DESIGN A/E NOTE - GUIDE SPECIFICATION CONVENTIONS

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Rev 19JUN09 j:\Projects\Active\com-deca_design_criteria_revisions-04071\Guide Specifications\TJG Innformation

SECTION 13851

FIRE ALARM

PART 1. GENERAL

1.1 SUMMARY

1.1.1. Fire protection systems are life-safety systems and will therefore be designed, installed, tested, and expected to perform as such.

1.1.2. This Section includes fire alarm systems.

1.1.3. Related Sections include the following:

1.1.3.1.   Division8 Section "Door Hardware" for door closers and holders with associated smoke detectors, electric door locks, and release devices that interface with the fire alarm system.

1.1.3.2.   Division 13 Section “Mass Notification System” (if provided).

1.2 DEFINITIONS

1.2.1. FACP: Fire alarm control panel.

1.2.2. LED: Lightemitting diode.

1.2.3. NICET: National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies.

1.2.4. Definitions in NFPA72 apply to fire alarm terms used in this Section.

1.2.5. AHJ: Authority Having Jurisdiction is an individual responsible for review, inspection, and/or approval of a system and shall include the building official, fire marshal, engineer, Contracting Officer, or owners insurance representative. For this project, the AHJ shall be [insert appropriate authority].

Edit the paragraph above to identify the project-specific AHJ.

1.3 REFERENCES

1.3.1. All references shall be of the latest edition.

1.3.2. Factory Mutual (FM):

1.3.2.1.   FM AG Approval Guide.

1.3.3. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

1.3.3.1.   NFPA 13 Standard For The Installation of Sprinkler Systems

1.3.3.2.   NFPA 70 National Electrical Code

1.3.3.3.   NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code

1.3.3.4.   NFPA 90A Standard For The Installation of Air Conditioning And Ventilating Systems

1.3.3.5.   NFPA 101 Life Safety Code

1.3.4. Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. (UL): Appropriate UL equipment standards:

1.3.4.1.   UL 864 Control Panels.

1.3.4.2.   UL 268 Smoke Detectors.

1.3.4.3.   UL 268A Smoke Detectors (HVAC).

1.3.4.4.   UL 38 Manually Actuated Signaling Boxes.

1.3.4.5.   UL 346 Water flow Indicators for Fire Protection Signaling.

1.3.4.6.   UL 1971, Standard for Visual Signaling Appliances.

1.3.5. Building Codes:

1.3.5.1.   International Building Code

1.3.5.2.   International Fire Code

1.3.6. ADA, and/or State and local equivalency standards as adopted by The Authority Having Jurisdiction.

1.3.7. Military Unified Facilities Criteria:

1.3.7.1.   UFC 3-600-1

1.3.7.2.   UFC 3-600-02

1.3.7.3.   UFC 4-021-01

1.4 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

1.4.1. Noncoded, analogaddressable system; automatic sensitivity control of certain smoke detectors; and multiplexed signal transmission. Signal communication within the premises shall be by hard-wired circuits.

1.4.2. All equipment furnished shall be new and the latest state of the art products of a single manufacturer, engaged in the manufacturing and sale of analog fire detection devices for over ten years.

1.4.3. The system as specified shall be reviewed, fully tested and approved by each of the Authorities Having Jurisdiction, and turned over to the owner in an operational condition.

1.4.4. In the interest of job coordination and responsibilities the installing contractor shall contract with a single supplier for fire alarm equipment, engineering, programming, inspection and testing.

1.4.5. The contractor shall provide a representative as requested for project meetings such as to assist in coordination of crafts.

1.5 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

1.5.1. Comply with NFPA72.

1.5.2. Fire alarm signal initiation shall be by one or more of the following devices:

1.5.2.1.   Manual stations.

1.5.2.2.   Smoke detectors.

1.5.2.3.   Automatic sprinkler system water flow.

1.5.2.4.   Fire extinguishing system operation.

1.5.3. Fire alarm signal shall initiate the following actions:

1.5.3.1.   Sound an audible alarm and display a custom screen/message defining the building/zone/room in alarm and the specific alarm point initiating the alarm.

