Fire Alarm System

Basics

BY
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
FIRE MARSHALS OFFICE

AT
ENVIRONMENT HEALTH & SAFETY DEPT.

JOE LEUNG
University Fire Marshal
Manager, Fire Safety Program

AARON
MCCARTHY
Senior Fire
Protection Engineer

ROBERT
PORTERFIELD
Fire Protection
Engineer

Building C

JENNIFER LEE
Fire Protection
Engineer

JARNAIL
DHALLA Fire
Protection
Engineer

RALPH
DURHAM
University
Fire Inspector

FRANK MO
MIRANDA Fire
Systems Supervisor

FRANK
GARDNER
Fire Systems
Lead Technician

Fire Sprinkler
Technicians

RON MORRISON
Senior Fire Sprinkler Technician

ARTHUR RICKEY JOHNSON

Fire Alarm
Technicians

Fire Extinguisher
Technicians

JOE JACKSON

RUDY GARAY

MIKE ARMSTRONG
JAMES BAXLEY

CHRIS FRAZIER

JASON LOPEZ

RICH WILKINS

CARLOS GONZALEZ
ZEEB DAVID GUARNEROS

Assistant University
Fire Marshal

BRANDON MCCLINTOCK
JESSE TORRES

Fire Alarm Systems

Several main functions:
Provide a means to identify a developing fire through automatic
methods.
They alert building occupants to a fire condition and the need to
evacuate.
Another common function is the transmission of an alarm notification
signal to the fire department or other emergency response organization.
Fire alarm systems may also shut down electrical, air handling equipment
or special process operations, and they may be used to initiate automatic
suppression systems.

Fire Alarm Systems

Requirements
California Code of Regulations has 28 sections/titles.
Title 24: California Building Standards
Part 2: California Building Code
Part 3: California Electric Code
Part 9: California Fire Code
Chapter 9 lists basic requirements based on
occupancy type.
Depending on the anticipated fire scenario, building and use type,
number and type of occupants and criticality of contents and mission
There are 3 common types of systems: Conventional, Addressable,
Analog Addressable. Analog addressable type is not commonly used.

Fire Alarm System Types

Conventional

Lower initial equipment

costs.
Defined location of
fire/alarm not provided at
the panel or central station
Can be easier to program.
Limited expansion
capability.

Addressable

Easier to install.
More system status
information at the panel
and central station.
Input/Output programming
much more flexible.
Usually much more room
available to expand.

Conventional Systems
Zone #1
4.7K
EOLR

Zone #2

FACP

NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR

Wiring must be installed in a supervised manner either Class A, or Class

B with an EOLR. Alarm/Trouble conditions are annunciated by zone only.
Inspection is required to determine the device in alarm/trouble

Addressable Systems
Addressable
Heat Detector

Addressable
Smoke Detector

Addressable
Input Module
(Waterflow)

Addressable
Pull Station

FIRE

001

FACP

Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)

002

Addressable
Smoke Detector

FIRE

004
SILENT KNIGHT

006

005
003

NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR

Each point on the SLC loop is given a unique address

when installed. Alarm/Trouble conditions are annunciated
by a unique message for each device.

Fire Alarm System Principles

Manual fire detection is the oldest method of detection.
In the simplest form, a person yelling can provide fire
warning. In buildings, however, a person's voice may not
always transmit throughout the structure. For this reason,
manual alarm stations are installed. The general design
philosophy is to place stations within reach along paths of
escape/egress. It is for this reason that they can usually
be found near exit doors.

The advantage of manual alarm stations is that, upon

discovering the fire, they provide occupants with a
readily identifiable means to activate the building fire
alarm system. The alarm system can then serve in lieu of
the shouting person's voice. They are simple devices, and
can be highly reliable.

Fire Detection Principles

Automatic Detectors Spot type

Fire Detection Principles

Automatic Detectors Photoelectric

NFPA 72, Light Scattering Smoke Detection. The principle

of using a light source and a photosensitive sensor arranged so
that the rays from the light source do not normally fall onto the
photosensitive sensor. When smoke particles enter the light
path, some of the light is scattered by reflection and refraction
onto the sensor. The light signal is processed and used to
convey an alarm condition when it meets preset criteria.

