Washington Administrative Code › Title 51 - Enterprise Services, Department of (Building Code Council) › Chapter 51-54A - State Building Code adoption and amendment of the 2021 edition of the International Fire Code › Section 51-54A-0907 - Fire alarm and detection systems

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
907.2.3
Group
			 E.
Group E occupancies shall be provided with a manual fire alarm system
			 that initiates the occupant notification signal utilizing one of the following:
1. An emergency voice/alarm communication
			 system meeting the requirements of Section 907.5.2.2 and installed in
			 accordance with Section 907.6; or
2. A system developed as part of a safe
			 school plan adopted in accordance with
			 RCW
			   28A.320.125 or developed as part of an
			 emergency response system consistent with the provisions of
			 RCW
			   28A.320.126. The system must achieve all of
			 the following performance standards:
2.1 The
			 ability to broadcast voice messages or customized announcements;
2.2 Includes a feature for multiple sounds,
			 including sounds to initiate a lock down;
2.3 The ability to deliver messages to the
			 interior of a building, areas outside of a building as designated pursuant to
			 the safe school plan, and to personnel;
2.4 The ability for two-way
			 communications;
2.5 The ability for
			 individual room calling;
2.6 The
			 ability for a manual override;
2.7
			 Installation in accordance with NFPA 72;
2.8 Provide 15 minutes of battery backup for
			 alarm and 24 hours of battery backup for standby; and
2.9 Includes a program for annual inspection
			 and maintenance in accordance with NFPA 72.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. A manual fire alarm system is not required in Group
						  E occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or less.
2. Emergency voice/alarm communication systems meeting
						  the requirements of Section 907.5.2.2 and installed in accordance with Section
						  907.6 shall not be required in Group E occupancies with occupant loads of 100
						  or less, such as individual portable school classroom buildings; provided that
						  activation of the manual fire alarm system initiates an approved occupant
						  notification signal in accordance with Section 907.5.
3. Where an existing approved alarm system is in place,
						  an emergency voice/alarm system is not required in any portion of an existing
						  Group E building undergoing any one of the following repairs, alteration or
						  addition:
3.1 Alteration or repair to an existing building
						  including, without limitation, alterations to rooms and systems, and/or
						  corridor configurations, not exceeding 35 percent of the fire area of the
						  building (or the fire area undergoing the alteration or repair if the building
						  is comprised of two or more fire areas); or
3.2 An addition to an existing building, not exceeding
						  35 percent of the fire area of the building (or the fire area to which the
						  addition is made if the building is comprised of two or more fire
						  areas).
4. Manual fire alarm boxes are not required in Group E
						  occupancies where all of the following apply:
4.1 Interior corridors are protected by smoke
						  detectors.
4.2 Auditoriums, cafeterias, gymnasiums and similar
						  areas are protected by heat detectors or other approved detection
						  devices.
4.3 Shops and laboratories involving dusts or vapors
						  are protected by heat detectors or other approved detection devices.
5. Manual fire alarm boxes shall not be required in
						  Group E occupancies where all of the following apply:
5.1 The building is equipped throughout with an
						  approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section
						  903.3.1.1.
5.2 The emergency voice/alarm communication system will
						  activate on sprinkler waterflow.
5.3 Manual activation is provided from a normally
						  occupied location.
907.2.3.1
Sprinkler systems or
			 detection.
When automatic sprinkler systems or smoke detectors are
			 installed, such systems or detectors shall be connected to the building fire
			 alarm system.
907.2.6.1
Group
			 I-1.
An automatic smoke detection system shall be installed in
corridors
, waiting areas open to
corridors
and
habitable spaces
other than
sleeping
			 units
and kitchens. The system shall be activated in accordance with
			 Section 907.4.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. For Group I-1 Condition 1 occupancies, smoke
						  detection in
habitable spaces
is not required where the
						  facility is equipped throughout with an
automatic sprinkler
						  system
installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
2. Smoke detection is not required for exterior
						  balconies.
907.2.6.4
Group I-4 occupancies.
A manual fire alarm system that initiates the occupant notification signal
			 utilizing an emergency voice/alarm communication system meeting the
			 requirements of Section 907.5.2.2 and installed in accordance with Section
			 907.6 shall be installed in Group I-4 occupancies. When automatic sprinkler
			 systems or smoke detectors are installed, such systems or detectors shall be
			 connected to the building fire alarm system.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. A manual fire alarm system is not required in Group
						  I-4 occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or less.
2. Emergency voice alarm communication systems meeting
						  the requirements of Section 907.5.2.2 and installed in accordance with Section
						  907.6 shall not be required in Group I-4 occupancies with occupant loads of 100
						  or less, provided that activation of the manual fire alarm system initiates an
						  approved occupant notification signal in accordance with Section 907.5.
907.2.11.1
Group R-1.
Single or
			 multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed in all of the following
			 locations in Group R-1:
1. In sleeping
			 areas.
2. In each
loft
constructed in accordance with Section 420.13 of the
International Building Code
.
3. In every room in the path of the means of
			 egress from the sleeping area to the door leading from the sleeping
			 unit.
4. In each story within the
			 sleeping unit, including basements. For sleeping units with split levels and
			 without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm
			 installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level
			 provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper
			 level.
907.2.11.2
Groups R-2, R-3, R-4, and I-1.
Single- or multiple-station smoke alarms
			 shall be installed and maintained in Groups R-2, R-3, R-4, and I-1 regardless
			 of occupant load at all of the following locations:
1. On the ceiling or wall outside of each
			 separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms.
2. In each room used for sleeping
			 purposes.
3. In each
loft
constructed in accordance with Section 420.13 of the
			 International Building Code.
4. In
			 each story within a
dwelling unit
, including
basements
but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable
			 attics. In
dwellings
or
dwelling units
with
			 split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a
			 smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower
			 level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper
			 level.
907.5.2.1.2
Maximum sound pressure.
The maximum sound pressure level for
			 audible alarm notification appliances shall be 110 dBA at the minimum hearing
			 distance from the audible appliance. For systems operating in public mode, the
			 maximum sound pressure level shall not exceed 30 dBA over the average ambient
			 sound level. Where the average ambient noise is greater than 95 dBA, visible
			 alarm notification appliances shall be provided in accordance with NFPA 72 and
			 audible alarm notification appliances shall not be required.
907.8.4.1
Testing/maintenance:
All inspection, testing, maintenance and programing not defined as
			 "
electrical construction trade
" by chapter 19.28 RCW shall be
			 completed by a NICET II or ESA/NTS Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level
			 II Fire in fire alarms (effective July 1, 2018).