1.5.3.2.   Log to the system history archives all activity pertaining to the alarm condition.

1.5.3.3.   Sound the ANSI 117-1 signal with synchronized audible alarm and visual strobe signals throughout the facility.

1.5.3.4.   Audible signals shall be silenced from the fire alarm control panel by an alarm silence switch. Visual signals shall be programmable to flash until system reset or additional alarm silencing, as required.

1.5.3.5.   A signal dedicated to sprinkler system water flow alarm shall not be silenced while the sprinkler system is flowing at a rate of flow equal to a single head.

Delete the following paragraph and subparagraph if there are no elevators in the project.

1.5.3.6.   Activation of any smoke detector in a single elevator lobby, or elevator equipment room when installed shall cause the recall of that bank of elevators to the first floor and control lockout. In the event of recall initiation by a detector in the first floor lobby, the recall shall be to the alternate floor as determined by the AHJ.

a.   Where specifically required by the local AHJ and provided in writing, other alarm devices such as general alarms may initiate elevator recall. This is in violation of ANSI A17.1 "Elevator Code" and shall only be initiated when required by written and adopted Code of the local jurisdiction. Coordinate this feature with the Architect/Engineer through the Contracting Officer.

1.5.3.7.   HVAC shut down shall be accomplished by system operated duct detectors as per local requirements. Unless specifically required by the AHJ, HVAC and duct detectors shall initiate a supervisory signal and not a building evacuation.

1.5.3.8.   Door hold-open devices shall release by floor or when specifically indicated otherwise on Drawings or local requirements.

1.5.3.9.   Electric door locking devices shall release by floor or when specifically indicated otherwise on Drawings or local requirements.

1.5.3.10.   Provide for an alarm condition at an approved off-site monitoring station or as indicated on Drawings.

1.5.4. Supervisory signal initiation shall be by one or more of the following devices or actions:

1.5.4.1.   Signal from the Mass Notification Panel (if provided or existing).

1.5.4.2.   Display the origin of the supervisory condition report at the local fire alarm control panel.

1.5.4.3.   Activate supervisory audible and dedicated visual signal.

1.5.4.4.   Provide a means for silencing a supervisory signal shall be permitted only if it is key-operated, located in a locked enclosure, or arranged to provide equivalent protection against unauthorized use. Such a means shall be permitted only if it transfers the supervisory indication to a lamp or other visible indicator and subsequent supervisory signals in other zones cause the supervisory notification appliance(s) to re-sound.

1.5.4.5.   Record within system history the initiating device and time of occurrence of the event.

1.5.4.6.   Transmit the signal to the monitoring station.

1.5.5. System trouble signal initiation shall be by one or more of the following devices or actions:

1.5.5.1.   Signal from the Mass Notification Panel (if provided or existing)

1.5.5.2.   Display at the local fire alarm control panel the origin of the trouble condition report.

1.5.5.3.   Activate trouble audible and visual signals at the control panel and as indicated on the drawings.

1.5.5.4.   Silence audible signals from the fire alarm control panel via a trouble acknowledge switch.

1.5.5.5.   Trouble reports for primary system power failure to the master control shall be optionally delayed for a period of time not greater than 200 seconds. Trouble conditions that have been restored to normal shall be automatically removed from the trouble display queue and not require operator intervention. This feature shall be software selectable and shall not preclude the logging of trouble events to the historical file.

1.5.5.6.   Record within system history, the occurrence of the event, the time of occurrence and the device initiating the event.

1.5.5.7.   Transmit the signal to the monitoring station.

1.5.6. System Trouble and Supervisory Signal Actions: Ring trouble alarm and annunciate at the FACP and remote annunciators.