Fire Detection Principles

Automatic Detectors Photoelectric
In the normal case, the light from the light source on the left shoots straight
across and misses the sensor.
When smoke enters the chamber, however, the smoke particles scatter the
light and some amount of light hits the sensor.

A Light Source
B Photo Sensor

Fire Detection Principles

Automatic Detectors Ionization
This type is better at detecting the smaller amounts of smoke produced by flaming
fires. An ionization chamber consists of two plates with a voltage across them, along with a
radioactive source of ionizing radiation.Inside the ionization detector is a small amount
(about 1/5000th of a gram) of Americium-241. This radioactive element has a half-life of 432
years, and is a good source of alpha particles.

NFPA 72, Ionization Smoke Detection. The principle of using a small amount of radioactive
material to ionize the air between two differentially charged electrodes to sense the presence of
smoke particles. Smoke Particles entering the ionization volume decrease the conductance of the
air by reducing ion mobility. The reduced conductance signal is processed and used to convey an
alarm condition when it meets preset criteria.

Fire Detection Principles

Automatic Detectors Ionization
The alpha particles generated by the americium ionize the oxygen and nitrogen atoms of the air in
the chamber. To "ionize" means to "knock an electron off an atom ending with a free electron
(with a negative charge) and an atom missing one electron (with a positive charge). The negative
electron is attracted to the plate with a positive voltage, and the positive atom is attracted to the
plate with a negative voltage (opposites attract, just like with magnets). The electronics in the
smoke detector sense the small amount of electrical current that these electrons and ions moving
toward the plates represent.

When smoke enters the ionization chamber, it disrupts this current -- the smoke particles attach
to the ions and neutralize them. The smoke detector senses the drop in current between the
plates and sets off the horn.

Fire Detection Principles

Automatic Detectors Combination
Combination detectors contain more than one element which responds to fire. These detectors
may be designed to respond from either element, or from the combined partial or complete
response of both elements. An example of the former is a heat detector that operates on both
the rate-of-raise and fixed-temperature principles. Its advantage is that the rate-of-rise element
will respond quickly to rapidly developing fire, while the fixed-temperature element will respond
to a slowly developing fire when the detecting element reaches its set point temperature.

NFPA 72, Combination Detector. A device that either responds to more than one of the fire
phenomena or employs more than one operating principle to sense one of these phenomena.
Typical examples are a combination of a heat detector with a smoke detector or a combination of
rate-of-rise and fixed temperature heat detector. This device has listings for each sensing method
employed.

Building Notification
Notification Appliances

NFPA 72, Notification Appliance. A fire alarm system component such as a

bell, horn, speaker, light or text display that provides audible, tactile, or visible
outputs, or any combination thereof.
NFPA 72, Audible Notification Appliance. A notification appliance that alerts
by the sense of hearing.
NFPA 72, Visible Notification Appliance. A notification appliance that alerts
by the sense of sight.

Fire Alarm Circuit Classes

NFPA 72, Classes. Initiating device circuits, notification appliance circuits, and
signaling line circuits shall be permitted to be designated as either Class A or
Class B, depending on their performance during non-simultaneous single
circuit fault conditions as specified by the following:
(1) Initiating device circuits and signaling line circuits that transmit an
alarm or supervisory signal, or notification appliance circuits that allow all
connected devices to operate during a single open or a non-simultaneous
single ground fault on any circuit conductor, shall be designated as Class A
(2) Initiating device circuits and signaling line circuits that do not transmit an
alarm or supervisory signal, or notification appliance circuits that do not
allow all connected devices to operate beyond the location of a single
open on any circuit conductor, shall be designated as Class B

Conventional Class B Circuits

Class B Initiating Device Circuit
4.7K
EOLR

FACP

Class B Notification Appliance Circuit

4.7K
EOLR

Conventional System Class B Circuits

Class B Initiating Device Circuit
4.7K
EOLR

FACP

4.7K
EOLR
Class B Notification Appliance Circuit

Single open circuit condition causes a trouble

on the panel and renders all devices beyond
the fault inoperative.

