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Outside horn /strobe

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sunyaer

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Toronto
The following paragraph is from the article at this link https://www.douglaskrantz.com/SCFACPNotSys.html

What is “outside horn/strobe”, where is it located?

Outside Horn/Strobe​

Another example is the outside horn/strobe that lets the fire department know water is flowing to suppress fires. It also lets the fire department know where to connect hoses for greater ease in fighting the fire.

The firefighter's outside horn/strobe is powered by utility power. Like a light switch, the flow switch turns on this power, uses wiring to carry this power, and activates the outside horn/strobe.

The firefighter's outside horn/strobe doesn't have a control panel. It doesn't even have anything to detect if the power is turned off or a wire is broken. It's really, though, a complete fire alarm system. (Some people might not consider this as a fire alarm system. However, when heat from a fire is detected by a sprinkler head, water starts to flow, and the outside horn is turned on to announce a fire.)
 
I'm not sure it is required. He is based out of the US, which uses NFPA 72 for fire alarm systems. Canada uses CAN/ULC-S524
 
We require them and they have to be located above the FDC so the FDC can be easily found in the dark.
IFC
903.4.2 Alarms.
Approved audible devices shall be connected to every automatic sprinkler system. Such sprinkler water-flow alarm devices shall be activated by water flow equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system. Alarm devices shall be provided on the exterior of the building in an approved location. Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler system shall actuate the building fire alarm system.
 
steveray said:
One of my FD asks for it especially if the sprinkler system is unmonitored....
Click to expand...
Do you guys have fire alarms that do not have automatic notification to fire dispatch (auto-dialer)?

Almost all sprinkler systems in our code must be supervised by a fire alarm system, but any fire alarm systems do not have to include automatic notification to fire dispatch in most cases.

Just wondering if that is a consideration for you guys as well.
 
Mass. requires by amendment that a sprinkler system "Valves controlling the water supply for automatic sprinkler systems, pumps, tanks, water levels and temperatures, critical air pressures and waterflow switches on all sprinkler systems shall be electrically supervised by a listed fire alarm control unit." "Alarm, supervisory and trouble signals shall be distinctly different and shall be automatically transmitted to one of the following NFPA 72 locations. The owner has the choice of which single option to employ."

Additionally there shall be a water flown alarm "An approved audible device, located on the exterior of the building in an approved location, shall be connected to each automatic sprinkler system. Such sprinkler waterflow alarm devices shall be activated by water flow equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system. Activation of the sprinkler waterflow alarm devices shall activate a fire alarm system installed throughout the building in accordance with section 907."

Depending on the FA system the FA may activate the water flow alarm or a separate t set of contacts may sound a bell for water flow
 
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