Philadelphia Fire Code
Philadelphia Fire Code
(OP)
I have a question about Philadelphia fire code for fire safety systems, I work for a management company and I have tried to get them to certify the fire safety systems and someone came in and failed them because the system did not have sirens in the bedrooms. I looked up the code and there are supposed to be sirens in the bedrooms to wake someone from deep sleep in case of a fire. But the owner of the management company thinks because the systems where installed 25 years ago he is grandfathered in, is this true? Second I have attempted to get him to install monitoring with a central station for each building which he refuses to also! I am trying to be preventative and bring the buildings up to safety standards and he is fighting me. I called fire codes in Philadelphia and they told be to call building and housing because they don't deal with the codes. I am surrounded by stupid. So it seems I cannot find someone competent to guide me in order to convince him that these changes need to be made. Thanks for any help





RE: Philadelphia Fire Code
http://www.phila.gov/fire/pdfs/bldg_preparation.pd...
http://www.phila.gov/fire/units_and_services/servi...
You might call and try and talk directly to the fire marshal.
As far as your questions yes the bedroom sounders are more than likely not have to be installed, unless pa has a retrofit provision or remodel work is done.
As far as monitoring similar answer but seems like that should be in place no matter what year the building was built
How many stories is the building??
RE: Philadelphia Fire Code
Thanks
RE: Philadelphia Fire Code
I think PA has a state code. I do not think the cities can modify it.
Normally a fire protection system is installed under a certain standard, which the standard is updated, norrmally every three years.
But, normally a fire protection system is allowed to exist as is long as it met the standard adopted at the time of installation. Sometimes the more current standard can have retro fit provisions, but not normal.
Or a state/city can add retro fit provisions.
Not sure which 2012 NFPA manual you are looking at??
"""The UCC Administration and Enforcement regulation has adopted the following codes for use throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, effective 12/31/2012. Only the appendices specified after each code name have been adopted (in addition to the code itself)."""
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/com...
RE: Philadelphia Fire Code
RE: Philadelphia Fire Code
An annual test is just that, does the system work and installed equipement in good shape.
The annual test would not require any systems updated normally.
Once again the way fire protection standards are written, is normally " if a system was installed per the standard adopted at time of isntallation" it normally is not required to meet a more current standard.
RE: Philadelphia Fire Code
For example, many old buildings have pipe schedule systems. Those are only permitted in very few circumstances under the current requirements. However, as long as the building has not changed occupancy (or other things that cause an update requirement), the system is typically considered acceptable.
The annual inspections are to make sure things are in working mechanical order. It is not the purpose of the NFPA 25 inspection to do an engineering analysis of the system each year.
Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC
www.mfpdesign.com
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