Florida Administrative Code › 61 - DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION › 61G15 - Board of Professional Engineers › Chapter 61G15-32 - RESPONSIBILITY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS CONCERNING THE DESIGN OF FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS › Section 61G15-32.008 - Design of Fire Alarms, Signaling Systems, and Control Systems

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Fire alarms and detection systems include
				fire protection supervision, emergency alarm circuits, activation of life
				safety system controls and remote signaling of emergency conditions. Items to
				be considered in the design or analysis of fire alarm and detection systems
				are, as applicable to the particular project: occupancy and classification,
				monitoring, control and communication, cabling and supervision requirements,
				installation requirements, interoperability and performance
				requirements.
(2) The design
				specifications shall be based on the Florida Building Code, the Florida Fire
				Prevention Code, or as required by the local authority having jurisdiction. The
				Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code are incorporated by
				reference in Rule 61G15-18.011, F.A.C.
(3) For Engineering Documents pertaining to
				Fire Protection Systems exempted by the threshold requirements for mandatory
				use of professional engineering services, the Engineer of Record shall
				determine the level of detail shown on plans for a Fire Protection system. All
				such plans shall include a disclaimer stating the Fire Protection system is
				exempt from professional engineering services and shall provide a clear
				understanding of the minimum system requirements expected to be installed by
				the contractor and permitted by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). In the
				event the Engineer of Record provides more information and direction than is
				minimally required, he or she shall be held responsible for the technical
				accuracy of the work in accordance with applicable codes, standards, and sound
				engineering principles.
(4) To
				ensure minimum design quality of Fire Alarm and Detection Systems Engineering
				Documents, said documents shall include as a minimum the following information
				when applicable:
(a) The documents shall be
				clear, with a symbols legend, system riser diagram showing all initiation and
				notification components, and cabling requirements. The documents shall indicate
				locations where fire ratings are required as determined by the system's
				survivability requirements, and shall identify the general occupancy of the
				protected property and each room and area unless it is clear from features
				shown.
(b) Locate initiation and
				notification devices and connections to related systems on the floor plans and
				sections when needed for clarity. Related systems include elevator controls,
				smoke control systems, dampers, door release, any other systems or elements
				directly or indirectly controlled or monitored.
(c) Strobe intensity and speaker output
				ratings for all notification devices.
(d) Identify the Class of circuits as listed
				in NFPA 72, which is contained within and incorporated into the Florida Fire
				Prevention Code.
(e) Identify the
				functions required by the alarm and control systems including the transmission
				of emergency signals being monitored or annunciated.
(f) Indicate whether the fire alarm is
				conventional zoned or digital addressable, and indicate all zoning.
(g) Locate surge protective devices and
				required protective features.
(h)
				Identify and locate system devices that are subject to environmental factors,
				and indicate requirements for the protection of equipment from temperature,
				humidity or corrosive atmospheres, including coastal salt air.
(i) The documents shall include a site plan
				of the immediate area around the protected building, structure or equipment
				when alarm devices are required outside the structure.
(j) In buildings where smoke detection will
				be obstructed by walls, beams or ceiling features, the Engineer of Record shall
				provide applicable design and details to direct the installer to mitigate the
				obstructions. In buildings with smoke detection under a pitched roof, the plans
				shall indicate the roof pitch and a building section shall be provided as part
				of the Engineering Design Documents.
(k) For fire detection systems utilizing
				smoke detection in situations where smoke stratification is anticipated, the
				design shall provide the necessary criteria to mitigate the detection
				problems.
(l) Systems designed
				using Performance Based criteria shall be identified and referenced to design
				guides or standards approved by the local authority having jurisdiction
				consistent with standards adopted by the Florida Fire Prevention Code and the
				Florida Building Code.
(m) The
				system design must indicate if the system is to provide a general evacuation
				signal or a zoned evacuation for all high-rise buildings or multi-tenanted
				properties as defined in section 2 of the Florida Building Code,
				Building.
(n) Wiring requirements
				for underground, wet locations, campus style wiring, protection against damage
				and burial depth shall be specified or indicated on the engineering design
				documents.
(o) Requirements for
				operations and maintenance procedures, manuals, system documentation, and
				instruction of Owner's operating personnel, as needed to operate the systems as
				intended.