(This Assumes a fire alarm is required, such as an >16
units, etc.)
The 2000 LSC, Section 30.3.4 requires a fire alarm system in
the larger apartment buildings. It is required to have manual pull stations for
initiation at all points of egress (within 5-ft of the required exit) and within
the required travel distances, including initiation by any provided
common/general use area smoke detectors (these common/general use detectors are
not required, but if provided for other reasons or requirements, are required to
initiate alarm).
However, single station smoke detectors are required in
each dwelling unit in the corridor/hall that serves bedrooms (see 2000 LSC,
Section 30.3.4.5.1 as amended by 120-3-3). If multiple station detectors are
required (due to multiple corridors, etc. within the dwelling) or provided
within dwelling units, then they are required to alarm all units within that
dwelling unit upon activation of any single detector within that dwelling. These
dwelling unit detectors are not required to initiate the building alarm (and are
not desirable to initiate the building alarm due to the high potential of false
alarms... However, frequently an owner desires them to initiate a trouble alarm
upon their activation for follow-up purposes). See code amendment for power
requirements on these dwelling unit detectors.
Notification is required
by 2000 LSC, Section 30.3.4.3.1 which references Section 9.6 requiring audible
notification throughout the premises. This is typically accomplished by placing
the audible alarms (bell/horn) in the common areas of the facility (corridors,
laundry room, clubhouse, lobby, etc.) so that the required decibel is provided
in all areas - frequently where the dwelling unit has multiple doors involved,
mini-horns/bells are provided within the dwelling units (not specifically
required, unless the required decibel can not be provided above ambient noise in
all areas of the unit without their use).
Visual notification comes from
120-3-20-.08(14) which only requires visual alarms in the common and general use
areas of the facility (corridors, throughout clubhouse area, laundry rooms,
etc., but not in janitor's room, normally locked storage room, and any other
service type areas), and throughout any FHA required accessible dwellings
(living room, kitchen, hall, bedroom ~ usually with a 177cd strobe to awaken a
hearing impaired individual, bathrooms, etc.).
Annunciation per 2000 LSC,
Section 9.6.7 is required, usually at the point where the responding fire
department enters the facility. Chapter 30 of the 2000 LSC does not have an
'emergency services notification' clause (i.e. requiring Central Station
monitoring), however if a supervised automatic sprinkler system is required (see
2000 LSC, Section 30.3.5.2), then it is required to tie-into the fire alarm for
alarm activation, and since it is required to be supervised, then 'emergency
forces notification' does kick-in for the sprinklered facility.