|
Lee County Fire Marshal’s Association |
|
Knowledge and Integrity |
|
Article Number: FA 1999-08
SUBJECT: Sealing of Fire Alarm Plans
10/8/99 The following questions about sealing of alarm system plans valued at over $5,000 were asked by Charlie Edwards, Lee County Building Department and responded to by Dennis Barton, Executive Director of the Fla. Board of Professional Engineers. Followed up by Mark Goodman. This was a result and follow up of questions asked at the Lee County Fire Marshals Codes & Standards Committee Meeting of 9/21/99.
Q. Can an engineer of record provide conceptual plans and specifications for an alarm system for a building plan approval, then rubber stamp and provide notations if necessary to shop drawings and have the shop drawings submitted for permit review without being sealed?
A. I assume the plans that were filed with the original permit documents were adequate (see our Responsibility Rule for Professional Engineers Providing Fire Protection Plans). The PE should review the shop drawings (assuming, again, his contract calls for that) and he should sign BUT NOT SEAL the shop drawings indicating they are consistent with his plans.
Q. If plans are permitted without the seals are there any directives or documentation that you can provide that indicates this is an acceptable practice? Please Note that FS 471.025 requires auto signature, date and seal.
A. I can think of no instance when plans that are filed for record should not be sealed. There are instances when plans are submitted for review for the purpose of review but those plans should say very plainly that they are being submitted for review purposes only. If someone is aware that plans are being submitted for record and are not sealed, signed and dated, someone should tell us.
Mark Goodman's follow-up response: Mr. Barton’s response indicated that the engineer’s original submittal needed to be “adequate”, in order for shop drawings to not be sealed. The question that naturally arises is, “what is adequate”? In most instances, what the engineer of-record provides on plan is a device placement plan with a note that the system design is “by others” or “by contractor”. The contractor, in turn, believes this and allows them to provide shop drawings with wire diagrams and battery calculations and equipment specifications without a seal. They would argue this plan does not require a seal or review by the engineer-of-record because it is clarifying the engineers “design” of the alarm system. We believe the Rules of Responsibility for Fire Alarm Systems 61G15-33.006 would not allow this practice. To save everyone in the discussion group time, I have provided a copy of the minimum submittal requirements for permitting below. 61G15-33.006 Design of Alarm Systems.
(1) Alarm systems are used to monitor and alarm a fire or other emergency condition. Items to be included in the design or analysis of these systems are: structure alarm requirements, location and audibility, types of alarms and initiation devices, notification requirements, installation requirements, backup power requirements, applicable regulatory requirements, and the provisions of rule 61G15- 32.007, F.A.C.
(2) Design documents for alarm systems shall, at a minimum, indicate the following:
(a) System riser diagram
(b) Device types and locations
(c) Type of conductors and installation requirements including rating identification and listing requirements
(d) Notification requirements
(e) Backup power requirements
(f) Where applicable, backup power sources and inter-ties to other systems/ components
Specific Authority 471.008, 471.033(2) FS. Law Implemented 471.033 FS. History—New 5-19-93, Formerly 21H-33.006.
I am aware that there are engineers that do provide good, proper submittal documents for alarm systems that can be issued a fire alarm permit with the original building permit. We are not talking about them. Only if these “adequate” plans have been submitted, may a contractors “shop drawings” be signed by the engineer-of-record without being sealed. Otherwise, the alarm contractor will need to hire an engineer to prepare alarm system plans. If your understanding is different, or if I am missing something, please let me know. MT Goodman
— Response to this was affirmative by the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. —
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
|
|
ARTICLE NUMBER: FA 2000-01
SUBJECT: Secondary Power Supply Requirements
OBJECTIVE: To clarify the requirement for battery supply requirements. Since there are very few “Central” or “Proprietary” fire alarm systems most battery supplies will be required to meet the 60-hour requirement.
CODE REFERENCES: NFPA 72:1-5.2.5 1993 edition NFPA 72:1-5.2.6 1996 edition
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 15, 2000
BACKGROUND: There has been confusion because terms are used interchangeably to define fire alarm systems. There are several types of fire alarm systems and requirements vary. (Central Station, Proprietary System, Auxiliary System and Remote System). The most stringent requirement is a “Central Station Alarm System”, but because of all of its requirements the secondary power supply (battery) is not required to last as long as an “Auxiliary” or “Remote” fire alarm system. The most common type of system in this area is the “remote station fire alarm system”.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: The following is a summary of the code language from NFPA 72 concerning secondary power supplies for fire alarm systems. A central station or proprietary fire alarm system shall have a secondary supply (battery) to operate the protected premises for 24 hours under maximum normal load. and, at the end of that period, shall be capable of operating all alarm notification appliances used for evacuation or to direct aid to the location of an emergency for 5 minutes. An auxiliary or remote station fire alarm system shall have a secondary supply (battery) to operate the protected premises for 60 hours under maximum normal load. and, at the end of that period, shall be capable of operating all alarm notification appliances used for evacuation or to direct aid to the location of an emergency for 5 minutes.
