[Adopted 12-10-1979 by Ord. No. 440 as
Secs. 4-8 to 4-13 of the 1979 Code]
Every building or structure not exceeding 40
feet in height above the mean grade erected or substantially altered
to be occupied for residential purposes shall be protected throughout
with an automatic fire warning system equipped with automatic smoke
detection devices or automatic smoke and heat detection devices primarily
intended for the protection of life by indication of abnormal conditions
as hereinafter provided, except that the installation of such automatic
fire warning systems shall not be required in buildings or structures
subject to the provisions of the general laws relative to the installation
of automatic sprinkler systems and automatic fire warning systems
connected thereto.
A.
Such a system shall conform to the requirements of
the most recent editions of National Fire Code Standard No. 101 relative
to life safety and of National Fire Code Standard No. 74 relative
to household fire warning equipment adopted by the National Fire Protection
Association.
B.
Automatic smoke detection devices or automatic smoke
and heat detection devices which comprise such a system shall conform
to and be installed and tested periodically as specified by the most
recent provisions of the Life Safety Code, National Fire Protection
Association 101, and Household Fire Warning Equipment, National Fire
Protection Association No. 74.
For buildings and structures occupied for residential
purposes not exceeding 30 feet in height above mean grade or containing
12 or fewer dwelling units, such automatic fire warning system shall
initiate the sounding of an audible alarm capable of being heard in
all occupied areas of the building or structure.
For buildings and structures occupied for residential
purposes exceeding 30 feet in height above mean grade, but not exceeding
40 feet in height above mean grade, or containing more than 12 dwelling
units, such automatic fire warning system shall initiate the sounding
of an audible alarm capable of being heard in all occupied areas of
the floor on which the alarm is initiated; and shall register the
location of the alarm at a specified location in the building or structure.
A.
Approval.
(1)
Three sets of drawings and equipment specifications
shall be submitted to the inspector of buildings, showing locations
of and type of equipment to be used for all fire alarm systems. Floor
plans, customarily submitted to the inspector of buildings, may include
this information and will be deemed suitable for submission to obtain
the fire alarm system and building permit.
(2)
All equipment shall bear the approval of a recognized
testing laboratory for conformance with minimum standards for which
the equipment shall be used.
(3)
No occupancy permit shall be issued by the inspector
of buildings for any structure requiring a fire alarm system until
the wiring inspector and Fire Department have inspected and tested
the fire alarm system for conformance with the above amendments and
to the satisfaction of both.
B.
General.
(1)
All devices shall be so located and mounted that accidental
operation will not be caused by jarring and/or vibration.
(2)
All systems shall be restored to normal working condition
as promptly as possible after each alarm or test.
(3)
Upon completion of the fire alarm system, the installer,
in the presence of the householder and/or the builder, shall test
each self-restoring device for proper operation. He shall then instruct
the owner on the operation and maintenance of the system. The installer
shall also supply the owner with the following:
(4)
All installations shall be installed, as illustrated
by the drawings entitled "Minimum Locations for Automatic Fire Warning
System, Johnston Fire Department," and shall comply with the requirements
of N.F.P.A. Booklets No. 74 (latest edition), 101 and 70-1975.
(5)
No automatic fire warning system shall be connected
to a telephone dial for notification to fire headquarters.
C.
Power supplies.
(1)
All power supplies shall be capable of operating the
alarm signals for at least four continuous minutes.
(2)
Batteries are not acceptable as a primary source of
power.
(3)
An AC power supply shall have a visible "power on"
indicator.
(4)
Batteries, when used as a secondary source, shall
be of the storage type.
D.
Equipment.
(1)
If a combination fire-burglar system is used, the
fire alarm signal shall take preference.
(2)
The fire alarm signal shall be distinctive from the
burglar system.
(3)
Smoke detectors shall be used in conjunction with
other approved detector devices.
(4)
Heat detectors shall be of an approved type designed
to operate by rate of rise.
(5)
Every heat or smoke detecting device shall cause the
operation of alarm signaling devices which shall be clearly audible
in all bedrooms, with all intervening doors closed.
(6)
There shall also be an outside alarm sounding device
or devices.
(7)
All alarm signaling devices shall be rated not less
that 85 decibels at 10 feet.
(8)
The control equipment shall be automatically restoring
on restoration of electrical power.
(9)
The control equipment shall be of a type that "locks
in" on an alarm condition. Smoke detection circuits need not lock
in.
(10)
If a reset switch is provided, it shall be a
self-restoring type.
(11)
An alarm silencing switch shall not be provided
unless its silenced position is indicated by a trouble signal.
(12)
Each electrical fire warning system shall have
a self-restoring test button or means to permit the householder to
check the system.
(13)
Smoke detectors may be tested by using smoke
instead of the test button.
(14)
These regulations require a detector circuit
where a break in the wiring will not cause an alarm signal, but will
cause an audible trouble signal, using either a closed loop detector
circuit or normally open contact detectors with end of line resistor
or equivalent.
E.
Detector type, location and spacing.
(1)
Smoke detectors shall be located in the immediate
vicinity of, but outside, the bedrooms, corridors, hallways and cellarways.
(2)
Heat detectors.
(a)
Heat detectors shall be provided in all areas
of the house, including living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen,
hallway, attics, furnace rooms, utility rooms, basements, attached
garages, closets and all small partitioned-off storage areas.
(b)
Heat detectors shall be installed within the
strict limitation of their listed spacing.
(c)
Spot-type detectors shall be installed as near
the centers of the areas they protect as practicable.
(d)
On level ceilings with open joists or beams,
all detectors should be mounted on the bottom of such joists or beams.
(e)
If heat detectors must be installed on the wall,
they should be located in the area between six inches and 12 inches
from the ceiling.
(f)
Reduced spacing may be required due to structural
characteristics of the protected area, possible drafts or other conditions
affecting detector operation. Detectors installed on a joisted ceiling
should have their smooth ceiling spacing reduced where this spacing
is measured at right angles to solid joists. In the case of spot detectors,
this spacing should not exceed 1/2 of the listed spacing.
(g)
The head of the Fire Department may require
additional protection as the case may warrant.
