>From another forum regarding the subject. John Drucker, CET Fire Protection Subcode Official Fire/Building/Electrical Inspector Fire Marshals Office Borough of Red Bank, NJ
Subject: [NJ_FIRE_MARSHALS] Re:Water flow alarm question-Details in the Code As we discussed at the job site this afternoon. Lots of reading but the code sections and the path to get to them is important. In a nutshell....Exterior Waterflow Alarm = Non Silenceable Interior Occupant Notification = Silenceable. John Drucker, CET Fire Protection Subcode Official Fire/Building/Electrical Inspector Fire Marshals Office Borough of Red Bank, NJ Subject: Water flow alarm question-Details in the Code There are two components of the waterflow "alarm" issue, 1) The Fire Sprinkler System Waterflow alarm requirement (NFPA-13) and 2) The Fire Alarm System Waterflow alarm requirement (NFPA-72). The requirements have two entirely different applications. Before we get to the standards, the 2006 IFC/NJ provides; 2006 IFC/NJ 903.4.2 Alarms (Page 57) "APPROVED AUDIBLE DEVICES SHALL BE CONNECTED TO EVERY AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM. Such sprinkler water-flow alarm devices shall BE ACTIVATED BY WATER FLOW equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system. ALARM DEVICES SHALL BE PROVIDED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN APPROVED LOCATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION CODE IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION OR N.J.A.C. 5:70-4. Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler system shall actuate the building fire alarm system." 2006 IFC/NJ Chapter 45 Reference Standards (Page 307) NFPA-13-2002 Edition NFPA-72-2002 Edition The Building Subcode contains similar provisions; 2006 IBC/NJ 903.4.2 Alarms. APPROVED AUDIBLE DEVICES SHALL BE CONNECTED TO EVERY AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM. Such sprinkler water-flow alarm devices shall be ACTIVATED BY WATER FLOW equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system. ALARM DEVICES SHALL BE PROVIDED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN APPROVED LOCATION. Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler system shall actuate the building fire alarm system." Note that there are two parts to this code section, THE EXTERIOR WATERFLOW ALARM AND THE BUILDING FIRE ALARM SYSTEM. Let's start with NFPA-13. Fire Sprinkler Systems, except those specifically excluded, i.e. limited area systems, are required to be equipped with a waterflow alarm. 6.9.2.1 Wet Pipe Systems. The alarm apparatus for a wet pipe system shall consist of a listed alarm check valve or other listed waterflow-detecting alarm device with the necessary attachments required to give an alarm. 6.9.2.2.1 Dry Pipe Systems. The alarm apparatus for a dry pipe system shall consist of listed alarm attachments to the dry pipe valve. 6.9.2.3 Preaction and Deluge Systems. The alarm apparatus for deluge and preaction systems shall consist of alarms actuated independently by the detection system and the flow of water. NFPA-13 recognizes more than mechanically operated water motor gongs, electrically operated appliances are included as well. 6.9.3.1 An alarm unit shall include a listed mechanical alarm, HORN, OR SIREN OR A LISTED ELECTRIC GONG, BELL, SPEAKER, HORN, OR SIREN. 6.9.3.2 Outdoor water motor-operated or ELECTRICALLY OPERATED BELLS shall be weatherproofed and guarded. The section regarding "non silencing" applies to the waterflow alarm provided pursuant to NFPA-13., the exterior one typically above the FDC. 6.9.1 General. "Waterflow alarm apparatus shall be listed for the service and so constructed and installed that any flow of water from a sprinkler system equal to or greater than that from a single automatic sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed on the system will result in an AUDIBLE ALARM ON THE PREMISES WITHIN 5 MINUTES AFTER SUCH FLOW BEGINS AND UNTIL SUCH FLOW STOPS" What we end up with is an exterior audible waterflow alarm typically mounted above the fire department connection (FDC). This waterflow alarm is specifically intended for waterflow alarm. So long as water is flowing the "waterflow alarm" remains audible. A mechanical water motor gong or a line voltage pressure/vane switch with a line voltage horn or bell works this way. When water stops flowing the alarm goes silent. These alarms are not intended to alert building occupants for evacuation. Back in the day this alarm served to notify passerbys that the sprinkler system had activated, hence the sign so often seen; "Sprinkler Alarm - When alarm sounds call fire department". But this waterflow alarm also provides a fire service benefit; arriving fire apparatus recognize that the sprinkler system is flowing water prompting pump operators to supply the fire department connection (FDC). Let's take a look at the second part of the code section, "Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler system shall actuate the building fire alarm system." 