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Water flow horn strobe to activate separately from general alarm

Water flow horn strobe to activate separately from general alarm

Water flow horn strobe to activate separately from general alarm

(OP)
I have a fire inspector questioning whether the horn strobe above the FDC can activate on general alarm or must activate only on water flow and sound with a distinct sound from the other notification devices. I have set it up this way on high rise buildings in Las Vegas and I do think the inspector is correct I just want to be able to prove it to my management with code references when I bring the issue up. I have done my research but have only found this to be of any use.

"APPROVED AUDIBLE DEVICES SHALL BE CONNECTED TO EVERY AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER
SYSTEM. Such sprinkler water-flow alarm devices shall BE ACTIVATED BY WATER
FLOW equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice
size installed in the system. ALARM DEVICES SHALL BE PROVIDED ON THE
EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN APPROVED LOCATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
CONSTRUCTION CODE IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION OR N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.
Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler
system shall actuate the building fire alarm system.

This says it shall be activated by water flow but makes no mention of the fact that it shall not sound on a general alarm, such as a smoke, or must be distinct from the other notification devices.

Thanks for any help you might be able to give.

RE: Water flow horn strobe to activate separately from general alarm

I do not think it is spelled out.

More of a local thing, what they want.

We want any outside strobe to activate on general alarm, so the firefighters know which buidling, if multiple buildings and also to let them know it is still active, unless someone silenced or reset it.

We also require the monitoring company to report a seperate waterflow signal to our dispatch, so they already know that it is waterflow and not general fire alarm.


RE: Water flow horn strobe to activate separately from general alarm

It's a Vegas thing so you need to be talking to Clark County or whomever the AHJ is. We're an internet forum and our opinion is not going to do you any good as you are dealing with a local issue.

RE: Water flow horn strobe to activate separately from general alarm

Nota all types of ocupancies require both sprinkler and fire alarm (NFPA 1, NFPA 101), so the code does not make a difference on the initiating device identification. Where only sprinklers are required which is the main minimum goal to promote for the NFPA, an alarm must sound to know the sprinklers work as fire detectors.

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