1.5.7. Power and Voltage Limitations:

1.5.7.1.   Battery capacity calculations. Battery size shall be a minimum of 125% of the calculated requirement.

1.5.7.2.   Power supplies shall be sized to furnish the total connected load in a worst-case condition plus 25% spare capacity. (i.e. 4A supply x .25 spare = 1A reserve.)

1.5.7.3.   Voltage drop calculations for wiring runs demonstrating worst-case condition. Unless otherwise approved by the engineer, voltage drop calculations shall be performed using the Lump-Sum approach using device nominal rating voltage. Calculations must include and clearly indicate wire length out and back to panel. Calculations shall be provided for horn, strobe, and speaker circuits. Use of notification power booster panels shall be limited.

1.5.7.4.   Device current values for voltage calculations shall be based on the lowest nameplate voltage. (i.e. current values at a voltage of 20 volts shall be used when available rather than current values for 24 volts.)

1.5.7.5.   Notification Appliance Circuit (NAC) design shall incorporate a 25% spare capacity for future expansion.

1.5.7.6.   End-of-line voltage reading will be required for each circuit and must have a 25% spare capacity. (i.e. 24V circuit – 21V nameplate = 3 volt drop x 0.25 spare = 0.75 volt safety factor required.)

1.5.7.7.   In no case shall horn/strobe circuits be designed or measured to have an end-of-line voltage below 20 volts or the manufactures nameplate voltage, whichever is higher.

1.5.8. Graphics Display Requirements:

1.5.8.1.   A graphic interface shall provide NFPA 170 graphical symbols indicating hazardous materials and personnel situations critical to situation management. Display a simplified building floor plan and icons representing alarm devices in off normal or alarm condition.

1.5.8.2.   If the system supports or will support more than one building, a diagram of the building and site location shall be displayed prior to zooming into an alarm area floor plan.

Select one of the first two paragraphs below (with subparagraphs), depending on location of the graphic display selected by the AHJ or Contracting Officer.

1.5.8.3.   Locate graphic display where shown on Drawings.

1.5.8.4.   Integrate graphical display into the main fire alarm control panel.

  1. The graphical display, a Person Machine Interface (PMI), shall be incorporated as part of the main fire alarm display panel and shall be capable of showing diagrammatic floor plans of the building similar to the Siemens FireFinder.
  2. The Person Machine Interface shall provide for touch screen operation on a 6 inch screen with the ability to display 5 events simultaneously.

1.6 SUBMITTALS

1.6.1. Product Data: For each type of product indicated.

1.6.2. Shop Drawings: Five copies of all submittals shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer for review. The contractor shall include the following information in submittals.

1.6.2.1.   Shop Drawings shall be prepared and signed by persons with the following qualifications:

  1. Trained and certified by manufacturer in fire alarm system design.
  2. Fire alarm certified by NICET, minimum LevelIII.

1.6.2.2.   System Operation Description: Detailed description for this Project, including method of operation and supervision of each type of circuit and sequence of operations for manually and automatically initiated system inputs and outputs. Manufacturer's standard descriptions for generic systems are not acceptable.

1.6.2.3.   Device Address List: Coordinate with final system programming.

1.6.2.4.   System riser diagram with device addresses, conduit sizes, and cable and wire types and sizes.

1.6.2.5.   Wiring Diagrams: Power, signal, and control wiring. Include diagrams for equipment and for system with all terminals and interconnections identified. Show wiring color code.

1.6.2.6.   Batteries: Size calculations.

1.6.2.7.   Duct Smoke Detectors: Performance parameters and installation details for each detector, verifying that each detector is listed for the complete range of air velocity, temperature, and humidity possible when airhandling system is operating. Coordinating the installation of duct smoke detectors and access to them. Show critical dimensions that relate to placement and support of sampling tubes, the detector housing, and remote status and alarm indicators. Locate detectors according to manufacturers written recommendations.

1.6.2.8.   Elevation Details: Details shall be provided showing mounting of wall and ceiling devices. Where exposed or pocketed ceilings are involved, specific dimensioned details of detector and notification devices shall be provided.