SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS
The following is a brief summary of the new and revised paragraphs in the Standard for Household Fire Warning System Units, UL 985, which have a future Effective Date of June 10, 2019 and the action that may be required to determine compliance.
Paragraphs / General Subject and Comment /1.7 / Requirements added that stipulate security functions meet UL 1023, Standard for Household Burglar-alarm System Units, medical alert functions meet UL 1637, Standard for Home-health Care Signaling Equipment, and non-fire- and/or non-carbon monoxide emergency and/or non-emergency signaling functions meet UL 2017, Standard for General Purpose Signaling Devices and Systems.
A review of products incorporating other than fire signaling will be required.
19 / The National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code requires household fire warning systems to have two independent power sources, one that uses commercial light and power and a second that consists of a rechargeable battery. Section 19 was added and clause 21.1 (formerly 19.1) was revised to align with the Code. Clause 19.2 was added to clarify a primary battery is permitted as the sole source of power for a low-power wireless transmitter.
Products, other than primary battery operated products powering a low-power wireless transmitter, will need to be reviewed to confirm that there are two power sources which meet clauses 19.1 and 21.1.
41.1.7 / New optional feature, which if implemented needs to meet the following requirement:
Audible alarms utilizing a low-frequency component tone shall have a fundamental frequency of 520 Hz ± 10 % and comply with the fundamental and harmonic frequency requirements in the section for Determination of low frequency signal format in the Standard for Audible Signal Appliances, UL 464.
Products utilizing an integral means of generating the low frequency signal will need to be tested to the requirements referenced in UL 464. Separate audible appliances incorporating the low frequency signal will need to be Listed to the applicable requirements in UL 464.
No action required unless where this feature is to be utilized.
41.1.8 / New optional feature if implemented needs to meet the following requirement:
A voice message shall be permitted to be included with the standardized alarm signal in one or both of the formats noted below:
a) A voice message of 1.5 seconds or less in length shall be permitted to be inserted into any or all of the 1.5 second off phases of the temporal pattern.
b) A voice message that exceeds 1.5 seconds but does not exceed 10 seconds in length shall be permitted to be inserted following a minimum of 8 cycles of the initial ²three pulse² temporal pattern. This voice message shall be followed by not less than 2 cycles of the ²three pulse² temporal pattern. The voice message shall then be permitted to be repeatedly inserted provided that each additional use of the voice message follows at least 2 cycles of the ²three pulse² temporal pattern.
No action required unless where this feature is to be utilized.
41.1.9 / Optional feature if implemented needs to meet the following requirement:
Visible alarm notification appliances shall comply with the requirements of the Standard for Signaling Devices for the Hearing Impaired, UL 1971.
Review of products specifying connection to visible alarm notification appliances will be needed to confirm compliance.
41.1.14 / Any manual means for turning off activated alarm notification appliances (silencing) shall comply with the following requirements:
a) Alarm signal deactivating of activated notification appliances of a control unit/system shall be indicated by a constantly displayed and identified visual indicator;
b) An alarm signal deactivating means left in the off-normal condition when there is no alarm shall activate an audible trouble signal until the means is restored to normal;
c) An alarm-signal deactivation switch shall be either:
1) A key-lock type, with the key removable only in the normal position;
2) Located inside of a locked enclosure;
3) Access limited by a software security code providing a minimum of 1000 combinations and with a maximum 30-minute time-out feature after the last activity; or
4) Arranged to provide equivalent protection against unauthorized use.
d) The activation of the alarm signal deactivating means during an alarm condition shall not result in resetting any actuated circuit other than the notification appliance circuit(s) or zone(s) being deactivated; and
e) The alarm condition shall be indicated and maintained by a lamp or other visual indicator with the deactivating means activated.
Products utilizing any means for turning off activated alarm notification appliances will need to be reviewed to confirm compliance with this clause.
41.1.15 / New paragraph 39.1.12 involves new requirements when manual activations at keypads can trigger a fire alarm condition.
Review of product operation will need to be completed for products with capability of fire alarm activation via a keypad.
41.1.16 and 41.1.17 / Optional operation regarding interfacing with sprinkler systems, if implemented needs to meet the following.
Requirements added to respond to the need to monitor supervisory initiating devices associated with residential sprinkler systems, such as valve tamper switches and shut off valves.
Products specifying interconnection to monitor a residential sprinkler water flow system will need to be reviewed.
41.1.18 / Addresses wireless and wired interconnection of smoke alarms and heat alarms to the household fire warning system equipment in two applications:
Where the intended function of the household fire is to signal to a monitoring station, the interconnection needs to meet Sections 41 and 44.2 and in addition sections 63 – 75 if the interconnection is via low power radio frequency signaling. These requirements address monitoring for integrity.
Where the intended function is only to annunciate alarm signals within the premises, the connections are not required to be monitored for integrity.
No action is required for these requirements.
41.2.3 / Section 41.2 was added to include the specific monitoring and operation requirements for off-premise internet type signaling.
Products utilizing off-premise internet type signaling to a monitoring station need to be reviewed for operation and compliance with these requirements.
41.2.4 / The time period for the minimum required test signals specified in 41.2.2 (c) and 41.2.3 (a), as applicable, is now required to be the default programming setting for the off-premise control unit/transmitter and the test signals shall be automatically implemented when signaling to a supervising station is utilized.
A review of product operation and programing involving off-premise signaling will be required to confirm compliance.
41.3.1.1 / Revisions added to establish alarm signal distinction and priority of signaling for combination systems.
A review of products incorporating other than fire signaling will be required.
41.3.1.2 – 41.3.1.6 / Revisions address faults relative to systems intended to share components, equipment, circuitry, or installation wiring with non-fire equipment.
A review of products incorporating other than fire signaling will be required to confirm the system operation is in compliance with the requirements.
