In June 2015, NFPA members met to hear arguments on motions to change the technical committee actions on a number of codes and standards, including the 2016 NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. The next step in the process is for the NFPA Standards Council to approve and issue the new document. Since some jurisdictions adopt codes as soon as they are released, I’d like to take this opportunity to fill you in on some of the substantial changes. Keep in mind that, until any appeals have been processed, all information is subject to change. No new chapters were added in 2016, so the layout will remain the same as 2013.


Site-specific software requirements are a frequently discussed issue. There has always been confusion about what exactly must be turned over to the owner at job completion. In 2016, some language changes were made to make the requirement clearer. Paragraph 7.5.7.1.1 now states: “The site-specific software documentation shall include both the user password and either the system programming password or specific instructions on how to obtain the programming password from the system manufacturer.” 


Also, a new 7.5.7.1.2 states: “The passwords provided shall enable currently certified qualified programming personnel to access, edit, modify, and add to the existing system site-
specific software.”


Other Chapter 7, Documentation, revisions were made to the Record of Completion and Record of Inspection and Testing Forms. I’m not aware of any major changes to the forms. The committee changed the language to clarify that the actual Record of Completion and Record of Inspection and Testing forms are not required as long as you include all of the applicable information on your form for the particular installation or test.


A new qualification requirement for Plans Examiners and Inspectors was added to Chapter 10, Fundamentals. Since designers, installers, service and testing personnel, and supervising station operators are required to be qualified, the authority having jurisdiction should be qualified as well. In addition, new qualification requirements were added for Public Emergency Alarm Reporting System personnel. For the most part, this will only affect areas that still use master boxes to transmit signals to a receiving location.


When notification appliances are deactivated, NFPA 72 requires the audible and visible signals to be deactivated simultaneously. There is new annex material (A.10.12.2) that addresses notifying people outside the building that the alarm is still being investigated. This annex section recommends installing an audible and visible appliance on a separate nonsilenceable circuit outside near the building’s entrance.


In Chapter 12, Circuits and Pathways, the most significant change was the addition of Class N pathways. This new class provides for the use of Ethernet and local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) in fire alarm systems, fire emergency voice/alarm communication system (EVACS) and mass notification systems. Another change allows the use of “fire-resistive” cables instead of CI cables where you have survivability requirements. Also, “performance alternative” replaces the “two-hour performance alternative” because some occupancies do not need a two-hour fire rating.


At the NFPA technical session, one certified amending motion (CAM) for Chapter 14, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance, would have changed the testing frequency for sprinkler control valves back from annual to semi-annual. The frequency was inadvertently changed in 2013 during modifications to the testing table, and the committee sought to return it to the original language. The motion was defeated, so the test frequency for sprinkler control valves will remain as annual in the 2016 code. The language in Chapter 14 for In-Building Emergency Radio Systems was removed and relocated in NFPA 1221.


Chapter 17, Initiating Devices, doesn’t have any new requirements, but some of the current language was amended to clarify some requirements. For example, in 17.5.3.1, the language concerning “total coverage” has changed to allow portions of buildings to have total detector coverage where required by a code. Also eliminated from the requrement is the wording “the inside of all closets, elevator shafts, enclosed stairways, dumbwaiter shafts and chutes.” 


In 17.7.1.11.1 and 17.7.1.11.2, “commissioning” was changed to “acceptance testing.” This seems minor, but now that NFPA 3 covers commissioning, it had the potential of being easily misinterpreted. In 17.4.7, when installing remote indicators for hidden detectors, the language changed from “smoke detectors” to “fire detectors.” Now any concealed detector, whether smoke or heat, would require a remote indicator unless indicated at the control unit. In Figure 17.7.5.6.5.3(B), showing the location of smoke detectors used for door release, the committee added a tolerance of plus or minus 24 inches from the centerline of the doorway. This will make it easier to install detectors used for door release. The last change for Chapter 17 is A.17.12.2, allowing the waterflow time delay to be controlled by either the waterflow switch adjustment or by the control unit.


Next month, I will cover the changes in the remaining chapters.