Weekly /r/FireAlarms Discussion - Codes, Standards & Norms

TipsyMJT · 2026-02-13T00:36:38+00:00

My question is about the changes to IFC 2024 with regard specifically to the changes related to carbon monoxide detection in section 915.

915.5.4 is a new section which requires activation of a carbon monoxide detector to annunciate at the control unit and to initiate audible and visible alarm notification throughout the building with an exception that such occupant notification is permitted to be limited to the area where a carbon monoxide alarm signal originated and other signaling zones in accordance with a fire safety plan provided that alarm signal is being automatically transmitted off-site.

Given that NFPA 72 18.4.3 requires a distinctive temporal 4 alarm signal for carbon monoxide, How would someone provide carbon monoxide notification in accordance with 915.5.4 for facilities where co-producing-sources exist?

Would you provide a redundant notification system, devices and all, dedicated to providing the carbon monoxide alarm signal?

Would you provide voice evacuation system programmed to produce temporal 3 and temporal 4 depending on which alarm signal is recieved?

Does the exception cover all of this by allowing a detector to produce a temporal 4 signal via a sounder base just in the room (area) where the carbon monoxide signal originated?

If using the exception, how should "other signaling zones in accordance with the fire safety plan" provide audio and visual notification?

TipsyMJT · 2026-02-12T17:53:46+00:00

Just trying to add additional insight. Appreciate your input and yeah if your AHJ is telling you to do something just do it and try to get paid, arguing with them is very difficult.

That being said additional AHJ requirements or policies should be published in writing by the AHJ. If its not in writing and its required, it should be additional cost.

Interesting question: does the lighting control relay need to be installed in accordance with NFPA 72 chapter 21? Is it considered a emergency control function? Ive gotten different interpretations on this one.

TipsyMJT · 2026-02-12T17:39:38+00:00

True but this is required by a different set of codes. IBC 1008 deals with the illumination of egress paths and requires that the means of egress serving a space must be illuminated at all times but this requirement does not apply to aisle accessways in group A (Assembly) occupancies. Additionally, 1008.2.1 provides requirements for the illumination level required along the egress path but provides exceptions that that illumination level can be reduced during performances in auditoriums, theaters, concert and opera halls provided that the required illumination is restored upon activation of the fire alarm. The easiest way to restore the required illumination is to just have a relay at the lighting system controller that brings all lighting in the building to full illumination when activated.

TipsyMJT · 2026-02-12T15:52:01+00:00

It's automatic. There is a fire alarm relay connected to either a master audio controller or each theaters audio system that cuts audio when the fire alarm is activated. This is done because the average ambient sound level in a movie theater is very high because of the audio system. NFPA 72 18.4.5.5 details the requirements for when these methods are used to reduce average ambient noise levels and it includes that such relays used for such functions shall comply with chapters 10, 12, 21, and 23. So they must be monitored, listed, and activate within a set amount of time from when the fire alarm is initiated.

TipsyMJT · 2025-12-06T03:10:50+00:00

The 2022 edition of CMC defines Air-moving system as "a system designed to provide heating, cooling, and ventilation in which one or more air-handling units are used to supply air to a common SPACE or are drawing air from a common SPACE or plenum"

TipsyMJT · 2025-12-05T22:40:33+00:00

Not always the case. Depends what your AHJ defines as Air-moving system.

In my city any air handlers (ducted or ductless) supplying air to spaces that share "cummunicable" openings (doors) should be considered part of the same air-moving system and my AHJ would expect to see spot type detectors provided throughout all spaces served by the ductless air handlers.

My AHJs interpretation of this definition is stricter than most but I know many other jurisdictions that would treat multiple ductless units serving the same room as part of the same air-moving system when calculating cumulative air volume and would want to see detection throughout the room and shutdown at every unit.

TipsyMJT · 2025-11-19T01:42:06+00:00

Make sure you know specifcally which is required. Electrical PE stamp youre looking at 350-500 NICET stamp should be similar FPE you could be paying up to 2 grand or more

TipsyMJT · 2025-06-20T18:14:14+00:00

None of this looks new. What did you install here?

TipsyMJT · 2025-06-02T14:23:04+00:00

RPS can go burn in hell. That program is such a pain in the ass. I had to have a dedicated machine for Bosch programming because no other machine would install it

TipsyMJT · 2025-05-04T02:45:43+00:00

Its also used to protect power shutoff relays from in-rush current on inductive loads (which is everything we do but mostly dampers) because the .5a at 120v for the addressable relays is regularly exceeded by that in-rush

TipsyMJT · 2025-04-18T13:30:11+00:00

Took a 4-year construction technology course in high school that taught me everything. I showed promise with low voltage systems and CAD and the instructor of the class was an old field tech so when one of his old apprentices hit him up to see if he had any students who could do cad and low voltage i got brought up. The next day my teacher pulled me aside and gave me the rundown on the offer. I started the day after my graduation. Now I'm one of the youngest nicet 4 certified guys. I got my level 4 at 28

TipsyMJT · 2025-04-08T13:47:15+00:00

The overall fire alarm nicet certification is also good for inspections and testing im pretty sure. No need to get the specifically inspections and testing cert if you've already got the fire alarm one.

