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.