Elevators & Fire Alarm Systems:
Understanding Interface Requirements
Presented by:
Antonio Torres- North Central
Regional Sales Manager
Learning Objectives
At the end of this program, participants will
be able to:
Improve installation coordination by
identifying which elevators are subject to
recall operations utilizing ASME 17.1 and
17.3
Eliminate job site ambiguities by
incorporating code compliant sprinkler and
fire alarm designs per NFPA 13, 72 and
ASME 17.1(3)
Learning Objectives (cont.)
At the end of this program, participants will
be able to:
Ensure proper design by correctly locating
building systems control and annunciation
equipment using ASME 17.1(3), NFPA 72 and
municipal codes
Understand recall sequence requirements
and specify accordingly per ASME 17.1(3),
NFPA 72 and municipal codes
Let’s get started!
Recall Codes & Standards
1.
2.
3.
When it’s required
How it’s initiated
Installation requirements
Elevator Recall Definition
 The override of an automatic
elevator’s operation by a building's
fire safety system upon activation
of a specific set of initiation
devices.
Purpose of Elevator Recall
 Safety of the public
Prevents travel to fire floor
Prevents occupants from getting
trapped in car
Controlled stoppage of cabs
 Firefighters’ use
•
Cars available upon arrival
• Can be key initiated if not activated
When is recall required?
New Installations:
 The original requirement was in
the 1973 supplement to ASME
A17.1 1971
 Required recall when car
traveled 25 feet above or below
designated level
When is recall required?
New Installations:
 The 1992 supplement to A17.1
1989 revised the recall
requirements
 The 25 foot requirement
allowance was eliminated
 All automatic elevators must now
recall regardless of travel
distance
When is recall required?
Existing Installations:
 If capability is not present, no recall
required unless:
 Equipment is substantially altered in
some other fashion
 Equipment fails
 Equipment is deemed unsafe by the
municipality
Systems that initiate recall sequence

Required building fire alarm system
 Used for recalling the elevators
 Has fire alarm notification duties
 Co-located with the elevator control
and status panel
Systems that initiate recall sequence
 Local System
 If no alarm system exists, a system
with the sole purpose of recalling the
elevators may be installed
 Marked "Elevator Recall Control and
Supervisory Panel."
 No occupant evacuation notification
 Not monitored by central station
Installation standards
 ANSI/ASME A17.1, A17.3 Safety Code
for Elevators and Escalators
 NFPA 101, 72, 13, 70
 Local or state adopted rules
May not be part of your building code
Overseen by an official Elevator Inspection
Department
Installation standards
 Electrical
 Elevator shaft may be used for
raceway if the circuitry serves elevator
purposes only
 Elevator lobby smoke detectors
 Top and bottom of hoistway detectors
 Smoke detectors not allowed in
unsprinkled hoistway unless opening
a hoistway exhaust vent
Installation standards
 Sprinkler
 Chicago does not allow sprinklers in
elevator machine rooms for required
systems
 Sprinklers in machine rooms & hoistway
require a separate, system monitored
shutoff valve and waterflow switch
 Sprinkler heads in hoistway must be fed
from the level it’s mounted on. Sprinkler
risers are not allowed in the hoistway!
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
1.
2.
3.
Terminology
How it’s initiated
Installation requirements
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
1.
Phase I (Recall)
a. Primary Level
b. Alternate Level
2.
3.
4.
Phase II (Fireman’s Operation)
Fireman’s Hat
Shunt
Elevator Recall Floor Designations
Designated Level (Primary)
1.


Main floor of direct egress
Egress must be at exterior grade
Alternate Level
2.



Building egress available, not
usually direct
Generally through exterior egress
stairwells
Loading docks, parking garages
Elevator Recall Floor Designations
 Designated Level (Primary)
contains the following equipment:
Firefighter’s Command Center
(FCC)
– Fire panel status and control
– Emergency voice communication
equipment
– May contain graphic annunciation
Elevator Recall Floor Designations
 Designated Level (Primary)
contains:
Elevator Annunciator Panel
(EAP)
– Shows car locations
– May have recall key switches
– AKA Elevator Control Panel (ECP)
Elevator Recall Floor Designations

Designated Level (Primary) contains:
Aux controls
– Fans
HOA switches
May show fan status
May be located in FCC
– Stairwell doors
Usually located in FCC (always in Chicago)
– Dampers
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
1.
Phase I
 Also referred to as Elevator Recall
 Car reports to appropriate level
•
Primary Recall
 Elevator lobby smoke detectors from
any level above designated primary
level
 Detectors from pit if alternate level is
below primary
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
•
Primary Recall (cont.)



