Fire Alarm System installation work covered by this section of the specifications includes the furnishing of all labor, equipment, materials, and performance of all operations in connection with the whole Fire Alarm System as shown on the drawings and as herein specified. The requirements of the conditions of the Contract, Supplementary Conditions and General Requirements apply to the work specified in this section.
The complete installation shall conform to the applicable sections of NFPA-72 [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F], Local Code Requirements and National Electrical Code with particular attention to Article 760. The work covered by this section of the specifications shall be coordinated with the related work as specified elsewhere under the project specifications.
Quality Assurance
Each and all items of the Fire Alarm System shall be listed as a product of a SINGLE fire alarm system manufacturer under the appropriate category by Underwriter’s Laboratories, Inc. (UL), and shall bear the “UL” label. All control equipment shall be listed under UL category UOJZ as a single control unit. Partial listing shall NOT be acceptable.
In addition to the UL-UOJZ requirement mentioned above, the system controls shall be UL listed for Power Limited applications per NEC 760. All circuits must be marked in accordance with NEC article 760-23.
General Requirement of Fire Alarm System
Furnish and install a complete fire alarm system as described herein and as shown on the plans: to be wired, connected, and left in first class operating condition. The system shall use closed loop initiating device circuits with individual zone supervision, individual indicating appliance circuit supervision, incoming and stand by power supervision. Include a control panel, manual pull stations, automatic fire detectors, [horns] [bells], [flashing lights], [annunciator], all wiring, connections to devices, outlet boxes, junction boxes, and all other necessary material for a complete operating system.
Through the use of a program mode dip switch the fire alarm control panel shall allow for loading or editing special instructions and operating sequences as required. No special tools, models, or off board programmer shall be required to program the system so as to accommodate and facilitate expansion, building parameter changes or changes as required by local codes. All instructions shall be stored in a non volatile programmable memory within the fire alarm control panel. Loss of primary and secondary power shall not erase the instructions stored in memory.
All panels and peripheral devices shall be the standard product of a single manufacturer and shall display the manufacturer’s name on each component. The catalogue numbers specified under this section are those of Simplex Time Recorder Co. and constitute the type, product quality, material, and desired operating features.
Equipment submission must include a minimum of the following:
- Complete descriptive data indicating UL listing for all system components.
- Complete sequence of operations of the system.
- Complete system wiring diagrams for components capable of being connected to the system and interfaces to associated equipment.
- A copy of any state or Local Fire Alarm System equipment approvals (if required by local jurisdiction).
Fire Alarm System Operation
The system alarm operation subsequent to the alarm activation of any manual station, automatic detection device, or sprinkler flow switch shall be as follows:
1 All audible alarm indicating appliances shall sound a continuous fire alarm signal until silenced by the alarm silence switch at the control panel. [and the remote annunciator].
2 All audible alarm indicating appliances shall sound a uniform code 3 temporal pattern until silenced by the alarm silence switch at the control panel [and the remote annunciator]. The temporal pattern shall consist of any appropriate sound, keyed ½ to 1 second “on”, ½ to 1 second “off’, ½ to 1 second “on”, ½ second “off’, ½ to 1 second “on”, and 2½ seconds “off”, with timing tolerances of plus minus 25%, repeated for not less than 3 minutes.
3 All audible alarm indicating appliances shall sound a selective positive non interfacing successive zone code. Interference of this code shall not be permitted until a completed transmission of its assigned number of rounds [3 or 4]. Should coding be completed a continuous master code or march time pattern shall sound until silenced by the alarm silence switch at the control panel [or the remote annunciator].
4 All audible alarm indicating appliances shall sound a March time pattern until silenced by the alarm silence switch at the control panel [or the remote annunciator]. The march time pattern shall consist of [20 or 120] pulses per minute.
5 All audible alarm indicating appliances shall sound a Master code until silenced by the alarm silence switch at the control panel [or the remote annunciator]. The Master Code will consist of a common code [eg., 4-4-4] which shall be selected to produce a distinctive pulse so that building occupants know unmistakably that a fire condition exists. [The Master Code shall also pulse the city circuit].
6 All visual alarm indicating appliances [incandescent] [xenon strobes] shall display a continuous pattern until:
1. [Extinguished by the Alarm Silence Switch]
2. [System is reset]
7 All visual alarm indicating appliances [incandescent] shall display a uniform code 3 temporal pattern until:
1. [Extinguished by the alarm silence switch]
2. [System is reset]
The temporal pattern shall consist of any appropriate visual display, keyed ½ to 1 second “on”, ½ to 1 second “off’, ½ to 1 second “on”, ½ second “off” ½ to 1 second “on”, and 2 ½ seconds “off”, with timing tolerances of plus minus 25%, repeated for not lass than 3 minutes.
8 All visual alarm indicating appliances [incandescent ] shall display a selective positive non interfering successive zone code until:
1. [Extinguished by the alarm silence switch]
2. [System is reset]
Interference of this code shall not be permitted until a completed transmission of its assigned number of rounds [3 or 4]. Should coding be completed a continuous master code or march time pattern shall sound until silenced by the alarm silence switch at the control panel [or the remote annunciator].
