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I had always been taught that we do not allow more than one fire alarm system within the same building.
Does anyone know where that might come from (NFPA 72 or International Fire Code)? Do you allow a Dedicated Function (sprinkler monitoring system) in addition to a fire alarm system, which are separate? We have a multi-tenant strip shopping center, where developers used to build the shell with sprinkler and a sprinkler monitoring system, but a tenant like a restaurant might come in later to build out and need to put in a fire alarm system. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
6 Comments
Glenn Berger
3/7/2023 08:05:32 am
I have come across the situation multiple times. As long as all of the alarms eventually report to the main fire alarm system, WITHIN THE REQUIRED RESPONSE TIME, was a suitable solution.
Bob B
3/7/2023 08:13:33 am
In the case you mention we do not allow multiple FACP's in the strip mall. We make the Land Lord (Property Owner) put in a main panel and all future tenants land into the main FACP. It becomes an nightmare having 5 or 6 fire alarms and central stations in a strip mall that all tie into water flow. You will find this to be requirements of the AHJ in a fair amount of locations, and rightfully so.
chad
3/7/2023 08:30:20 am
That's largely an AHJ discretion, I personally hate it unless they are networked. Just monitored with relays is awful, wont allow it on any new work.
DS
3/7/2023 08:31:55 am
This scenario is typically a multiple separated occupancy building. The dedicated function fire alarm system is only meant for electronic supervision of the fire sprinkler system and is NOT considered a building fire alarm system per 72. If a separate tenant buildout produces an occupancy that drives the need for a fire alarm system to be installed, it is only for that space that should be separated by fire barriers. The strip centers are typically protected by a common fire sprinkler system to allow for reduced fire barriers. The other issues that occurs is fire sprinkler activation for the tenant fire alarm system. The Mercantile chapter in 101 gives some guidance to valve each tenant space separately for open mall concourses so that the entire system is not impaired. This is a stretch for the strip center design, but good guidance to address sprinkler activation for tenant fire alarm systems. 3/7/2023 09:59:07 pm
In NFPA 72 23.8.2.1 and 23.8.2.2 tell us that if you have multiple FACU they have to function as one system. This is really super hard to do if you have panels that are network style panels or even worse if you have panels from different manufacturers. People try and merge older systems with a series of input modules and relays and it never ends well. The system does not function as one system. In order to function as one system, you have to be able to silence and reset from the panels. The codes tells that if you can not see the alarms from the other panels you have to put a remote annunciator at each panel from each panel. If you follow the code it is nearly impossible to have multiple panels unless they are network type panels from the same manufacturer. And if they are in different buildings and you try and connect them with copper that is huge no-no. Different ground potentials will blow up the panels. The only way it works is network panels from the same manufacturer and fiber optics for your medium of the network.
David Perna
3/7/2023 10:02:29 pm
In NFPA 72 23.8.2.1 and 23.8.2.2 tell us that if you have multiple FACU they have to function as one system. This is really super hard to do if you have panels that are not network style panels or even worse if you have panels from different manufacturers. People try and merge older systems with a series of input modules and relays and it never ends well. The system does not function as one system. In order to function as one system, you have to be able to silence and reset from the panels. The codes tells that if you can not see the alarms from the other panels you have to put a remote annunciator at each panel from each panel. If you follow the code it is nearly impossible to have multiple panels unless they are network type panels from the same manufacturer. And if they are in different buildings and you try and connect them with copper that is huge no-no. Different ground potentials will blow up the panels. The only way it works is network panels from the same manufacturer and fiber optics for your medium of the network. Leave a Reply. |
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