Class A Circuits
Class A Initiating Device Circuit

FACP

Class A Notification Appliance Circuit

End of line supervision resistors are not

necessary as the loop returns to the panel and
is driven from both ends.

Class A Circuits
Class A Initiating Device Circuit

FACP

Class A Notification Appliance Circuit

Single open circuit condition causes a trouble

on the panel. All devices on the loop remain
operative.

Licensing Requirements

Requirements for technicians per NFPA 72

State Certified in Fire/Life Safety or Electrician

NICET Certification

Fire Alarm Manufacturer Certification

Fire Alarm Panel Options

FireFinder XLS (252 devices, expandable to 2500 devices)

NFS-320 (318 devices)

NFS2-640 (636 devices)
NFS2-3030 (3,180 devices)

3 Types of Fire Alarm Signals

1. TROUBLE
Local sounding (beeping) on FACP and Annunciators
No horn/strobes sounding or flashing
Low battery, smoke detector removed, ground fault, open horn circuit,
etc.
Alarm Tech responds
2. SUPERVISORY
Local sounding (beeping) on FACP and Annunciators
No horn/strobes sounding or flashing
Sprinkler valve closed, duct detector activated*, low-air on pre-action
system
Fire Department responds
3. ALARM
All horn/strobes sounding and flashing
Building occupants to evacuate
Smoke detector, manual pull, waterflow, duct detector, or heat detector
activated
Fire Department responds

SUFMO Fire Alarm Techs

Preventive Maintenance

Semiannual visual inspections

Annual testing

Annual fire smoke damper testing (with HVAC)

Quarterly student evacuation drills (with Inspectors & FPEs)

Monthly evacuation drills at child day care centers (with Inspectors)

Annual elevator recall testing (with Kone A)

There is a smoke
detector up there?

Construction Projects

Initial acceptance testing with FPEs per Stanford FDG and applicable codes

Final acceptance testing with FPEs and the Authority Having Jurisdiction (Santa Clara County or Palo Alto)

Isolating system components for contractors to work (i.e., SESI)

Other Responsibilities

Respond to all fire system troubles 24/7 (On-Call)

Provide fire department assistance with technical issues or nuisance alarms

Program fire alarm systems with laptop and proprietary software

Troubleshoot and repair fire alarm systems

Maintain the Remote Monitoring Station

No smoking please

Providing services to

University Main Campus

Various off campus locations (Hopkins, Boathouse, Porter Drive, and others)

Fire smoke damper

Remote Monitoring Station

Mesh network
Licensed FCC Radio Frequency (RF)
Antennas and receiving equipment in Building C
Dispatcher located at Palo Alto Communications (250 Hamilton)
Fire Department contacted by dispatcher directly
Over 300 monitored systems

ESF
BLDG C

Remote Alarm
Transmitter (RAT)

Antennas on Building C
Mesh Network Concept

Palo Alto Communications

Benefits of RF Mesh Network

Speed (5-10 seconds)

Monthly expenses
Reliability
Natural disasters
All of these are monitored systems

ESF

Monitoring equipment
in Building C

Key Changes 2010/2013 Edition

Renaming NFPA 72 - Both
New Sections on Gas Detection - Both
Direction on Intelligibility- Both
Low Frequency sounders - 2013
Emergency Communications Systems (ECS) Chapter
Circuits and Pathways Chapter
Emergency Control Functions and Interfaces Chapter
New Annex System Performance and Design Guide

Key Changes 2013 Edition

14.2.10 Test Plan

14.2.10.1 A test plan shall be written to clearly

establish the scope of testing14.2.10.2
The test plan and results shall be documented
with the testing records.
Annex material to explain test plan

Key Changes 2010/2013 Edition

Section 23.8.4.8 was revised to require signals from CO

detectors or CO detection systems to initiate a CO alarm

signal (Temporal 4).
A new exception to 23.8.4.8 permits supervisory signals

where permitted by the building response plan.