2.01 Fire Alarm Submittal

Reference: 2007 C.B.C. Section 907.1.1, 2002 NFPA 72 sec. 4.3.2

The California Building Code, Section 106 requires that all fire alarm system installations, repairs, alterations, and upgrades of existing systems be approved by the San Francisco Fire Department. Detailed plans shall be submitted to the San Francisco Fire Department Plan Checking Unit.
The following information shall be provided when plans are submitted for a building permit to install or modify a fire alarm system. Working plans shall be drawn to an indicated scale (not smaller than 1/8" = 1'), on sheets of uniform size (11" x 17" minimum), with a plan of each floor. Plans must be microfilmable. The scope of work must be indicated and the standards used must be referenced (e.g. N.F.P.A. 72, NEC, SFEC).

The following notes shall be incorporated as verbatim notes on the plans:

1. The fire alarm system shall be designed and installed in accordance with the City of San Francisco requirements, NFPA 72, 2002 Edition, and other applicable NFPA Standards as adopted by the City of San Francisco.

2. The primary power source for the FACP and remote power supplies shall be from a dedicated circuit. This circuit shall be labeled at both the electrical sub panel and on the inside of the FACP/Power supply door, and be provided with a circuit lock (if it is not installed in a locked room).

3. A readily visible sign shall identify the location of the FACP indicating: "Fire Alarm Control Panel".

These items must be included in the plans:

(A) Names of owner and occupant;
(B) Address of building, including assessor's block and lot number;
(C) Contractor's name, address, telephone number, and license number;
(D) Two sets of plans with the wet signature and stamp of the engineer, architect or C-10 design-build contractor. Designers name must be clearly indicated. High-rise buildings require an engineers stamp and signature.
(E) Symbol list;
(F) Point of compass and full-height cross section of schematic diagram of building, if required for clarity, including ceiling construction and height;
(G) Locations of partitions and walls, indicating which ones extend through concealed spaces;
(H) Use of each area or room;
(I) Location of each device;
(J) Mounting heights of manual fire alarm boxes and visual notification appliances;
(K) Equipment list showing quantity, make, model, and CSFM listing sheet of each device;
(L) Manufacturer's specification sheets (may be loose leaf), highlight all proposed parts;
(M) Type and size of wire, cable, and conduit (include conduit fill ratio); Specify wire types, sizes and number of conductors between all devices/components on all shop drawings floor plans.
(N) Single line riser diagram; The single line Riser Diagram shall show all wire types, sizes and number of conductors to be coordinated with the floor plans.
(O) Point-to-point wiring diagram between all panels and typical devices, modules and appliances;
(P) Wiring diagram showing the connection to primary power source;
(Q) Standby battery calculations for notification appliance circuits;
(R) Voltage drop calculations (If modifying a system show calculations of circuits in work area.);
(S) Sequence-of-operation description or matrix; Provide a Sequence of Operation Matrix using the format of NFPA 72,2002 Edition Figure A.10.6.2.3(9). See Example matrix in the attached addendum A below;
(T) Type of system (i.e., central station, protected premises etc.) and identification of zones transmitted, if any;
(U) Assignment of class and/or style designation to device circuits based on their performance capabilities under abnormal conditions. (This does not apply for addressable initiating device circuits.);
(V) Description of annunciation zones or list of device locations and their addresses. If LED style panel is required per San Francisco Fire Code Administrative Bulletin 3.1 or 3.2, provide a schematic of the panel for review;
(W) For partial evacuation buildings or for buildings having large floor areas, unusual designs with area separation walls, or multiple buildings served by one fire alarm system, Graphic Annunciator may be required. The location and configuration of the Graphic Annunciator may be required. The location and configuration of the Graphic Annunciator shall be discussed with SFFD during a pre-application meeting.
(X) Voice message content and languages;
(Y) Description of ancillary features and operations (e.g., type of smoke control system, fire/smoke damper operation, fan shutdown, special extinguishing systems etc.);
(Z) Description of any special features such as detector cross zoning or alarm verification;
(AA) Name of alarm service company (including UL No.) which will be responsible initially for inspection, testing, and maintenance of the system after it is accepted;
(BB) If system is to be monitored by a Central Station, give name and UL listing number;
(CC) Describe the degree the building is protected by automatic sprinklers. Is the elevator hoistway and/or the elevator machine room protected by sprinklers?
(DD) In high-rise buildings if relocation of occupants is required provide the building Life Safety Program.
(EE) In partial evacuation buildings, show how system survivability is achieved (2-hour integrity cable. 2-hour shaft, etc.)
(FF) Sprinkler monitoring systems shall be provided with an interior waterflow alarm to be located in a normally occupied location. A sign or a placard stating: "Waterflow Alarm" shall be mounted adjacent to the waterflow alarm.
(GG) Sprinkler monitoring systems shall be provided with a single manual fire alarm box to initiate fire alarm signal. The fire alarm box shall be installed adjacent to FACP.
(HH) Battery capacity and voltage drop calculations shall use the UL Max currents as indicated on the catalog cut sheets. All standby and alarm currents used in the calculation shall be supported by catalog cut sheets or other documentation from the manufacturer. Highlight all values of all standby and alarm currents used in the calculations.
(II) Provide catalog cut sheets and CSFM listing for all proposed FA wiring. Provide UL listing for all proposed batteries if they are not specifically listed by the FA manufacturer.;

MODIFICATION OF SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS

(1) Make, model number and current State Fire Marshal listing sheet of existing Fire Alarm Control Panel;
(2) Make, model number, and size of existing battery, include battery calculations for new devices;
(3) Make and model number of existing devices (to ensure compatibility);
(4) Manufacturer's specification sheets and State Fire Marshal listing sheets on new devices;
(5) Address all items for new submittal with regard for new devices (for some items stating maintaining building standards is sufficient);
(6) With regard to minor alterations to a system (three or less new devices) voltage drop calculations may not be required if new circuit is maintaining building standards and is less than 200 feet from FACP (following the path of the wire);
(7) A sequence of operation must be included for all new and affected devices;

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. In fully sprinklered high-rise buildings: Four floors shall go into alarm status upon system activation. They will be the floor of original alarm activation plus two floors below and one floor above the original alarm. Also, refer to Section 3.05 - "Fire Alarm High Rise Relocation Policy" in this bulletin.

ADDENDUM A - EXAMPLE: Sequence of Operation Matrix (for reference only)