3.02 Fire Alarm Annunciation

Reference: 2007 C.B.C. 907.8.2 & C.F.C 907.9.2

The California Fire Code outlines annunciation requirements for fire alarm systems. The code requires the system to be divided into alarm zones when required by the authority having jurisdiction. In San Francisco, a general guideline for buildings is that floors will be required to be separate zones when the total number of floors (above and below grade) in the building exceeds four. Also buildings with large floor areas or unusual designs (i.e. area separation walls) may require additional zoning.
When zoning is required, an LED (light emitting diode) annunciator panel is required in an approved location that will indicate the type of initiating device by floor, by device. Manual pull stations, area smoke detectors, duct detectors, elevator lobby smoke detectors, heat detectors, auxiliary alarms, and sprinkler waterflow must be initiated separately.
This information is intended as a general guideline only. The Fire Department reserves the right to require zoned annunciation on a case-by-case basis. Questions should be addressed during the plans approval process.