California Firecodes

Malcolm D’costa

Fire Protection

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Why do we have Fire Protection Systems ???

IT’S THE LAW !!!

California Code of RegulationsTitle:

1) General Provisions 14) National Resources

2) Administrations 15) Crime Prevention 3) Food & Agriculture 16) Professional & Vocational Reg's. 4) Business Regulations 17) Public Health 5) Education 18) Public Revenues 6) Not Used 19) Public Safety 7) Harbors & Navigation 20) Public Utilities 8) Industrial Relations 21) Public Works 9) Rehabilitative & Development 22) Social Security 10) Investment 23) Waters 11) Law 24) California Building Standards 12) Military & Veterans 25) Housing &Community Development 13) Motor Vehicles 26) Toxics 27) Environmental Protection

California Code Of Regulations Title 24 - California Building Standards Part:

1) Building Standards Administrative Code 2) California Building Code 3) California Electric Code 4) California Mechanical code 5) California Plumbing code 6) California Energy Code 7) California Elevator Safety 8) California Historical Buildings 9) California Fire Code 10) California Bldg. Conservation Code 11) Not Used 12) Reference Standards Code

California Fire Code

• Part 9 of Title 24 - California Building Standards

• Updated every 3 years

• Based on the Uniform Fire Code

• Lists the minimum Fire requirements by occupancy


• Occupancies (summary)

Group A - Assembly Group I - InstitutionalGroup B - Office Group M - MercantileGroup E - Educational Group R - ResidentialGroup F - Factory/Industrial Group S - Storage Group H - Hazardous Group U - Utility

Codes and Standards

• NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code

– Covers the application, installation, location, performance, and maintenance of Fire Alarm Systems and their components.

– Updated every three years

Codes and Standards

• NFPA 70 National Electric Code

– Covers the installation of electric conductors and equipment , Including Fire Alarm Systems.

– Article 760 covers Fire Protection Signaling Systems

Codes and Standards

• Other Codes Common to Fire Protection– California Building Code - part 2 of Title 24– NFPA 13– NFPA 90A Standard for the Installation of Air

Conditioning and Ventilation Systems

Sprinkler Monitoring

• Almost every building constructed in California will have a Sprinkler System.

• The Contractors involved in these systems make $$$$


• Article 10 - Fire Protection Systems and Equipment– Section 1003.3 – Sprinkler Monitoring and Alarms

1003.3.1 Where Required . All valves controlling the water supply for automatic sprinkler systems and water-flow switches on all sprinkler systems shall be electrically monitored for integrity where the number of sprinklers is:

Twenty or more in Group I One Hundred or more in all other occupancies

NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code

• 2-6 Sprinkler Waterflow Alarm-Initiating Devices

– 2-6.2 Initiation of the alarm signal shall occur within 90 seconds of waterflow at the alarm-initiating device when flow occurs that is equal to or greater than that from a single sprinkler


• 3-8.3.2.4 Water flow Alarm Signal Initiation

– 3-8.3.2.4.2 The number of water flow switches permitted to be connected to a single initiating device circuit shall not exceed five.


• 2-9 Supervisory Signal-Initiating Devices

– 2-9.1.1 Two separate and distinct signals shall be initiated: one indicating movement of the valve from its normal position and the other indicating restoration of the valve to its normal position. The off-normal signal shall be initiated during the first two revolutions of the hand wheel or during one-fifth of the travel distance of the valve control apparatus from its normal position.


• 3-8.3.3 Supervisory Signal Initiation

– 3-8.3.3.1.1 The number of supervisory devices permitted to be connected to a single initiating device circuit shall not exceed 20.

Sprinkler Monitoring Signal Transmission

• Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter (DACT)

• Sends signals over common phone lines to a Digital Alarm Communicator Receiver (DACR)

Sprinkler Monitoring Signal Transmission

• DACT activates / phone line seized• Dials DACR / DACR answers• Obtains verification (handshake tone)• Transmits the data• Obtains verification (kiss-off tone)• Hangs up


• 5-5.3.2.1.7 DACT Transmission Means

– 5-5.3.2.1.7.1 A DACT shall be connected to two separate means of transmission at the protected premises. The DACT shall be capable of selecting the operable means of transmission in the event of failure of the other means. The primary means of transmission shall be a telephone line (number) connected to the public switched network.



