In October, I listed some of the significant changes proposed for the 2019 edition of the NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. This month, I cover more of the important proposed changes. Keep in mind that this is based on the public input stage. The public comment meetings will not be held until next year, but it is always good to keep up on the future of our codes and standards and be prepared.


The 2018 International Fire Code is proposing to delete the list of requirements for shop drawings in Section 907 and simply refer to the list of minimum required documentation in Chapter 7 of NFPA 72, so a couple of items are proposed to be added to pick up the key points from the IFC. This is a good move to avoid future conflicts.


New annex material is proposed for the current item 7.2.1(11) for pathways between the control unit and supervising station. That section is being reworded, and the new annex materials describe what kind of documentation should be provided for the newer performance-based technologies used for transmitting signals from the fire alarm panel to the supervising station, such as internet protocol (IP), cellular and mesh radio. This should provide a better understanding for designers and installers.


In the design documentation section, 7.3, a new Annex note to 7.3.3 adds some interesting language: “A.7.3.3–The architect/engineer preparing bid documents should not simply require a contractor to install a fire alarm system in accordance with codes, but rather outline the intended minimum performance criteria to be achieved in accordance with 7.3, with guidance from A.7.3.3.”


There are more requirements being placed on the designer of the system to make them more accountable for their designs.


Chapter 10, Fundamentals, changes include guidance for mounting heights of control equipment: “10.4.4* Fire alarm control unit displays and controls which includes visible indicators shall be mounted such that the distance to the highest switch, lamp or textual display does not exceed 5.5 ft (1.7 m) above the finished floor and the lowest switch, lamp or textual display shall not be less than 1.5 ft (0.4 m) above the finished floor.”


There are also a number of changes in the power supply section of Chapter 10. Some are simply terminology changes, such as “electrochemical energy storage systems” being used in place of uninterruptible power supply systems. Some of the other new terminology includes “chemical energy storage system,” “mechanical energy storage system” and “thermal energy storage system.” None of these terms were previously used in NFPA 72.


Proposed changes in Chapter 14, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance (ITM), include a new paragraph to coordinate ITM for NFPA 72 and NFPA 25 to better ensure the systems operate as intended. A number of changes were made in Table 14.3.1 for visual inspections regarding batteries. Lead-acid and sealed lead-acid batteries are being replaced with valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries, and nickel-cadmium batteries are being deleted. New testing requirements for carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and detectors are being added to Table 14.4.3.2 now that CO detection will be included in NFPA 72.


In Chapter 17, Initiating Devices, the section on air-sampling type smoke detectors, 17.7.3.6, has been totally rewritten to provide better clarity of the requirements for these detectors. The major change in this chapter is the addition of system-type CO detectors.


Chapter 18, Notification Appliances, added requirements for CO signals and changed some terminology for visible notification appliances instead of strobes and loudspeakers instead of speakers. Requirements for strobe lights are still a major point of contention, more from the manufacturers perspective than installers.


Chapter 21, Emergency Control Function Interfaces, clarified the “three foot rule” for control modules: “21.2.4* Emergency control function interface devices shall be located within 3 ft (10.9 m) of the component controlling the emergency control function where the control circuit is not configured as a Class D circuit.” This should reduce misinterpretations of requiring control modules within 3 feet of controlled equipment for fail-safe circuits.


Chapter 24, Emergency Communications Systems, removed requirements for in-building radio enhancement systems because they were relocated to NFPA 1221 for fire department communications. Changes were made to clarify survivability requirements for pathways in building having less than 2-hour fire-rated construction. Most of the rest of the changes were minor wording changes.


Last but not least, Chapter 26, Supervising Stations, 26.2.1.3, added language about three ways signals are retransmitted from the supervising station, by zone, by point ID or by event. They also added requirements for transmission of CO signals. Other changes include adding a 15-minute grace period for reporting trouble signals because some communication methods will self-restore quickly, such as IP communications. 


The committee added “managed facilities-based voice networks” to public-switched telephone network in anticipation of the public-switched networks going away.


Those are the main changes being proposed at this time. Most will make it and some won’t, but it never hurts to get a better understanding of tomorrow’s requirements.