Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Safety and Professional Services › SPS 301-399 - Safety, Buildings, and Environment › SPS 375-379 - Buildings Constructed Prior to 1914 › Chapter SPS 375 - Definitions and general requirements › Section SPS 375.29 - Fire alarm systems

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) Interior fire alarm systems required
				  under ss.
				  SPS 376.11,
				  378.08 and shall be 379.18 designed
				  and constructed in conformity with the following requirements.
(2) All such alarm systems shall consist of
				  operating stations on each floor of the building, including the basement, with
				  bells, horns, or other approved sounding devices which are effective throughout
				  the building. The system shall be so arranged that the operation of any one
				  station will actuate all alarm devices connected to the system except in the
				  case of a presignal system. Fire alarms shall be readily distinguishable from
				  any other signaling devices used in the building. A system designed for fire
				  alarm and paging service may be used if the design is such that fire alarm
				  signals will have precedence over all others.
(3) Every fire alarm system shall be
				  electrically operated except as stated in s.
				  SPS 378.08 and shall
				  be operated on closed circuit current under constant electrical supervision, so
				  arranged that upon a circuit opening and remaining open, or in case of a ground
				  or short circuit in the ungrounded conductor, audible trouble signals will be
				  given instantly.
(4) In buildings
				  more than 3 stories in height, coded fire alarm systems shall be provided, and
				  the systems shall be so arranged that the code transmitted shall indicate the
				  location and the story of the structure in which the signal
				  originated.
(4m) In apartment
				  buildings less than 6 stories in height and having less than 5,000 square feet
				  area per floor, non-coded, electrically supervised, continuous ringing fire
				  alarm systems will be accepted.
(5)
				  Operating stations shall be prominently located in an accessible position at
				  all required exit doors and required exit stairways. Operating stations shall
				  be of an approved type and shall be conspicuously identified. All such
				  operating stations shall be of a type, which after being operated, will
				  indicate that an alarm has been sent therefrom until reset by an authorized
				  means. (Operating stations having a "Break Glass" panel will be acceptable. On
				  coded systems having a device to permanently record the transmission of an
				  alarm, "Open Door" type stations may be used.) The fire alarm operating
				  stations shall be mounted approximately 5 feet above the finished floor as
				  measured from the floor to the center of the box.
(6) All such alarm systems shall be tested at
				  least once a week and a record of such tests shall be kept.
(7) Existing fire alarm systems that are
				  effective in operation will be accepted if approved by the department.
Note: The following sections are taken from the Wisconsin
					 state electrical code.
(9)
				  The energy for operation of fire alarm systems shall be taken from sources
				  suited to the design of the system. Primary batteries shall not be
				  used.
(10) A 3 wire 110-220 volt
				  service will be accepted for supervised systems, providing the operating
				  current is secured from one ungrounded conductor and the neutral or grounded
				  conductor and the current for operation of trouble signal (or signals) is
				  secured from the other ungrounded conductor and the neutral or grounded
				  conductor.
(11) Electrical wiring
				  in connection with fire alarm systems shall be installed in rigid metal
				  conduit, flexible metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing or surface metal
				  raceway, armored cable (metal) may be used where it can be fished in hollow
				  spaces of walls or partitions in apartments or rooming houses not over 3
				  stories in height. Where the wiring is subject to excessive moisture or severe
				  mechanical injury, rigid metal conduit shall be used. The smallest size
				  conductor to be used in any fire alarm system in a building over 3 stories in
				  height shall be #14 AWG, or #16 AWG for buildings not over 3 stories in height.
				  The wires shall be provided with insulation suitable for use on circuits not
				  exceeding 600 volts. Fire alarm systems shall be connected to the line side of
				  the service switch or to the emergency bus, where available, through an
				  approved fire alarm cut-out or equivalent.