The fire department wouldn't sign off on final inspection of low voltage fire alarm system in a new dwelling because the 120volt power supplying the transformer for the system was connected to a receptacle on a branch circuit feeding the garage lights.

He insisted that it must be connected to a circuit that feeds an area such as a bedroom.

I changed things so it was connected to a kitchen lighting circuit and he was OK with that.

He was concerned that if power went out to the garage lighting circuit that the owner may not realize it for some time...

This is in Massachusetts and the system is NOT hard wired 120 volt smoke detectors. This is a monitored (as long as they pay for the service) fire alarm system with battery backup.

Any comments to this and code references?

shortcircuit

They wouldn't notice the continuous beeping of the controller, complaining about the power failure?

I don't think you'll find any code reference on this one. It sounds like a pure judgement call by the AHJ.

I know that the post has to do with a residential issue but I think the inspector should rethink his call. Fire alarm systems unlike single station smoke alarms have a much better alerting system that you might think. If you have off site monitoring there is notification off site and on site. that not only goes for loss of A/C but also low battery plus other troubles. And if you take a lesson from the non-residential fire alarm installations, it will and should be on a dedicated circuit with nothing on it but the fire alarm system with a locking device on the breaker handle and no gfci or afci protection.

Being this is in Mass.

There are no amendments to 527 CMR 12:00 that would require this, I am of the opinion that the State Building Code is silent regarding the source of energy for fire alarm systems (although I do not have one with me).

Multi station smokes are another issue in new construction they would most likely (residntial) require AFCI protection (bedrooms).

Charlie

[This message has been edited by cpal (edited 08-30-2006).]

I agree that this should be done as a commercial job: on its own circuit with a handle lock on device. I'm not sure which code requires this, but I've seen it, that would be a good question for the fire alarm group.

Out of curiosity, what brand/panel did you use for your install? I have a residential customer who's interested in a small addressable system, I'd like to see what others are installing.

Mike

Mike- it's NFPA 72 that ask for breaker lock and dedicated circuit.

George,

Don't you require smoke detectors in residential bedrooms to be on ark fault Breakers?

Smoke detectors and smoke alarms are two different items. "Smoke Alarms" typically of the single station 120v. variety require AFCI protection in bedrooms because they are a 120v. outlet. "Smoke Detectors" on the other hand are usually 12v. and part of a fire alarm system and do not require AFCI protection. Terminology is the difference.

[This message has been edited by George Little (edited 09-01-2006).]

During remodelling and adding new bedrooms, are new smoke alarms tied into an existing circuit required to be upgraded to AFCI, or grandfathered in?

Steve- We heard from Jim Carpenter, CEO and Executive Director of IAEI, that extending a circuit does not mandate AFCI protection. He kinda squirmed when I brought this up from the floor at a Michigan Chapter meeting but that was his answer. He sits on that Code Panel so he should be in a position to answer that question.,