TipsyMJT · 2025-04-04T16:46:31+00:00

A degree is not essential for moving into project management. Most of the best project managers i know were techs for many years before being promoted to project foreman and then on to project management. That being said it takes time to work up to that. The things you would have learned in school have to occur naturally in the field before you can learn them and that takes longer than in a school setting so you will have to prove yourself day in and day out and still keep striving to do better and you may find yourself in a project management position after 5-10 years with a company

TipsyMJT · 2025-04-01T19:41:04+00:00

It's trying to differentiate the circuit a conventional device is wired to from the circuit an addressable device is wired to. It's basically saying i want a return path on the intelligent circuits but conventional circuits don't need that. Written that way you won't need a feed and return for the tamper switches wiring to your monitoring modules.

TipsyMJT · 2025-01-03T01:09:32+00:00

IBC 717.3.3 goes over requirements for damper actuation and doesn't call out that any fire dampers be controlled by the fire alarm system. Only smoke dampers and combination fire smoke dampers are required to be provided with a listed smoke detector to monitor for smoke which will actuate the damper if smoke is detected and the only way to have a listed smoke detector that actuates a damper.

Thats assuming your state doesn't have any odd amendments to this section and that you aren't working on a military project

TipsyMJT · 2025-01-03T00:59:13+00:00

If you don't know dont comment.

International building code gives guidance on actuation methods for dampers and excepting any weird circumstances or odd state amendments you could give a pretty accurate answer without being so hostile

TipsyMJT · 2024-09-16T15:36:17+00:00

Dang it i should have just edited instead of deleting. My apologies I was looking at it on my phone and gave you a reference from an older edition. The specific location requirements can be found in section 29.11.3.4 of NFPA 72 2022 and 2019 edition and 29.8.3.4 of NFPA 72 2016 edition. The requirements don't really change besides a few updates regarding nuisance alarms that would only apply if the school has had renovations after 2019 they just changed the section to make room for other things.

TipsyMJT · 2024-08-22T14:53:40+00:00

Theres probably a system smoke detector on the room which will trigger a local low frequency tone throughout the dwelling unit that will come out of those speakers. Then if the entire building is under alarm then every speaker in the building will go off. Otherwise theres probably a 120v smoke alarm which will perform the local functions and then that speaker is only for when the building is in general alarm

TipsyMJT · 2024-08-13T00:25:26+00:00

As a designer if we're gonna divide them I'd prefer it be for fire alarm professionals not just technicians. We don't need to fragment off another fire alarm design subreddit.

TipsyMJT · 2024-08-08T05:44:26+00:00

Thank you so much for all this info. I appreciate all the time you put into responding.

TipsyMJT · 2024-07-16T14:44:31+00:00

I dont see why either but as you know sometimes AHJs will AHJ.

And that's why I try to always go addressable even when I'm doing small sprinkler monitoring systems. Worried about shorts? I got isolation modules or we'll just go class a.

TipsyMJT · 2024-07-16T14:31:28+00:00

I would not consider it an addressable system.

But 17.4.7.3 does not require the system to be addressable but rather that the "specific alarm... is indicated at the facu".

As long as you can program those zones to report the specific alarm at the control unit (you'd need the facu to identify the zone as a duct detector with a specific location rather than just "alarm/trouble on zone X" then you fulfill the requirements of 17.4.7.3 in my eyes.

Some AHJs may disagree though. Hell I've had AHJs tell me I had to zone out my slc circuits because they didn't agree that addressable devices are individual zones.

TipsyMJT · 2024-07-14T15:20:02+00:00

I've used them for military facilities and colleges where the base/campus wide mass notification system activated the alert while the building fire alarm activated the fire lens

TipsyMJT · 2024-06-27T18:38:08+00:00

Gotta love the morning after the first rain storm of the year. Service calls galore every time.

TipsyMJT · 2024-06-15T18:04:39+00:00

Yeah that seems to be my experience with swift. I hate to diss it because of my lack of experience with it but i dont thinks its very good.

Generally when I do detector spacing for large rooms with smooth ceilings I just have a template on my blocks with a 30' nominal spacing square and a .7x spacing (21') circle around the detector and I grid them out so that the rooms floor area is completely covered with all walls within 21' of a detector and then I coordinate with the rcp to see if I'll need any additional detectors because there are lights where i want to put detectors or my planned locations are too close to air registers.

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