Fire Alarm Strobe Light Requirements

Smoke alarms save lives.

Fire alarm strobe light requirements.

Single larger strobes require significantly greater power and should that one strobe malfunction the public could be left without any visible signaling. System sensor prepared this strobe compliance reference guide to help promote understanding and awareness of the issues that affect specifying engineers installers and the enforcement authorities. Biological chemical and nuclear emergencies. Several practical limitations of fire alarm systems.

March 21 2017 8 22 pm august 19 2019 fire alarm systems nfpa101 international building code ibc and american s with disabilities act ada. But those who are deaf or hard of hearing cannot depend on the sound of the regular alarm to alert them to a fire. People who are deaf or hard of hearing should use alarms with strobe flashing lights that have been tested by an independent testing laboratory. Nfpa requirements state that fire strobe lights must be visible no matter the orientation of the person in the room or corridor.

Visible fire alarm systems that contain more than two strobes in a room or space require synchronization. Most contractors install strobe lights to comply with the national fire alarm and signaling code by simply using a combination audible visible appliance everywhere one or the other is shown on the plans. For more information call an ada specialist at 1 800 949 4232. Until the mid 1980s bells were the common notification appliance for fire alarm systems.

The americans with disabilities act of 1990 led to the development of building fire and life safety codes that dictate whether you need to install strobe lights. They were loud and for the most part could be heard better than today s horns. 2 5 nfpa 72 strobe requirements summary. As fire alarm control units evolved from using relays to using electronic components horns began to replace bells to notify occupants.

It should be obvious that if you follow this method of compliance you will either have an incorrect number of audible appliances or an incorrect number of visible appliances. In addition to the core focus on fire alarm systems the code includes requirements for mass notification systems used for weather emergencies. All calls are confidential. Firstly it is clear that visual strobes should be installed in public areas anticipated to be used by hearing impaired individuals such as restrooms hallways and building lobbies.

The maximum spacing between fire strobes should not exceed 100 feet. All strobes must be located within 15 feet of the end of the corridor. Fire alarm pulls must meet the following requirements for operable parts. Requirements for fire alarm systems.

Nfpa 72 provides the latest safety provisions to meet society s changing fire detection signaling and emergency communications demands. For economical reasons we believe the 110 cd strobe to be more than adequate to its task.