Happy New Year to all of you! Each year, I like to start out with a column on fire alarm changes for new editions of the codes. We begin with the 2018 International Building Code (IBC). As a reminder, the fire alarm requirements are developed in the International Fire Code (IFC) and copied into the Building Code. More states use the IBC rather than the IFC, so that is why I chose the IBC instead of the IFC.
As I mentioned in the December issue, a major change for 2018 is the addition of a reference to NFPA 4, Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing, to 901.6.2. For some reason, NFPA 4 did not get added to Chapter 35, Referenced Standards.
Other significant changes include the elimination of the list of minimum required documents that was in 907.1.2, Fire Alarm Shop Drawings, in 2015. Instead, this paragraph now points to NFPA 72. Specifically, the intent is to point to the shop drawing requirements in Chapter 7 of NFPA 72, so there will be just one list instead of two. This should help reduce conflicts going forward. The NFPA 72 list in 7.2.1 includes the same requirements that were in the IBC and IFC. Some wording changes were proposed and accepted for the 2019 NFPA 72 to better match what was in the I-Codes.
A new threshold was added to Group A occupancies that adds a requirement for a manual fire alarm system when the occupant load is greater than 100 above or below the lowest level of exit discharge instead of just 300 or more total occupancy load. As I recall, this was added so the threshold for assembly is not lower than it is for Group B (Business) occupancies and because occupants are less familiar with the surroundings.
A minor change was made to the exception to 907.2.6. It used to say manual fire alarm boxes are not required at exits in sleeping units “provided that such manual fire alarm boxes are visible and continuously accessible.” “Continuously accessible” was changed to “provided with ready access” with “ready access” in italics, indicating it is a definition. However, I did not find a new definition in either Chapter 2 or Chapter 9.
The entire section on Group R-4 was eliminated. The proponent’s reason was that the requirements for a manual fire alarm system and an automatic smoke detection system in a facility with 16 or fewer residents is unwarranted. Such a system would not be required in an apartment building until there were at least 16 apartments—which potentially have many more people.
A new high-rise requirement for emergency voice/alarm communications systems (EVACS) was added to require the system to be a multiple-channel system for buildings with an occupied floor more than 120 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access to allow a message to be broadcast to those floors closest to the fire area and a second message broadcast to other areas as needed.
A new section requiring an automatic smoke detection system was added for areas containing capacitor energy storage systems, per Section 1206.3 of the IFC.
A modification was made to the language for the stadium, arenas and grandstand captioning requirement, adding a 15,000 fixed-seat threshold that will require prerecorded or real-time captioning by the EVACS.
The last few editions have had a number of changes for the ability to add strobe lights in R-2 occupancies (apartments). Originally, the IFC referenced ICC A117.1, and the common interpretation was that wiring and a back box was required in all apartments and bedrooms of all apartments in case a strobe light was required to be added for a self-identifying hard-of-hearing or deaf person. It was felt that this was excessive and costly, since very few apartments would ever actually have the need to add the strobe light. There has been discussion about how the language could be changed to still allow installation of a strobe light without having to prewire every apartment and bedroom.
In 2018, it now states “Such capacity shall accommodate wired or wireless equipment. The future capability shall include one of the following:
- The interconnection of the building fire alarm system with the unit smoke alarms.
- The replacement of audible appliances with combination audible/visible appliances.
- The future extension of the existing wiring from the unit smoke alarm locations to required locations for visible appliances.”
Rest assured there will be proposals to tweak this again during the next cycle. If you are having issues with this section, or have any suggested modified language, let me know.
These are the significant changes for fire alarms in the 2018 IBC and IFC. There were only minor changes to Section 915, Carbon Monoxide Detection.
About The Author
HAMMERBERG, SET, CFPS, is an independent fire alarm presenter and consultant currently residing in The Villages, Fla. Tom represented the Automatic Fire Alarm Association on multiple NFPA technical committees as well as actively participating in the ICC code making process for many years. He is NICET Level IV certified in fire alarm systems and a Certified Fire Protection Specialist. He can be reached at [email protected].
