Georgia Fire Inspectors Association

Miscellaneous Fire Alarm Information

Mounting Heights
Manual Pull Stations are required by the 2003 IFC, Section 907.4.2 to be mounted 42 to 48-inches above finish floor to the pulling mechanism. Visual notification appliances may be located at least 80-inches from the finish floor of the notification area to the bottom of the strobe lens (or the top of the strobe lens 6-inches below the ceiling – whichever is lower), but top of the strobe lens shall never be higher than 96-inches. The use of ceiling mounted notification appliances are acceptable as complying with the requirements of 120-3-20-.39(3)(f) as an equivalent facilitation per 120-3-20-.04(2) only where wall mounted devices are undesirable due to: obstructions (such as the high shelving) or damage (fork-lift truck high traffic areas); or, where they provide better performance (large open areas where wall mounted devices simply can not provide proper illumination at the area’s center). Ensure strobes are synchronized per GAC requirements. Mounting heights for panels, touchpads, etc. shall comply with 120-3-20-.13 accessibility requirements (max 48-inches forward approach/max 54-inches side approach) to the operating features (door handles, buttons, etc.) of these devices.

Accessibility
Fire Alarm System must comply with GAC (120-3-20), 2000 Life Safety Code (NFPA 101 – 2000), and NFPA 72 (2002) requirements. Visual notification appliances are required in all general usage and common areas as indicated by 120-3-20-.39 (Georgia Accessibility Code).
120-3-20-.08(14) requires visual alarms wherever audible alarms are required and 2000 LSC, Section 9.6.3.7 requires alarm signals throughout the building. Section 9.6.3.6, Exception No.1, permits omitting visual signals for areas not subject to occupancy by persons who are hearing impaired (these days there are not many of those what with the deaf, the elderly, etc...) Also, 120-3-20-.03(3) indicates areas that are used exclusively by employees as a work area (i.e. areas containing only individual work stations such as computer desks, lab tables, etc. and typically not frequented by non-employees such as public/client/patient/deliverymen/detainees) are exempt from the visual notification portion of the accessibility requirements. Other areas used by common or general building occupants (file rooms, copy room, supply room, exam room, reading cubicles, etc.) are required to meet all accessibility requirements including visual notification . 120-3-20-.08(5)(b) indicates rooms typically non-occupiable (locked, not accessible to the common or general building occupants such as janitors room, locked storage rooms, mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, elevator machine room, etc., which are not considered general usage or common areas) are not required to meet visual notification accessibility requirements. Also, non-handicap individual cells or non-handicap private/semi-private patient rooms are exempt from visual notification accessibility requirements.