Complying with NFPA 72 only means that the system meets the requirements that relate to the system’s operation: signal initiation, transmission, notification, and annunciation. … Fire alarm systems exist to warn the occupants of a fire condition and to summon the first responders for the jurisdiction.
What is the purpose of the NFPA 72?
NFPA 72 provides the latest safety provisions to meet society’s changing fire detection, signaling, and emergency communications demands.
Is NFPA 72 required?
1. Does NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code® require fire alarm systems to be installed? No. NFPA 72 only provides requirements for the installation, performance, testing, inspection, and maintenance of the fire alarm system.
Why is the process of acceptance testing of fire alarm systems important?
Two important issues require attention when testing fire alarm systems. First, the testing of a fire alarm system impairs the system. The code outlines requirements in Chapter 10 specifically dealing with impairments. Contractors must comply with these impairment requirements during every system test.
Do you have to follow NFPA standards?
In most cases, compliance with NFPA standards is voluntary. However, in some cases, federal or state Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) agencies have incorporated wording from NFPA standards into regulations. In these cases, complying with the standards is mandatory.
What are NFPA guidelines?
NFPA publishes more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks. NFPA codes and standards, administered by more than 250 Technical Committees comprising approximately 8,000 volunteers, are adopted and used throughout the world.
What chapter of NFPA 72 covers smoke detector requirements?
Chapter 14 of NFPA 72 will provide the detailed requirements for ITM.
Is NFPA 1221 mandatory?
Reflecting industry changes and new technologies, the 2016 edition of NFPA 1221 is essential to public welfare in every community. NFPA 1221 provides procedural and physical criteria for the installation, performance, operation, and maintenance of public emergency services communications systems and facilities.
What is the legal requirement for fire alarm testing?
In section 25.2 it states that all fire alarm systems in commercial premises need to be tested weekly to ensure that there has not been any major failure, and that the fire alarm system is in working order.
What are the requirements for fire alarm system?
Your premises are small, simple, single-storey or open-plan. A shout of ‘fire! ‘ would be easily heard by all occupants. You don’t have any vulnerable occupants – that’s older people, very young people or people with disabilities.
What are the NFPA required periodic inspection test and maintenance intervals for fire alarm pull stations?
Visual inspections of fire alarm components are to be done weekly, monthly, semiannually, and/or annually in accordance with the schedules in table 14.3. 1 of NFPA 72.
What is an acceptance test for fire protection systems?
You must test smoke detectors and smoke alarms in place to ensure smoke entry into the sensing chamber and to verify an alarm response. You may test with smoke or listed aerosol, acceptable to the manufacturer of the smoke detector or smoke alarm and identified in the manufacturer’s published instructions.
Why do fire departments follow NFPA?
NFPA standards are evidence of what the reasonably prudent fire department would have done under the circumstances. … An industry-wide standard such as an NFPA standard can be used to establish an important element in a negligence suit: the standard of care.
How often does NFPA check for compliance?
The NFPA recommends that building owners have experienced fire protection experts inspect all sprinkler systems at least four times per year to ensure that the system will deploy in the event of a fire emergency. Monthly and weekly inspections can be conducted by trained people employed by the owner or occupant.
Does OSHA enforce NFPA standards?
From an enforcement perspective, OSHA does not enforce NFPA 70E. … OSHA may, however, use NFPA 70E to support citations for violations relating to certain OSHA standards, such as the general requirements for personal protective equipment found in 29 CFR 1910.335.