9 All visual alarm indicating appliances [incandescent ] shall display a march time pattern until:
1. [Extinguished by the alarm silence switch]
2. [System is reset]
The march time pattern shall consist of [20 or 120] pulses per minute.
10 All visual alarm indicating appliances [incandescent ] shall display a Master Code until:
1. [Extinguished by the alarm silence switch]
2. [System is reset]
The Master Code will consist of a common code [eg., 4-4-4] which shall be selected to produce a distinctive pulse so that building occupants know unmistakably that a fire condition exists. [The Master Code shall also pulse the city circuit].
11 Alarm [horns] [bells] [lights] shall operate selectively [by floor] [floor above, fire floor, floor below] by zone(s) or area].
12 The alarm indicating appliances may be silenced, [after one (1) minute], by authorized personnel upon entering the locked control cabinet and operating the alarm silence switch [and the remote annunciator]. A subsequent zone alarm shall reactive the signals.
13 A manual evacuation switch shall be provided to operate the systems alarm indicating appliances. Other control circuits shall not be activated. However, a true alarm shall be processed as described previously.
14 Activation of an auxiliary by pass switch shall override the automatic functions either selectively or throughout the system. When the switch is in the “off normal” position (by pass) a trouble condition will appear at the control panel [and the remote annunciator].
Alarm and trouble conditions shall be immediately displayed on the control panel without manual inquiry.
15 The actuation of the program “Test Set up” switch at the control panel shall activate the “Walk Test” mode of the system which shall cause the following to occur:
1. The city connection circuit shall be disconnected.
2. Control relay functions shall be by passed.
3. The control panel shall show a trouble condition
16 The alarm activation of any initiation device shall cause the audible signals to pulse one round of code identifying the initiation circuit (e.g., an activated smoke detector connected to zone 4 shall pulse the audible signal 4 times in rapid succession.
17 The panel shall automatically reset itself after code is complete.
18 Any momentary opening of an initiating or indicating appliance circuit wiring shall cause the audible signals to sound for 4 seconds to indicate the trouble condition.
Supervision of Fire Alarm System
1 The system shall contain [8 to 32] [class ‘B’ (style ‘B’)] independently supervised initiation circuits so that a fault in any one zone shall not affect any other zone. The alarm activation of any initiation circuit shall not prevent the subsequent alarm operation of any other initiation circuit.
2 There shall be [2, two] [4, four] [6, six] independently supervised and independently fused indicating appliance circuits for alarm [horns] [bells] [chimes] [and flashing alarm lamps]. Disarrangement conditions of any circuit shall not affect the operation of other circuits.
3 All auxiliary manual controls shall be supervised so that all switches must be returned to the normal automatic position to clear system trouble.
4 Each independently supervised circuit shall include a discrete amber “trouble” LED to indicate disarrangement conditions per circuit.
5 The incoming power to the system shall be supervised so that any power failure must be audibly and visually indicated at the control panel [and the remote annunciator]. A green “power on “ LED shall be displayed continuously while incoming power is present.
6 The system batteries shall be supervised so that a low battery condition or disconnection of the battery shall be audibly and visually indicated at the control panel [and the remote annunciator].
7 The system expansion modules connected by ribbon cables shall be supervised for module placement. Should a module become disconnected from the CPU the system trouble indicator must illuminate and audible trouble signal must sound.
8 Wiring to a hardwired (non serial) remote annunciator shall be supervised for open and ground conditions. A separate annunciator trouble indicator must be provided. It shall illuminate and an audible trouble signal shall sound at the control panel upon the detection of an open or ground conditions.
Power Requirements in Fire Alarm System
1 The control panel shall receive 120 VAC power (as noted on the plans) via a dedicated fused disconnect circuit.
2 The system shall be provided with sufficient battery capacity to operate the entire system upon loss of normal 120 VAC power in a normal supervisory mode for a period of [four (4)] hours with five (5) minutes of alarm operation at the end of this period. The system shall automatically transfer to the standby batteries upon power failure. All battery charging and recharging operation shall be automatic.
3 All circuits requiring system operating power shall be 24 VDC and shall be individually fused at the control panel.
Fire Alarm system Products
1 Fire Alarm Control Panel.
1.1 Where shown on the plans, provide and install a Simplex type 4100 - 8001 Fire Alarm Control Panel. Construction shall be modular with solid state, microprocessor based electronics. All visual indicators shall be high contrast, LED type.
1.2 The control panel shall contain the following features:
1. Initiation device circuits.
2.Alarm indicating appliance circuit.
3. Supervised annunciator circuits.
4. 1 (selectable) Local energy, shunt master box, or reverse polarity remote station connection.
5. 1 module. Form C alarm contacts, fused (10 A ea).
6. [2 min]. 2 form C alarm contacts (2.0 A ea).
7. [1 min]. Form C trouble contact (2.0 A ea).