41.3.2 / Section 41.3.2 was added to address combination systems involving carbon monoxide signaling. Requirements added are intended to be consistent with NFPA 720 - 2015, chapter 9, with respect to household carbon monoxide detection systems. Revisions include carbon monoxide alert sounding pattern, distinct signal annunciation at the operator interface, priority of signaling, and monitoring for integrity.
A review of product operation will be required for products incorporating carbon monoxide monitoring and signaling.
44.1.3 / Section 44.1.3 (formerly 20.2) was revised to address new supervision requirements, where the trouble annunciation for faults relative to the secondary power source was previously required to be an audible trouble signal is now required to be both an audible and a visual signal.
A review of the system operation is needed to confirm compliance with the requirements.
44.2.1 / Paragraph 44.2.1 (previously 41.2) was revised to establish a time limitation for the annunciation for fault conditions. A limit of 200 s was selected based upon the limits for radio frequency signaling and the value used for the rest of NFPA 72 (specified in 12.6.1, 12.6.2, 10.15.1, and 10.17.1 of NFPA 72-2013). The paragraph was also clarified to indicate that the faults are to be applied to all interconnections for initiating devices and notification appliances rather than narrowly to initiating device circuits and notification appliance circuits. Other types of connections involve power to 4 wire smoke detectors, signaling line circuits, and separate power to modules on a signaling line circuit.
A review of product operation will be required to confirm compliance.
44.3.2 / Paragraph 44.3.2 (formerly 41.7) was revised to define intermittent audible trouble signals.
A review of product operation for products employing an intermittent trouble signal will be needed to confirm compliance.
44.3.4 / Paragraph 44.3.4 (formerly 41.8) was revised to clarify acceptable alternatives regarding silencing a trouble sounding device.
A review of product operation for products providing a means to silence audible trouble signals will be needed to confirm compliance.
44.4 / Section 44.4 requires monitoring for integrity relative to interconnections to keypads/operator interfaces. Wiring faults may affect the keypad when the system continues to function for alarms and the annunciation required when a system is not able to complete a signal transmission to a supervising station is provided by other means.
An exception to the monitoring for integrity is not required where the interconnection does not extend more than 3 feet.
A review of product operation for products utilizing remote keypads and other remote operator interfaces will be needed to confirm compliance.
Table 50.1 / The table specifies the maximum temperature rises for electronic components. All the revisions but the following requirement are a relaxation of the current requirements. The maximum temperature rise for wire-wound resistors in the Normal standby condition was reduced to 50 C. The maximum temperature rise in the alarm condition remains essentially the same (maximum temperature of 150C versus the new limit of 125 C temperature rise in a prevailing 25 C ambient).
Revisions to Table 50.1 also include alternative compliance based upon a component failure rate of less than 0.5 failures per million hours. Calculations based upon the temperature limits in the previous version of the table demonstrate compliance via the failure rate alternative.
No further action is required for this revision.
51.2.4 / Added additional time for secondary power when carbon monoxide signaling is utilized. New requirement for carbon monoxide signaling:
After the 4 minutes of fire or carbon monoxide alarm, the maximum carbon monoxide alarm load shall continue to be applied for a period of not be less than 12 hours, followed by 7 consecutive days of trouble (audible and visual) signals. The 5-second "off" time of the carbon monoxide alarm signal shall be permitted to be changed to 60 seconds plus or minus 10 percent.
A Certification Requirement Decision was issued to eliminate the 7 days of trouble signals requirement for rechargeable secondary power sources.
The Charging Current test will need to be repeated to demonstrate compliance with the extended 12 hour alarm period for carbon monoxide signaling.
58.4.1 / Input/output circuit (low voltage circuit) transients:
Exception to paragraph 58.4.1 reflecting when the transient test can be waived was revised to provide specific maximum length (30 m) for the circuit rather than the limiting the circuit to the same room. This is consistent with requirements in the international (ISO) standards for fire alarm equipment.
The installation instructions for products utilizing the exception will need to be revised to stipulate the maximum circuit length.
60.1 and 60.2
Table 60.1 / Clause 60 addresses the component failure test and while 60.1 formerly referenced electronic components, the test is focused on capacitors. Paragraph 60.1 was revised to clarify that intent. Paragraph 60.2 refers to establishing the reliability of a component that is not supervised, but did not define the minimum level of reliability. This revision establishes that level and the 0.5 failures per million hours of operation failure rate is consistent with that employed for commercial fire alarm control units.
Capacitors meeting the 5th edition of UL 985 also needed to meet the temperature limits specified in the Component Temperature Test. The 5th edition did not include exceptions for the maximum temperatures as the 6th edition now does. Capacitors meeting the temperature limits in the 5th edition have an equivalent failure rate of less than 0.5 failures per million hours of operation.
No action is required.
73.1 and 74.1 / The low power wireless transmitter stability and Accelerated Aging Tests were revised to provide an equivalent operation test. A Certification Requirement Decision was published to also include the operation test method from the 5th edition as an option.
No action is required.
76 / Revisions were also added to address primary batteries used for low-power wireless equipment. Requirements consistent with those utilized to assess primary batteries for smoke alarms (UL 217) were added as section 74A. The revisions include 1) primary battery life test; 2) battery trouble level determination; 3) battery replacement test; 4) Butt-type connection pressure test; and 5) primary battery polarity reversal test. These tests are consistent with the current assessments.
No action is required.
81.6 and 81.8 / Revised to require marking affixed to the outside of a product or which are cautionary and located on the inside of the product which is secured by cement or adhesive shall comply with UL 969, Standard for Marking and Labeling Systems.
A review of marking affixed as described above will be needed to confirm compliance. Affixed marking not meeting UL 969 will need to be subjecting to testing described in UL 969.