Fire Alarm
System Interconnection
This is to clarify
requirements for the use of a single Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) to serve
one or more buildings. Whether the buildings are separated by some distance, or
by a fire wall per the 2000 IBC, Section 705, a single FACP may serve more than
one ‘building’. The interconnection from the adjacent ‘buildings’ to the
‘building’ with the FACP, either thru the fire wall that separates the
‘buildings’, or thru underground conduit in the space between the ‘buildings’,
shall be permitted provided the following survivability items are incorporated
into the system:
1. Fire wall penetrations by interconnected wiring shall
comply with the 2000 IBC, Section 711.
2. Each ‘building’ shall be on a
separate zone, including separate wiring.
3. Interconnected wiring from
the adjacent ‘building’ to the FACP shall be routed thru areas of limited
combustible characteristics defined in NFPA 90A (1996).
4. Interconnected
wiring from the adjacent ‘building’ to the FACP shall be installed in metal
conduit or raceway, and where the wiring exceeds 100-ft, the metal conduit or
raceway shall be enclosed in a 2-hour fire rated enclosure or consist of a
2-hour cable assembly installed in metal conduit or raceway.
5. The FACP
shall be located in a room that has a minimum of 1-hour fire resistance
construction separation from adjacent areas.