2012 [F] 907.5.2.3.1 Public and common areas. Visible alarm notification appliances shall be provided in public areas and common areas.
2015 [F] 907.5.2.3.1 Public use areas and common use areas.
Visible alarm notification appliances shall be provided in public use areas and common use areas.
Exception: Where employee work areas have audible alarm coverage, the notification appliance circuits serving the employee work areas shall be initially designed with not less than 20-percent spare capacity to account for the potential of adding visible notification appliances in the future to accommodate hearing-impaired employee(s).
Commentary: Visible alarm notification appliances must provide coverage in all areas open to the public (use areas) as well as all shared or common use areas (e.g., corridors, public restrooms, shared offices, classrooms, medical exam rooms, etc.). Areas where visible alarm notification appliances are not required include private offices, mechanical rooms or similar spaces. The intent with this section is to replicate the provisions included in the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG).