Manual Pull Stations Req'd for Overhead Doors?

1/11/2021

Under NFPA 72 fire alarm manual pull stations are required on both sides of grouped openings over 40-feet in width and within 5-feet of each side of the grouped openings.

What about grouped loading bays or loading docks? Are manual pull stations required on each side of grouped overhead doors?

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5 Comments

Mitchell O

1/11/2021 09:12:40 am

From the handbook below (NFPA 72 [2016] 17.14.8.6), based on the handbook, I believe the answer to your question is 'no'. It states the objective is to provide pull stations within easy reach in the normal exit. I would say that loading docks are not normal exits (especially if finished floor is ~4ft above finished grade).

What is the reason for requiring manual fire alarm boxes on both sides of grouped openings?

The objective is to provide a manual fire alarm box within easy reach in the normal exit occupants. When multi-leaf door sets are installed, the actual exitway can become wide enough that the departing occupant might not notice the fire alarm box on the far side of a wide set of doors. Also, the occupant might have to cross the doors to activate the manual fire alarm box, which would delay departure. Consequently, when door sets attain 40 ft (12.2 m) in width, fire alarm boxes are required on both sides of the means of egress. The number and the location of the manual fire alarm boxes required for multi-leaf doors must be consistent where there are groups of exit doors.

Todd E Wyatt

1/11/2021 09:20:11 am

The intent of the NFPA 72 is that manual fire alarm boxes be located within 5 feet of the "Exit doorway opening" at each Exit on each story. Overhead vertical doors are not permitted to be used as Exits since they are not "side-hinged swinging door, pivoted door, or balanced door" or (1) of the (9) exceptions to this requirement per 1010.1.2 Egress door types.

Jerry Clark

1/11/2021 09:22:26 am

No, overhead doors or horizontal sliding (such as hangar doors), are not considered code compliant exits and are not required to have manual pull stations.

Jesse

1/11/2021 10:10:48 am

No. They're not means of egress doors

sean

1/11/2021 11:07:07 am

it is not considered an exit and not required.

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