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A building which has an old fire alarm system is going to have its interior completely gutted (all systems, walls, everything but the structure and exterior walls are to be removed). The fire alarm system is to be demolished and replaced entirely, and the building will change to a business occupancy once complete.
Is a fire alarm system required by code to be active during the renovation? Posted anonymously by a member for discussion. Discuss this | Subscribe.
9 Comments
Sandie
11/14/2018 09:30:04 am
No. The requirement for a fire alarm system is based on occupancy/use. The building is being completely remodeled and the only people expected to be present in the building would be construction staff.
Robert
11/14/2018 01:59:11 pm
Yes. Even if the building were just to remain vacant, the owners of the building would have to maintain the fire alarm and sprinkler systems would have to be maintained in operable condition unless the building was boarded to prevent unauthorized entry or they were given approval by the AHJ.
JAMES
11/14/2018 03:14:56 pm
I'm not sure the question is about maintenance of the existing system though. If the system is going to be demolished, the question becomes "is a fire alarm system required when the project is under construction?"
Robert
11/18/2018 02:02:25 pm
The building has a current fire alarm / sprinkler alarm system which must be maintained whether the building is occupied or not. During demolition, a standpipe must be dismantled floor by floor per code to maintain the ability for suppression activity. Because the remodel will create piles of combustible debris and demolition techniques may include hot work, metal grinding and cutting torches. It is my belief that maintaing the current alarm system until the new system is ready to replace the old system. 11/15/2018 10:02:38 am
When the NFPA Code isn’t clear about a particular situation, like this one, the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) probably needs to be consulted.
Dale Boghean P.Eng. LAFC
11/19/2018 03:29:17 pm
I would coordinate a meeting with the insurance adjustor/broker and the AHJ to come up with an acceptable solution for both of them. As the alarm system and sprinkler system may/will be "Out of Order" a fire watch would be required which would very conceivably be the site super, or designate, during work hours and I would use the site security representative after hours. A construction fire safety plan would spell out the details of all workings including hot works, site inspection frequency for "rounds" reporting and the overall systematic demolition and rebuilding coordination to limit accumulations of combustibles and limit and regulate ignition sources. 7/22/2021 07:51:57 am
The facts that have been discussed here are really important. Thank you so much for sharing a great post. 3/24/2023 04:47:18 am
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