1. FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS AND FUNDAMENTALS
DENVER FIRE ALARM TEST
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS AND FUNDAMENTALS

2. NFPA 72 Numbering System Does not use the NEC format
Uses the standard NFPA format for numbering
Advantages and Disadvantages
Key Chapters for the Test
Chapter 3 Definitions
Chapter 10 Fundamentals
Chapter 12 Circuits and Pathways
Chapter 14 Inspections, Testing and Maintenance
Chapter 17 Initiating Devices
Chapter 18 Notification Appliances
Chapter 23 Protected Premises Fire Alarm Systems
Chapter 26 Supervising Station Alarm Systems
Chapter 27 Public Emergency Alarm Reporting Systems
Chapter 29 SFD and MFD Single and Multi Station Alarms
NFPA 72

3. What is a Fire Alarm System?
Must have all of the following:
FCU or FCP
At least one initiating device
At least one notification device
At least one signal circuit

4. Fundamentals Equipment Designer Qualifications
Equipment shall be listed for the purpose used
10.3.1
Equipment powered from the DC IDC or SLC shall be listed with control
10.4.1
Designer Qualifications
Designs shall conform to NFPA 72 and be done by a qualified person
Fundamentals

5. Designer Qualifications
A qualified persons varies depending on the jurisdiction.
According to NICET it is
Factory Trained
NICET Certified
Locally Licensed

6. Installer Qualifications
Installers shall be qualified or supervised by qualified persons
Qualified varies by jurisdiction but NICET defines as:
Factory Trained
NICET Certified
Locally Licensed

7. Inspection, Testing and Maintenance Qualifications
Inspection and Testing personnel shall be qualified
Qualifications vary by jurisdiction but NICET defines as:
Factory trained
NICET Certified
Locally Licensed
Employee of a NRTL

8. Types of Systems Protected Premises (Local) Fire Alarm Systems
Auxiliary Fire Alarm Systems
Remote Station Fire Alarm Systems
Proprietary Fire Alarm Systems
Central Station Fire Alarm Systems
Emergency Voice/Alarm Communication System

9. History of Fire Alarm System Development
The Yell
The Fire Watch
The Municipal System
The Fire Alarm Box
Smell, see and run method
The Local Fire Alarm
Smell, see and run method evolved slightly
The Auxiliary Tie In
The don’t need to smell, see and most importantly run method
The Evolvement
The Local to the Firehouse
The Local to the remote monitor
The Listed Central Station

10. Protected Premises Fire Alarm System
Entire fire alarm system operates in the protected premises, responsive to the operation of a manual fire alarm box, water flow in a sprinkler system or detection of a fire by smoke or heat detection.
The main purpose of this system is to provide an evac/relocation alarm for the occupants of the building
Someone must always be present to transmit the alarm to fire authorities. This can be a remote supervising station, a central station, a proprietary supervising station or auxiliary alarm system.

11. Auxiliary Fore Alarm System
An alarm system utilizing a municipal coded fire alarm box to transmit a fire alarm from a protected property to municipal fire headquarters (Public Emergency Alarm Reporting System)
Alarms are received on the same municipal equipment and are carried over transmission lines as are connected fire alarm boxes located on streets
Operation is initiated by the local fire detection and alarm system
3.3.23

12. Remote Station Fire Alarm System
An alarm system connecting a protected premisis over leased telephone lines to a remote station, such as a fire station, supervising system or a police station
Includes separate receiver for individual functions being monitored, such as fire alarm signal or sprinkler water flow alarm
Requires leased telephone lines into each premise

13. Central Station Fire Alarm System
An alarm system connecting protected premises to a privately owned central station whose function is monitor the connecting lines constantly and record any indication of fire, supervisory, or trouble signals from the premises.
Central has to be able to take action such as required
Must have ability to handle all types of signals

14. Proprietary Fire Alarm System
An alarm system that serves contiguous or noncontiguous properties under one ownership from a central supervising station at the protected property
Similar to a central or remote station but operated by the owner of the protected property
Requires 24/7 staffing of the central supervising station

15. Public Type Systems Auxiliary Alarm System Type A System Type B System
Local Energy Type Auxiliary Alarm System
Shunt-type Auxiliary Alarm System
Type A System
Type B System

16. Local Energy Auxiliary Alarm Systems
Employs a locally complete arrangement of parts and power supplies to automatically activate a master box over circuits that are electrically isolated from the public emergency alarm reporting system circuits
In other words: reports to the public/ municipal system through a set of independent lines by sending a signal to the master box and then through the public system

17. Shunt Type Auxiliary Alarm Systems
Electrically connected to the public alarm system by extending the wiring of the master box to the protected premises.
Initiating devices when operated opens the public reporting circuit which is shunted around the trip coil of the master box which energizes the master box without any assistance from a local source power.
No power supply in the protected premises
Early type of auxiliary system

18. Type A Public Systems Type B Public Systems
Alarm signals are transmitted to a central dispatcher monitoring station and then retransmitted to appropriate fire houses
Type B Public Systems
Alarm signals are transmitted directly to a municipal fire alarm station

19. Notification Appliances Signaling Circuits Practice Questions
Next Class
Power Supplies
Initiating Devices
Class after next
Notification Appliances
Signaling Circuits
Practice Questions