA 72 2010 Edition. NFPA 72 2010 Edition.   A manufacturer’ ’s cut sheet for the MFVN s cut sheet for the MFVN A manufacturer communications equipment installed must also be communications equipment installed must also be submitted. submitted.

Filing Process Filing Process  All Plans and drawings must be prepared by a NY State  All Plans and drawings must be prepared by a NY State licensed PE. licensed PE.  Permits must be obtained prior to the start of work.  Permits must be obtained prior to the start of work.  Plans must be filed with a licensed Installer/Contractor on  Plans must be filed with a licensed Installer/Contractor on Record. Record. Contractor information and Equipment specified is Contractor information and Equipment specified is regarded differently in the various jurisdictions . . regarded differently in the various jurisdictions For Example in Nassau County, changes require resubmission changes require resubmission For Example in Nassau County, of plans. of plans. In most Suffolk County Towns, comparable can be substituted comparable can be substituted. . In most Suffolk County Towns,

Key Points For Building Owners Key Points For Building Owners  Approved plans must be obtained first  Approved plans must be obtained first before installing, modifying, altering, before installing, modifying, altering, replacing renovating or remodeling any replacing renovating or remodeling any fire alarm system. fire alarm system.  It is unlawful to operate or maintain  It is unlawful to operate or maintain any fire alarm system without first any fire alarm system without first obtaining a fire alarm system permit. obtaining a fire alarm system permit.  New plans are needed if a change of  New plans are needed if a change of occupancy use for a building occurs occupancy use for a building occurs and this requires a manual or and this requires a manual or automatic fire alarm system. automatic fire alarm system.