– 5-5.3.2.1.7.2 The first transmission attempt shall utilize the primary means of transmission.

– 5-5.3.2.1.8 Each DACT shall be programmed to call a second DACR line(number) when the signal transmission sequence to the first called line(number) is unsuccessful.



– 5-5.3.2.1.10 Each DACT shall automatically initiate and complete a test signal transmission sequence to its associated DACR at least once every 24 hours.


• 1-5.6 Protection of Fire Alarm Control Unit(s)

– In areas that are not continuously occupied, automatic smoke detection shall be provided at the location of each fire alarm control unit(s) to provide notification of fire at that location.


• 3-8.3 Fire Alarm System Inputs

– 3-8.3.1.2 For fire alarm systems employing automatic fire detectors or waterflow detection devices, at least one fire alarm box shall be provided to initiate a fire alarm signal. This fire alarm box shall be located where required by the authority having jurisdiction.


• Article 10 - Fire Protection Systems and Equipment

– Section 1003.3 – Sprinkler Monitoring and Alarms 1003.3.2 Alarms. An approved audible sprinkler flow alarm shall be

provided on the exterior of the building in an approved location. A single approved audible sprinkler flow alarm shall be provided in the interior of the building in a normally occupied location.

Sprinkler Monitoring

Interior Audible

Phone Jacks

Waterflow Switch

Supervisory Device

Manual Pull Station

smoke detector

Control Communicator

Duct Smoke Detectors

• Almost every building constructed in California will have a H.V.A.C. System.


• 2-10.4.2 Smoke Detection for the Air Duct System

– 2-10.4.2.1 Supply Air System. Where the detection of smoke in the supply air system is required by other NFPA standards, a detector(s) listed for the air velocity present and that is located in the supply air duct downstream of both the fan and the filters shall be installed.


• 2-10.4.2. Smoke Detection for the Air Duct System

– 2-10.4.2.2 Return Air System. If the detection of smoke in the return air system is required by other NFPA standards, a detector(s) listed for the air velocity present shall be located where the air leaves each smoke compartment, or in the duct system before the air enters the return air system common to more than one smoke compartment.

NFPA 90A Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning

and Ventilating Systems• 4-4 Smoke Detection for Automatic Control

– 4-4.2 Location. Smoke detectors listed for use in air distribution systems shall be located as follows:

– (1) Downstream of the air filters and ahead of any branch connections in air supply systems having a capacity greater than 2000 cfm.

– (2) At each story prior to the connection to a common return and prior to any recirculation or fresh air inlet connection in air return systems having a capacity greater than 15,000 cfm and serving more than one story.

NFPA 90A Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning

and Ventilating Systems• 4-4 Smoke Detection for Automatic Control

– 4-4.3 Function. Smoke detectors provided as required by 4-4.2 shall automatically stop their respective fan(s) on detecting the presence of smoke.

– 4-4.4.2 In addition to the requirements of 4-4.3, where an approved fire alarm system is installed in a building, the smoke detectors required by the provisions of section 4-4 shall be connected to the fire alarm system in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 72.

Elevators

• Almost every building 2 or more stories in height constructed in California will have Elevators.

California Building Code

• Section 3003 - Special Provisions

– 3003.2 Smoke-Detection Recall. When the elevator vertical travel is 25 feet or more, each

associated elevator lobby or entrance area and associated machine rooms shall be provided with an approved , listed smoke detector for elevator recall purposes only.


• 3-9.3 Elevator Recall for Fire Fighter Service

– 3-9.3.1 System type smoke detectors located in elevator lobbies, elevator hoistways,and elevator machine rooms used to initiate fire-fighter service recall shall be connected to the building fire alarm.


• 3-9.3 Elevator Recall for Fire Fighter Service

– A-3-9.3.1 In facilities without a building alarm system, dedicated fire alarm system control units are required by 3-9.3.1 for elevator recall in order that the elevator recall systems be monitored for integrity and have and have primary and secondary power meeting the requirements of this code.

Elevator Shutdown

• If the sprinkler contractor installs a sprinkler head at the top of the elevator hoistway, You will need to install a detector within 2 feet of each sprinkler head or a waterflow switch to shutdown elevator power. – The purpose of elevator shutdown prior to sprinkler

operation is to avoid the hazards of a wet elevator braking system and electric shock.

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California Firecodes

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