2006 IBC/NJ [F]907.2 Where required. An approved manual, automatic or manual and automatic fire alarm system installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and NFPA 72 shall be provided in new buildings and structures in accordance with Sections 907.2.1 through 907.2.23 and provide occupant notification in accordance with Section 907.9, 2006 IBC/NJ [F] 907.6 Activation. Where an alarm notification system is required by another section of this code, it shall be activated by: 1. A required automatic fire alarm system. 2. SPRINKLER WATER-FLOW DEVICES. 3. Required manual fire alarm boxes. NFPA-72 applies to this code requirement, and the requirement where the fire alarm system monitors the sprinkler system to a supervising station. 6.9.4.1 Electrically operated alarm attachments forming part of an auxiliary, central station, local protective, proprietary, or remote station signaling system shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 72R, National Fire Alarm Code. These code sections are addressing the audible and or visual notification appliances that are a component of the building fire alarm system INTENDED FOR OCCUPANT NOTIFICATION. How this gets screwed up is when a building fire alarm system is used to provide the IBC/IFC 903.4.2/NFPA-13 exterior audible waterflow alarm. The alarm company comes along and accepts responsibility to provide the exterior audible waterflow alarm. If they do it properly they run a separate circuit from the control panel to the exterior audible waterflow alarm and configure it as non silenceable. They then run the interior alarm notification appliances on their own circuits as silenceable. This complies with the code and standards. If they do it improperly they run the exterior audible waterflow alarm together with the interior occupant alarm notification appliances, realize the exterior waterflow can't be silenceable and configure the entire circuit as non silenceable. This still complies with the code until someone tries to silence the interior occupant notification appliances, the root of original question If this is the case the exterior audible waterflow alarm needs to be put on its own silenceable notification circuit or a local waterflow alarm installed. NFPA-13 6.9.4.2 Sprinkler waterflow alarm systems that are not part of a required protective signaling system shall not be required to be supervised and shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electrical CodeR, Article 760 Lastly keep in mind that the code trumps the standard and the disclaimer regarding Annex material; Annex A Explanatory Material "Annex A is NOT A PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS NFPA DOCUMENT but is included for informational purposes only. This annex contains explanatory material, numbered to correspond with the applicable text paragraphs" Sincerely, John Drucker, CET Fire Protection Subcode Official Fire/Building/Electrical Inspector Fire Marshals Office Borough of Red Bank, NJ Subject: [NJ_FIRE_MARSHALS] Re: Water flow alarm question-NJ Code Reference Correct the 2002 Edition is currently adopted. If and when we adopt the 2009 I Codes the Chapter 35 (IBC)/45 (IFC) reference standard is the 2007 NFPA-13, and or if we progress to the 2010 NFPA-13 the operative terminology for non-silenceable waterflow alarms is stipulated in all three editions; "after such flow begins and until such flow stops." In other words it doesn't matter which of the three editions one uses, the code requirement is the same. The change in this section from the 2002 to the 2007 merely changed the term APPARATUS(2002) to DEVICE(2007 & 2010) 2002 NFPA-13 6.9.1 General. Waterflow alarm APPARATUS shall be listed for the service and so constructed and installed that any flow of water from a sprinkler system equal to or greater than that from a single automatic sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed on the system will result in an audible alarm on the premises within 5 minutes after such flow begins and until such flow stops. 2007 NFPA-13 6.9.1 General. Waterflow alarm DEVICES shall be listed for the service and so constructed and installed that any flow of water from a sprinkler system equal to or greater than that from a single automatic sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed on the system will result in an audible alarm on the premises within 5 minutes after such flow begins and until such flow stops. 2010 NFPA-13 6.9.1 General. Waterflow alarm DEVICES shall be listed for the service and so constructed and installed that any flow of water from a sprinkler system equal to or greater than that from a single automatic sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed on the system will result in an audible alarm on the premises within 5 minutes after such flow begins and until such flow stops. Hope that helps, John Drucker, CET Fire Protection Subcode Official Fire/Building/Electrical Inspector Fire Marshals Office _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: supp...@firesprinkler.org To Unsubscribe, send an email to:sprinklerforum-requ...@firesprinkler.org (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