Buzzer sounds continuously,
fireman’s hat illuminates
Cab reports to primary floor
Doors automatically open, remain
open
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
1.
Phase One (cont.)
 Accomplished with two
programmable relays
 Can be activated manually via
Firefighter’s recall switch at ECP or
primary lobby
 Lobby detector can be a supervisory
type device if not part of public area
coverage
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
1.
Phase One (cont.)
 Municipal codes may require two cross
zoned smoke detectors per elevator
lobby
Cross zoning not required per NFPA 72
nor ASME 17.1(3)
 Waterflow may be used in Chicago if
entire building is sprinkled
 Only municipality may allow other
devices to activate recall
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
1.
Phase I (cont.)
 Alternate Recall
•
•
•
•
•
Detectors from primary level elevator lobby
Detectors from pit if alternate level is
above primary level
Buzzer sounds continuously, fireman’s hat
illuminates
Cab reports to AHJ approved alternate
floor of egress
Doors open, remain open
Lobby Detector Location
Locate smoke
detector(s) within 21
feet of centerline of
each elevator door of
the bank under
control of the
detector
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
2.
Phase II
 Also referred to as Firefighter’s Service
 Allows firefighters to use cars after
Phase I has been activated
 Cars are hand operated by firefighters
 Key activated from inside the car
 Employs “Dead Man Drop” door
operation
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
3. Fireman’s Hat

Detectors in machine room and/or
hoistway activate sequence
Smoke detectors not allowed in
hoistways that are not sprinkled
unless opening a hoistway exhaust
vent
Heat detectors may be used in
hostile environments
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
3. Fireman’s Hat



Warns firefighters that loss of
elevator may be imminent
Sequence activates the flashing
fireman’s hat in the car(s)
Accomplished with programmable
relay
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
4. Shunt Trip
 Why do we need it?
– Controlled shutdown before sprinklers
– Water on brakes may cause:
Brake failure
Elevator car to stop between floors and
leave the hoistway exposed
– Door operation circuitry on top of cab
could short circuit when wet, allowing
cab to travel up and down with open
doors
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
Shunt Trip (cont.)
4.


Sequence activates shutdown of elevator
power
Heat detectors in machine room and/or
hoistway activate sequence
Dedicated, non-delayed waterflow may be used



Must be implemented if sprinklers are in
machine room and/or hoistway
Power source of shunt trip activation must be
monitored for availability by fire alarm system
Accomplished by programmable relay
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
4. Shunt Trip (cont.)
 Hoistway Sprinklers
A. Head not required in pit if:
Hoistway is an enclosed, noncombustible shaft
No combustible hydralic fluids
B. Head not required at top of shaft if:
Hoistway is an enclosed, noncombustible (or limited combustible)
shaft
Cab enclosure materials meet ASME
17.1
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
4. Shunt Trip (cont.)

Rate-of-rise heat detector activates shunt trip
Must be located within two feet of each
sprinkler head
Temperature rating below and sensitivity
rating above that of the sprinkler
–
–
–
Sprinkler head is usually 165°, standard response
Heat detector is usually 135°, but can be adjusted
Sensitivity is Response Time Index (RTI) of both
sprinkler head and heat detector
If unknown, a fixed temperature heat detector used
Typical Elevator Shunt Trip Wiring
Elevator Emergency Operations
Review
Fireman’s Emergency Operations
B. Fire alarm equipment needed
C. Takeaways
A.
Review of Elevator Firefighter’s
Emergency Operations
Phase I
1.


Primary or alternate level recall
Remains at recall level until



Bypassed with key
Phase II activated with key
Fire panel reset
Phase II
2.


Firefighter operates car via special key
Car remains on floor of travel until
sequence repeated
Review of Elevator Firefighter’s
Emergency Operations (cont.)
Firefighter’s Hat
3.


Warns of possible fire in machine room
and/or hoistway
Loss of car power may be imminent
Elevator Shutdown
4.


Shunt trip
Newer equipment brings car to nearest
floor to let occupants out before
shunting power
Fire Alarm Interface Requirements
Phase I
1.


Smoke detector(s) in each elevator lobby
Two addressable relays in elevator machine
room (primary and alternate recall)
Phase II
2.

None
Firefighter’s Hat
3.



Smoke detector(s) in elevator machine room
Smoke detector in pit and top of shaft (if
sprinkled)
Addressable relay in elevator machine room
Fire Alarm Interface Requirements
4. Elevator Shunt Trip (only if sprinkled)
 Heat detector within 24” of each sprinkler head
 Elevator machine room
 Pit
 Top of shaft
 Addressable relay in elevator machine room
 High voltage relay powered by shunt power
 Some newer shunt trip breakers contain a relay
 Addressable module to monitor shunt power
relay
Final Takeaways
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
All automatic elevators must recall.
All sprinkled elevators must shunt.
Check with municipality for any
additional recall criteria.
Ensure coordination between fire
alarm and elevator contractors.
Ensure the correct sequences are
demonstrated before final elevator
and occupancy inspections.
Thanks for your
participation.
Questions?
Antonio Torres
antonio.torres@honeywell.com