Manual Fire Alarm Box?

[StephNow]

2009 I-Codes in Pennsylvania:

I have a 3 story building attached to an intermodal transportation facility with:

First floor middle is a hall/waiting area with exits at each end of the hall, shops and restaurants on each side of the hall.

2nd and 3rd floors are municipal offices.

It is fully sprinkled and has smoke alarms. There are plans for pull stations. The problem with one pull station is that because the architecture and design the pull station would be "hideous" and out of place within five feet of the door. The "solution" is eight feet from the door.

With an automatic sprinkler system, is the pull station required?

If not, and it is still to be installed, does the five feet rule still apply? (I think it does)

 

[cda]

What occupancy or ies are in the building??

 

[StephNow]

M, B and A-2

 

[jdfruit]

NFPA 72 (5.12 in 2002 edition) is quite clear on locations including "5.12.5 Manual fire alarm boxes shall be located throughout the protected area so that they are conspicuous, unobstructed, and accessible.". Tell the "artichoke" he just has to accept "hideous" for code compliance. Public safety does outrank design looks.

 

[cda]

Pulls not required

If installed , install per 72 no fudging

 

[FM William Burns]

NFPA 72, 2007 (as referenced by 2009 I codes)

6.2.3* Nonrequired (Voluntary)Systems and Components.A.6.2.3 Nonrequired fire alarmfeatures are defined in 3.3.111. These are fire alarm systems or components that are not required by the building or fire codes and are installed voluntarily by a building owner to meet site-specific fire safety objectives. There is a need to properly document the nonrequired system and components. Nonrequired components must be operationally compatible in harmony with other required components and shall not be detrimental to the overall system performance. It is for this reason that

6.2.3.1 mandates that nonrequired (voluntary) systems and components meet the applicable installation, testing, and maintenance requirements of this Code. It is not the intent of the Code to have the installation of nonrequired (voluntary) systems or components trigger a requirement for the installation of additional fire alarm components or features in the building. For example, if a building owner voluntarily installs a fire alarm control unit to transmit sprinkler waterflow signals to a central station, that does not trigger a requirement to install other fire alarm system components or features, such as manual fire alarm boxes, occupant notification,or electronic supervision of sprinkler control valves. See also A.5.5.2.3 and A.7.1.5. Alternatively, supervision and power requirements are required to be taken into account for the nonrequired components/systems on the required fire alarm systems.

6.2.3.1Nonrequired protected premises systems andcomponents shall meet the requirements of this Code

What this means is that if you add the pull station it will need to be installed in accordance with the code which will include the wiring, supervision and the height and travel distance criteria. If you omit that particular device because the system is not required by the driven code then it could be considered as then meeting the protection scheme desired by the system owner.