1. Fire Alarm System Notification Appliances
Chapter 13
Page 394

2. Objectives
Discuss the four groups of notification signals, explain why the temporal-coded signal is now the national standard signal, and outline research conducted with respect to recognition of the temporal- coded signal
List the available types of audible notification appliances

3. Objectives
Evaluate public- and private-mode audibility requirements for fire alarm systems and explain why the two modes differ
Determine the effectiveness of an audible notification appliance, given ambient sound levels, door or wall attenuation, and inverse square law losses

4. Objectives
Compare wall-mounted and ceiling- mounted visible notification appliance requirements
Locate visible notification appliances in a room, corridor, or sleeping room
Use the multiple-square layout to optimize visual notification appliance location
Explain the function of an annunciator panel

5. Objectives
Determine the reasons why tactile notification appliances may be necessary, and discuss how they can be used effectively
Compare NFPA 72, ANSI, UL, and ADA requirements for visible notification appliances
Discuss the conditions that make strobe synchronization necessary

6. Audible Notification Appliances
Audible Notification Appliance Audibility Requirements
Public-Mode Audibility Requirements (see Tables 13-1 and 13-2, Pages )
Private-Mode Audibility Requirements
Audible Notification Appliance Intelligibility

7. Audible Notification Appliances
Audible Notification Appliance Location (see Tables 13-3 and 13-4 Page 401)
Inverse square law: as the distance from the ear to the notification appliance doubles, sound is reduced by 6 dB along the centerline of the notification appliance

8. Audible Notification Appliances
Figure Illustration of the inverse square law; sound pressure reduces 6 dB every time the distance from the audible notification appliance doubles

9. Audible Notification Appliances
Figure Off-centerline sound losses; persons “B” and “C” are at the same lineal distance from the notification appliance as person “A”

10. Ex. 13-6: Calculation of Audible Notification Appliance Audibility

11. “Exit Marking” Audible Notification Appliances
“Exit marking” audible notification appliances: installed at the entrance of all building exits and areas of refuge
Emit distinct sound pressure levels capable of directing occupants to the exits

12. Visible Notification Appliances
Candela (cd): the standard unit of light intensity measurement
Blackbody: ideal body that would absorb all incident radiation and reflect none
Public-Mode Visibility Requirements
ADAAG Visible Appliance Requirements
Private-Mode Visibility Requirements

13. Visible Notification Appliances
Wall-Mounted Visible Notification Appliance Location
Ceiling-Mounted Visible Notification Appliance Location (see Table 13-5, Page 410)
Visible Appliance Spacing in Rooms That Are Not Square

14. Visible Notification Appliances
Multiple Square Layout of Visible Notification Appliances Optimization of Visual Notification Coverage
Placement of Visible Appliances in Corridors (see Table 13-6, Page 415)
Spacing of Visible Appliances in Sleeping Areas (see Table 13-7, Page 417)

15. Visible Notification Appliances
Figure Optimization of visible notification coverage (part 1)

16. Visible Notification Appliances
Figure Optimization of visible notification coverage (part 2)

17. Visible Notification Appliances
Figure Corridor spacing of visible appliances

18. Visible Notification Appliances
Combination Audible/Visible Notification Appliances
Combination audible/visible notification appliance: has both audible and visible notification components
Synchronization of Visible Appliances

19. Textual Audible and Visible Notification Appliances
Textual visible notification appliance provides alphanumeric fire alarm notification or instructions
Usually on an annunciator, fire alarm control unit, or a panel remote from the main FACU
Textual notification information can be provided by LEDs on a display window

20. Textual Audible and Visible Notification Appliances
Can provide more precise information than by other audible and visible appliances
Can provide notification for persons with hearing disabilities
Central station operators, security guards, and fire watch personnel often are provided with textual appliances

21. Annunciation Notification Appliances
Annunciator panel: provides visible notification of the location of an initiating device by zone and floor
Annunciator should be placed in a fire control room or at main building entrance
Fire service personnel can identify fire location and implement suppression strategy

22. Tactile Notification Appliances
Audible appliances are effective for those who can hear
Visible appliances are effective for those who can see
Combination audible/visible appliances are effective for those with either sense
Tactile notification appliances are for individuals who can neither see nor hear

23. Tactile Notification Appliances
With tactile notification appliances, training must be provided so that occupants can find exit building on their own
If this is not possible, a method must be provided for the notification of supervisory personnel who are responsible for assisting occupants to safety

24. Tactile Notification Appliances
Bed shakers are an alternative for rousing sleeping individuals
Some tactile appliances, such as vibrating belt pagers, and variable-speed ceiling fans, cannot be readily supervised, and are therefore considered supplemental notification appliances

25. Summary
Notification appliances must be selected carefully to be congruent with the needs of
Building occupants
Supervisory personnel
Security personnel who interpret the alarm
Fire service responders

26. Summary Notification appliances must
Accommodate persons with disabilities
Arouse a sleeping person
Spur a person who is awake to leave the building or relocate to a fire-safe area