Information Packages

Alarm Systems Using Wireless or Other Transmission Technology as a Single Path of Communication
Fire Protection System Sign Requirements
Inspection and Testing of Fire Protection Systems
Duct Smoke Detectors for Control of Smoke Spread
Tampering with Fire Safety Equipment - Letter
Time Warner Cable - Fire Alarm Signal Transmission

Fire Protection - Out Of Service

Fire Protection System - Out of Service Notification
Fire Watch Requirements and Procedures
Notice of Fire Watch

National Fire Protection Association Forms (NFPA 72 - 2016 Edition)

Deviations from Adopted Codes and Standards Supplementary Record of Completion
Emergency Communications Systems Supplementary Record of Completion
Emergency Communications Systems Form - Supplementary Record of Completion
Initiating Device Supplementary Record of Inspection and Testing
Interconnected Systems Supplementary Record of Completion
Interface Component Supplementary Record of Inspection and Testing
Mass Notification System Supplementary Record of Inspection and Testing
Notification Appliance Power Panel Form - Supplementary Record of Completion
Notification Appliance Supplementary Record of Inspection and Testing
Power Systems Form- Supplementary Record of Completion
System Record of Completion Form
System Record of Inspection and Testing Form

Permit Applications

Fire Alarm Affidavit for Alterations or Tenant Improvements (1-20 Devices)
Fire Alarm Control Panel Replacement Application
Fire Alarm Installation Permit Application

Plan Review and Permit Submittal Requirements

Fire Alarm Control Panel Replacement Plan Review Requirements
Fire Alarm Installation Plan Review Requirements

Town of Brighton Bi-Annual Fire Alarm Registration Application

Commercial Fire Alarm Permit Application
Residential Fire Alarm Permit Application

A fire alarm system can make the difference between life and death. Fires can spread quickly, creating dangerous amounts of smoke and heat. Sounding the alarm quickly matters, as every extra second allows your people more time to escape safely. It also allows you more time to put out a small blaze with a portable fire extinguisher, preventing it from turning into something only professional firefighters can handle.

The purpose of a fire alarm system is to detect a fire and provide warning to building occupants to evacuate the premises. Automatic devices, such as smoke and heat detectors, sense the fire and then activate audiovisual devices. These audio-visual devices, such as horns, speakers, and strobes, act to notify the occupants of a building about an emergency situation. Manual pull stations also activate the audio-visuals, but rely on a person to operate them. Fire alarm systems must be thoroughly inspected annually in accordance with National Fire Protection Association - Chapter 72.

Understanding Automatic Fire Alarm Systems

Automatic fire alarm systems often play a major role in loss prevention during a fire emergency. These systems can be just as complicated as they are important. Below is a high-level overview of the components of an automatic fire alarm system.
The basic purpose of an automatic fire alarm system is to detect a fire in its early stages, notify the building occupants that there is a fire emergency and report the emergency to first responders.

What are the Two Types of Fire Alarm Systems?

Before you decide to install or replace a fire alarm, you should know about the different types of fire alarm systems on the market. The two main types of fire alarm systems are conventional and addressable. The various components that make up these systems are either automatic or manual. The following information will help you decide what type of fire alarm system will work best in your facility.

Type 1: Conventional Fire Alarm

Conventional fire alarm systems and its components are all wired to the same cable that connects them to a fire alarm control panel. The control panel displays a signal when these components activate. These types of systems are inexpensive and work well in small facilities. The main problem with conventional fire alarm systems is that when a fire alarm component produces a signal and it appears on the control panel there is no way to know which component it is in the building. If you foresee this to be a problem you may want to consider an addressable fire alarm system.

Type 2: Addressable Fire Alarm

Addressable fire alarm systems are the most modern type of system and its components have individual unique identifiers. When one of the system’s components initiates, it indicates the component’s address on the fire alarm panel. Large facilities utilize these systems because they can quickly pinpoint where the trouble signal originated. This saves a lot of time because it eliminates the need to search for the component that produced the signal.

Fire Alarm System Components

Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)

This is the center of the fire alarm system. The fire alarm control panel monitors initiating devices and then activates notification devices when an alarm signal is received. These panels range in scale from a single zone to multiple buildings.

 

Initiating Devices

Initiating devices detect a fire emergency and communicate it to the fire alarm control panel. These can be triggered both manually (pull stations), as well as automatically in a response to heat, smoke or flame. When one of these initiating devices is triggered, the control panel will go into an alarm state.

Another type of initiating device is a sprinkler valve tamper. Rather than initiating an alarm state, the control panel will go into a “supervisory” state, if a sprinkler valve is in an “off-normal” condition. This type of signal indicates that there is a need for action within the components of the system, rather than an immediate fire emergency.

Notification Devices
After the control panel receives a signal for an initiating device and goes into an alarm state, the panel initiates output devices that signal the building occupants that there is an emergency situation. These include bells, horns, speakers, chimes, strobes and flashing lights that signal either audibly or visually that there is a fire emergency.

Another panel output is the notification of emergency responders. This is commonly accomplished via signal to a central monitoring station. The monitoring center contacts the appropriate first responders who then dispatch to the location of the emergency.

Finally, output devices exist which shut down equipment such as HVAC systems to prevent the spread of smoke, activate automatic suppression systems including pre-action sprinkler systems and more.

Plan Submittal Requirements

After you decide what type of system would work best in your facility speak with a fire alarm installation company. The fire alarm installation company will evaluate your building, work with the Office of the Fire Marshal for an installation permit. A stamped plan prepared by a licensed New York State design professional will review shop drawings which follow the codes and determine which fire alarm components are necessary, how many are required, and where they need to be placed throughout the facility. The licensed design professional and fire & life safety firm will ensure that the new fire alarm system meets all the local requirements and NFPA standards.