Fire Alarm Requirements for Group R-2 and R-2.1 Occupancy

Group R-2 and R-2.1: (Residential)

Systems required to be monitored per the 2021 IFC section 907.6.6.

A manual fire alarm system (Manual fire alarm boxes) that activates the occupant notification system (horns, strobes, sounders, speakers, chimes, mass notification, etc.)

Group R-2 and R-2.1 Fire Alarm Requirements

Manual Fire Alarm Box Requirements:

Manual fire alarm boxes are required if the facility has:

Dwelling or sleeping units located three or more stories above the lowest level of exit discharge
Dwelling or sleeping units more than one story below the highest level of exist discharge
The building contains more than 16 dwelling or sleeping units.

Exceptions:

A fire alarm system is not required where the Group R-2 facility is not more than two stories in height where all dwelling or sleeping units and contiguous attic and crawl spaces are separated from each other and public or common areas by not less than 1-hour fire partitions and each dwelling unit or sleeping unit has an exit directly to a public way, egress court or yard.
Manual fire alarm boxes are not required where the building is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system that activates the occupant notification appliances.
A fire alarm system is not required in buildings that do not have interior corridors serving dwelling units or sleeping units and are protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system. This is provided that the dwelling units or sleeping units open directly to an exterior exit access that leads directly to the exits or a re served by open-ended corridors designed in accordance with section 1027.6 Exception #3.

2021 IFC section 907.2 - If the facility is provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system in which the Waterflow activates the occupant notification system a minimum of one (1) manual fire alarm box is required to be provided in an area approved by the local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction).

Exceptions:

#1: The manual fire alarm box is not required for fire alarm systems dedicated to elevator recall control and supervisory service.

#2: The manual fire alarm box is not required for group R2 occupies unless required by the fire code official to provide a means for fire watch personnel to initiate an alarm during a sprinkler system impairment event. Where provided, the manual fire alarm box shall not be located in an area that is open to the public.

UL 268 Automatic Smoke Detection Requirements:

System smoke detectors shall be provided for all of the following applications:

Above control panels and power supplies
For the purpose of elevator capture
On all HVAC units over 2,000 CFM (Duct Detector)
For releasing service
Fire Smoke Dampers
Delayed egress locks

UL 217 Smoke Alarm Requirements:

Single or multiple station smoke alarms shall be installed in all of the following areas per section 907.2.11:

On the ceiling or wall outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms.

In every room used for sleeping purposes.

On every level of the dwelling unit including the basement. This does not include crawl spaces or uninhabitable attics. If the dwelling unit has split levels without a separation door then a smoke alarm shall be installed on the upper level predicated on the distance between the split levels being less than one full story.

Important update to this edition of the model code: The UL 217 single and multiple station smoke alarms are now required to produce a 520Hz low frequency audible tone. Please note these units are not currently manufactured and or listed for this use. It is very important to get ahead of the project and discuss with the general contractor and electrical contractor the requirements for this change. If you would like more information on how this can be achieved as well as the code references, please visit this link. 520Hz audible tone for 120 VAC Smoke Alarms.

Fire Alarm Notification Requirements:

520 Hz low frequency sounders shall be installed in all sleeping areas. Horns can be provided in common areas including but not limited to corridors, public restrooms, elevator lobbies, etc. Emergency voice/alarm communications systems shall be provided for high rise applications. High rise buildings are classified by the International Building Code as a structure that has occupied floors located more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

Note: R-2 occupancies are required to be pre-wired for future adaptability. This means you need to install either a conduit raceway or the necessary cable for the possibility that any room may convert to an accessible unit in the future. This is noted in Section 907.5.2.3.3

Using a sound pressure meter or dB Meter, verify you comply with the following:

Public Mode Audibility: You must have 15 dB above average ambient sound level or 5 dB above the maximum sound level for at least 60 seconds whichever is greater.

Private Mode Audibility: You must have 10 dB above average ambient sound level or 5 dB above the maximum sound level for at least 60 seconds whichever is greater.

Sleeping Area Audibility: You must have 15 dB above average ambient sound level or 5 dB above the maximum sound level for at least 60 seconds or a minimum of 75 dB whichever is greater.

Group R-2: (College and University Buildings)

Systems required to be monitored per the 2021 IFC section 907.6.6.

An automatic smoke detection system that activates the occupant notification system (horns, strobes, sounders, speakers, chimes, mass notification, etc.)

Manual Fire Alarm Box Requirements:

Exceptions:

#1: The manual fire alarm box is not required for fire alarm systems dedicated to elevator recall control and supervisory service.

UL 217 Smoke Alarm Requirements:

Single or multiple station smoke alarms shall be installed in all of the following areas:

Sleeping areas.

Each room in the path of the means of egress from sleeping area to the door leading to the sleeping unit.

On each level within the sleeping unit. This includes basements. If the sleeping unit has split levels without a door separation, one smoke alarm on the upper level will suffice. Note this is only for slip level where the distance between levels is less than one full story.

All smoke alarms in dwelling units and sleeping units shall be interconnected with the fire alarm system in accordance with NFPA 72.

UL 268 Automatic Smoke Detection Requirements:

Automatic smoke detectors shall be provided in the following areas:

Common spaces outside of the dwelling/sleeping units.

Laundry rooms, mechanical equipment rooms and storage rooms.

Interior corridors serving dwelling/sleeping units

Exception

Smoke detection is not required in buildings without interior corridors serving the sleeping units. This is predicated on the sleeping units having a means of egress door opening that leads directly to an exit.

Fire Alarm Notification Requirements:

Public Mode Audibility: You must have 15 dB above average ambient sound level or 5 dB above the maximum sound level for at least 60 seconds whichever is greater.

Private Mode Audibility: You must have 10 dB above average ambient sound level or 5 dB above the maximum sound level for at least 60 seconds whichever is greater.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Fire Alarm Requirements for Group R-2 and R-2.1 Occupancy

Group R-2 and R-2.1: (Residential)

Manual Fire Alarm Box Requirements:

UL 268 Automatic Smoke Detection Requirements:

UL 217 Smoke Alarm Requirements:

Fire Alarm Notification Requirements:

Group R-2: (College and University Buildings)

Manual Fire Alarm Box Requirements:

UL 217 Smoke Alarm Requirements:

UL 268 Automatic Smoke Detection Requirements:

Fire Alarm Notification Requirements:

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