Speakers Inside Dwelling/Sleeping Units in R-2?

12/16/2025

What are the applicable requirements for speaker placement in high-rise Group R-2 buildings equipped with fire alarm or emergency voice/alarm communication systems, specifically regarding speakers inside dwelling or sleeping units?

What practices have you been applying or enforcing in these areas?

Industry feedback suggests inconsistent approaches: some designs include speakers within bedrooms and living rooms, while others install speakers only in the corridors and rely on in-unit smoke-detector sounder bases for occupant notification, expecting residents to move into the corridor to hear prerecorded or live voice messages.

Thanks in advance.

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7 Comments

Todd E Wyatt

12/16/2025 08:33:20 am

The Code defines a SLEEPING UNIT as “rooms or spaces for one or more persons, includes PERMANENT PROVISIONS FOR SLEEPING.” The Code does not define “SLEEPING ROOMS” but most AHJs apply the prior definition to both bedrooms as well as areas that could be used for sleeping, like a couch area in a Living Room.

Speaker placement for “Alarm Notification Appliances” (including EMERGENCY VOICE/ALARM COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS) is required in SLEEPING ROOMS as well as hallways/corridors outside each sleeping room.

See REFERENCES below.

Todd E Wyatt

12/16/2025 08:33:52 am

REFERENCES
IBC-2024

SLEEPING UNIT
A single unit that provides rooms or spaces for one or more persons, includes PERMANENT PROVISIONS FOR SLEEPING and can include provisions for living, eating and either sanitation or kitchen facilities but not both. Such rooms and spaces that are also part of a dwelling unit are not sleeping units.

Chapter 9 Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems
Section 907 Fire Alarm and Detection Systems

907.2 Where Required—New Buildings and Structures
907.2.13 High-Rise Buildings
High-rise buildings shall be provided with an automatic smoke detection system in accordance with Section 907.2.13.1, a fire department communication system in accordance with Section 907.2.13.2 and an EMERGENCY VOICE/ALARM COMMUNICATION SYSTEM in accordance with Section 907.5.2.2.
907.2.13.1.1 Area Smoke Detection
Area smoke detectors shall be provided in accordance with this section. Smoke detectors shall be connected to an automatic fire alarm system. The activation of any detector required by this section shall activate the emergency voice/alarm communication system in accordance with Section 907.5.2.2. In addition to smoke detectors required by Sections 907.2.1 through 907.2.9, smoke detectors shall be located as follows:
1. In each mechanical equipment, electrical, transformer, telephone equipment or similar room that is not provided with sprinkler protection.
2. In each elevator machine room, machinery space, control room and control space and in elevator lobbies.

907.5 Occupant Notification
Occupant notification by fire alarms shall be in accordance with Sections 907.5.1 through 907.5.2.3.3. Occupant notification by smoke alarms in Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies shall comply with Section 907.5.2.1.3.2.

907.5.2 Alarm Notification Appliances
907.5.2.1 Audible Alarms
907.5.2.1.3 Audible Alarm Signal Frequency in Group R-1, R-2 and I-1 Sleeping Rooms
Audible alarm signal frequency in Group R-1, R-2 and I-1 occupancies shall be in accordance with Sections 907.5.2.1.3.1 and 907.5.2.1.3.2.
907.5.2.1.3.1 Fire Alarm System Audible Signal
In SLEEPING ROOMS of Group R-1, R-2 and I-1 occupancies, the audible alarm signal activated by a fire alarm system shall be a 520-Hz low-frequency signal complying with NFPA 72.
907.5.2.1.3.2 Smoke Alarm Signal in Sleeping Rooms
In SLEEPING ROOMS of Group R-1, R-2 and I-1 occupancies that are required by Section 907.2.8 or 907.2.9 to have a fire alarm system, the audible alarm signal activated by single- or multiple-station smoke alarms in the dwelling unit or sleeping unit shall be a 520-Hz signal complying with NFPA 72. Where a sleeping room smoke alarm is unable to produce a 520-Hz signal, the 520-Hz alarm signal shall be provided by a listed notification appliance or a smoke detector with an integral 520-Hz sounder.

907.5.2.2 EMERGENCY VOICE/ALARM COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
EMERGENCY VOICE/ALARM COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS required by this code shall be designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 72. The operation of any automatic fire detector, sprinkler waterflow device or manual fire alarm box shall automatically sound an alert tone followed by voice instructions giving approved information and directions for a general or staged evacuation in accordance with the building's fire safety and evacuation plans required by Section 404 of the International Fire Code. In high-rise buildings, the system shall operate on at least the alarming floor, the floor above and the floor below. Speakers shall be provided throughout the building by paging zones. At a minimum, paging zones shall be provided as follows:
1. Elevator groups.
2. Interior exit stairways.
3. Each floor.
4. Areas of refuge as defined in Chapter 2.
Exception: In Group I-1 and I-2 occupancies, the alarm shall sound in a constantly attended area and a general occupant notification shall be broadcast over the overhead page

chad

12/16/2025 08:38:01 am

Strictly speaking you need voice in the units, its black and white in the IBC. Some cities take the approach you describe. I don't see that way as bad, just not ideal.

I enforce as written.

With the Low Frequency requirement for in unit smoke alarms now, I think you will see both sounder bases and speakers in units going forward.

Joe

12/16/2025 09:01:36 am

I have seen AHJ accept no speaker inside the bedroom provided you comply with the intelligibility requirement with the bedroom door close.

However they did require the standard alarm evacuation signal consisting of a three pulse temporal pattern inside the bedroom must meet the 520 hz requirements.

Dylan Denmyer

12/16/2025 08:42:15 am

On residential high-rise buildings, I will layout:
- Bedroom/dormitory: smoke detector w/ sounder base & a speaker
- Corridor: speakers & speaker/strobes to provide adequate coverage and intelligibility, and area smoke detection
- ADA rooms: smoke detector w/ sounder base & a speaker/strobe (high candela)

In our sequence of operations matrix, a sleeping unit smoke will trigger a supervisory signal, not an alarm. However, all other smokes will trigger an alarm signal that will activate the notification devices in the sleeping unit.

Ricardo Gonzales

12/16/2025 08:49:32 am

NFPA 72's expanded definition of a sleeping room includes where a couch is. If you can fall asleep while watching TV in a room not called a bedroom, then it's a sleeping room. NFPA 72 A.3.3.258 & A29.8.1.1(1). It's in the 'A' appendix but I've found more AHJs using this than the standard 'Bedroom' definition.

Put it in. It's not worth the fight or the time spent to fight the AHJ. But worth the C.O. if the EoR didn't include it in the drawing or spec.

Chris Nelson

12/17/2025 01:14:53 pm

2019 NFPA 72 18.4.11
and D.3.2.2 are some helpful code/annex sections/

Speakers Inside Dwelling/Sleeping Units in R-2?

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