8. Earth ground supervision circuit.
9. Basic 5 A power supply.
10. Expansion 5 A power supply.
11. Automatic battery charger.
12. 1 set Stand by batteries
13. 1 lot. Resident non volatile programmable operating system memory for all operating requirements.
14. 1 Supervised manual evacuation switch.
1.3 Remote Annunciator(s):
Where shown on the plans, provide and install a Simplex type 4602, [9102] serial LED annunciator. The annunciator shall have a [being enamel] [rushed aluminium] finish and shall provide one alarm lamp [and one trouble lamp] per initiation device circuit. The annunciator shall communicate to the control panel over two twisted shielded pair of wire and operating power shall be 24 VDC and be fused at the control panel.
1.4 The serial annunciator shall provide a common alarm and trouble circuit consisting of:
1. control push button switches: for alarm silence, trouble silence, system reset and manual evacuation duplicating the control panel switches. A key “enable” switch shall be provided to activate or deactivate the control switches.
2. Tone alert - duplicates the control panel piezo during alarm and trouble conditions.
3. System trouble LED.
4. Power on LED.
1.5 Peripheral Devices
1. Manual stations shall be Simplex type 2099 - [9201] single action and shall be constructed of high impact, red lexan with raised white lettering and a smooth high gloss finish. The break glass road station shall have hinged front with key lock. Stations which utilize screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, or other commonly available tools shall not be accepted. Stations shall be keyed alike with the fire alarm control panel. When the station is operated, the handle shall lock in a protruding manner to facilitate quick visual identification of the activated station.
2. Furnish and install where indicated on the panels, simplex 2098 - [9575] smoke detectors.
Detectors shall be listed to UL standard 268 and shall be documented compatible with the control equipment to which it is connected. Detectors shall be listed for this purpose by Underwrites Laboratories Inc. The detectors shall obtain their operating power from the fire alarm panel supervised detection loop. The operating voltage shall be 24 VDC (nominal). Removal of the detector head shall interrupt the supervisory circuit of the fire alarm detection loop and cause a trouble signal to be generated at the control panel.
Each detector shall have a flashing status indicating LED for visual supervision. When the detector is actuated, the flashing LED will latch on steady and at full brilliance. The detector may be reset by actuating the control panel reset switch.
To minimize nuisance alarms, voltage and RF transient suppression techniques shall be employed as well as a smoke verification circuit and an insect screen. The detector design shall provide full solid state construction and compatibility with other normally open fire alarm detection loop devices, (heat detectors, pull stations, etc.). The detector head shall be easily disassembled to facilitate cleaning.
Remote LED alarm indicators shall be installed where indicated.
3. Automatic heat detectors
Automatic heat detectors shall be combination rate of rise and fixed temperature type. When the fixed temperature portion is activated, the unit shall be non restorable and give visual evidence of such operation. Heat detectors shall be Simplex type 2098 - [9450] (135 deg. F).
4. Bells
Bells shall be Simplex type 2901 - [9333]. The bells shall be polarized and shall be operated by 24 VDC. Each bell assembly shall include separate wire leads for in/out wiring for each leg of the associated signal circuit. T-tapping of signal device conductors to signal circuit conductors shall NOT be accepted. Bells shall be [vibrating, single stroke] type with a minimum sound pressure level output of 90 dB at 10 ft. Bells shall be [10”] inch diameter, finished in backed on red enamel paint and be UL listed for fire alarm use. Bells shall be suitable for surface or semi flush mounting and be suitable for use within combination audio/visual units.
Execution of Fire Alarm System
1. Installation of Fire Alarm System
- Provide and install the system in accordance with the plans and specifications, all applicable codes and the manufacturer’s recommendations. All wiring shall be installed in strict compliance with all the provisions of NEC - Article 760 A and C, Power - Limited Fire Protective Signaling Circuits or if required may be reclassified as non power limited and wired in accordance with NEC - Article 760 A and B. Upon completion, the contractor shall so certify in writing to the owner and general contractor.
- All junction boxes shall be sprayed red and labeled “Fire Alarm”. Wiring color code shall be maintained throughout the installation.
- Installation of equipment and devices that pertain to other work in the contract shall be closely coordinated with the appropriate subcontractors.
- The contractor shall clean all dirt and debris from the inside and the outside of the fire alarm equipment after completion of the installation.
- The manufacturer’s authorized representative shall provide onsite supervision of installation.
2. Testing
The completed fire alarm system shall be fully tested in accordance with NFPA - 72H by the contractor in the presence of the owner’s representative and the Local Fire Marshal. Upon completion of a successful test, the contractor shall so certify in writing to the owner and general contractor.
3. Warranty
- The contractor shall warrant the completed fire alarm system wiring and equipment to be free from inherent mechanical and electrical defects for a period of one (1) year from the date of the completed and certified test or from the date of first beneficial use.
- The equipment manufacturer shall make available to the Owner a maintenance contract proposal to provide a minimum of two (2) inspections and tests per year in compliance with NFPA - 72H guide line.