The following is the code text on secondary power supply capacity from NFPA 72. 1-5.2.6 Secondary Supply Capacity and Sources. The secondary supply shall automatically supply the energy to the system within 30 seconds, and without loss of signals, wherever the primary supply is incapable of providing the minimum voltage required for proper operation. The secondary (standby) power supply shall supply energy to the system in the event of total failure of the primary (main) power supply or when the primary voltage drops to a level insufficient to maintain functionality of the control equipment and system components. Under maximum normal load, the secondary supply shall have sufficient capacity to operate a protected premises, central station, or proprietary system for 24 hours, or an auxiliary or remote station system for 60 hours; and, at the end of that period, shall be capable of operating all alarm notification appliances used for evacuation or to direct aid to the location of an emergency for 5 minutes. The secondary power supply for emergency voice/alarm communications service shall be capable of operating the system under maximum normal load for 24 hours and then shall be capable of operating the system during a fire or other emergency condition for a period of 2 hours. Fifteen minutes of evacuation alarm operation at maximum connected load shall be considered the equivalent of 2 hours of emergency operation.
The following are definitions of the types of fire alarm systems from NFPA 72.
Central Station Fire Alarm System - A system or group of systems in which the operations of circuits and devices are transmitted automatically to, recorded in, maintained by, and supervised from a listed central station. The installation must be certificated by the organization that has listed the central station. Reference 72:4-3.2.3 93 edition, & 72:4-2.2.3.1 96 edition
Proprietary Supervising Station Fire Alarm System - An installation of fire alarm systems that serves contiguous and noncontiguous properties, under one ownership, from a proprietary supervising station located at the protected property, at which trained, competent personnel are in constant attendance. This includes the proprietary supervising station; power supplies; signal-initiating devices; initiating device circuits; signal notification appliances; equipment for the automatic, permanent visual recording of signals; and equipment for initiating the operation of emergency building control services.
Auxiliary Fire Alarm System - A system connected to a municipal fire alarm system for transmitting an alarm of fire to the public fire service communications center. Fire alarms from an auxiliary fire alarm system are received at the public fire service communications center on the same equipment and by the same methods as alarms transmitted manually from municipal fire alarm boxes located on streets.
Remote Supervising Station Fire Alarm System - A system installed in accordance with this code to transmit alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals from one or more protected premises to a remote location at which appropriate action is taken.
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
|
|
ARTICLE NUMBER: SD 1999-01
SUBJECT: Smoke Detector Placement in HVAC Systems
OBJECTIVE: Clarification of smoke detector locations in air conditioning systems. The Mechanical Code and NFPA 90A appear to differ. Can one be used rather than both?
CODE REFERENCE: NFPA 90A: 4-4 1993 ed. & Standard Mechanical Code 406, 1997 ed.
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 20, 1999
BACKGROUND: This issue was presented via e-mail. (Codeforum @aol.com)
POLICY/PROCEDURE: The intent of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 90A, Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems and the Standard Mechanical Code are clear. Each code has different requirements. There is not a conflict within the codes, therefore each code must be complied with and smoke detectors provided on both the supply and return side of systems 2,000 cfm or greater.
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
|
|
ARTICLE NUMBER: AS 2002-02
SUBJECT: Sprinkler Permitting - 6 Heads or Less
OBJECTIVE: Establish a procedure to expedite the permitting and inspection process of 6 heads or less in automatic fire sprinkler systems.
CODE REFERENCE: NFPA 13, 8-1.1
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 1, 2002
BACKGROUND: There has been much discussion by various fire districts, the sprinkler industry, and Lee County staff to develop an expedited permit process that allows contractors to perform small jobs in an expedited manner that is cost effective. Presently, permits and plan review fees can approach several hundred dollars. The time required to go through the permitting process is also an issue. The proposed procedure will maintain inspection responsibilities and reduce time and costs to the contractor.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: Lee County will allow the installation, or relocation of up to six sprinkler heads without a permit under the following conditions:
1. Installation or relocation of up to six heads (in total),
2. Work to be performed by a licensed fire sprinkler contractor,
3. A plan must be submitted to the fire district prior to installation,
4. A statement on plan that the work does not affect the hydraulically most remote area,
5. Provide revised hydraulic calculations with plan, if the hydraulically most remote area is affected,
6. A statement on the plan “The sprinkler heads to be added are the same size and k-factor as those used to perform the hydraulic calculations.”
7. When high demand heads or heads other than the type of heads used in the hydraulic calculations are used, documentation shall be submitted to substantiate the system is capable of handling the different type heads.
8. Contractor to provide a completed “A” form at final inspection,
9. Plan review and inspection fees to be paid to the fire district, if applicable
10. Follow fire district procedures for requesting inspections.
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
|
|
Policy And Procedure Manual |