Silencing fire alarm

[Inspector 102]

I am trying to find information regarding NFPA 72 and requirements that when the fire alarm panels is silenced, the strobes still remain active. A local business has a panel that when the alarm silence button is activated, all notification devises stop working. I thought the silence applied only to the horn mode, not strobe mode. Can someone dircet me to the section or tell me I am wrong. Thank you.

 

[cda]

I do not think you will find one

My boss likes the strobes to continue, But not all panels are designed to do that

 

[north star]

= s =

From the `13 Edition of NFPA-72, Section 10.13, Sub-section 10.13.2:

"When an occupant notification alarm signal deactivation means is actuated,

both audible and visble notification appliances shall be simultaneously

deactivated."

= s =

 

[AegisFPE]

I'll echo North Star. This is not new, it appeared in the 2007 Edition of NFPA 72.

72-95 Log #350 SIG-FUNFinal Action: Accept in Principle

(4.4.3.7)

________________________________________________________________

SUBMITTER:

Peter A. Larrimer, Department of Veterans Affairs

RECOMMENDATION:

Modify the paragraph as follows:

4.4.3.7 Alarm Signal Deactivation. A means for turning off activated alarm notification appliance(s) shall be permitted only if it complies with 4.4.3.7(A)

through 4.4.3.7(D). These requirements shall apply to both visible and audible notification appliances.

SUBSTANTIATION:

Audible notification appliances are often deactivated independently from visible notification appliances. When the audible devices are silenced, the visible devices continue to operate. Since fundamentally audible and visible notification appliances are installed to notify occupants to evacuate, they ought to be activated and deactivated simultaneously. Otherwise, as the code is written, it can be interpreted to imply that the hearing impaired are to evacuate while those able to hear don’t have to evacuate since the audible notification appliances that directs them to evacuate are silenced.

COMMITTEE MEETING ACTION: Accept in Principle

Revise the proposed text read as follows:

“ When an alarm signal deactivation means is actuated, both audible and visible notification appliances shall be simultaneously deactivated.” In addition, add the following Annex new material: “A.4.4.3.7 It is the intent that both visual and audible appliances are shut off when the signal silence feature is activated on the fire alarm control unit. Per the ADA, it is important to not provide conflicting signals for the hearing impaired.”

COMMITTEE STATEMENT:

The revised text meets the intent of the submitter and provides greater clarity. Per the ADA, it is important to not provide conflicting signals for the hearing

impaired. It was never the intent of this committee for this section to be interpreted as requiring strobe operation after audibles have been silenced. The Annex material was developed to provide additional information to the user.

NUMBER ELIGIBLE TO VOTE: 29

BALLOT RESULTS:

Affirmative: 28

BALLOT NOT RETURNED:

1 GRESSEL

 

[cheyer]

I understand the intent behind this is to consider any possible deaf occupants that may be in the building during testing, nuisance alarms etc......they may think it's a confirmed alarm

 

[cheyer]

Sorry....didn't completely read the prior post...already mentioned this