CFAA NCR CHAPTER
ANNUAL SENINAR
Commonly Overlooked Fire Alarm
Requirements

Introduction of Who I Am And My Experience (aka: only
legitimate chance to catch a quick nap)

Definitions ( if you nap during this part you may miss out!)

OBC: You May Not Know These Things
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3.2.4: This Is Not The Only Fire Alarm Section

ULC: You Just May Be Surprised
INTRODUCTION

Alert signal means an audible signal to advise designated persons of a fire
emergency.

Alarm signal means an audible signal transmitted throughout one or more zones
of a building or throughout a building to advise occupants that a fire emergency
exists.

Alternative solution means a substitute for an acceptable solution.

Contained use area means a supervised area containing one or more rooms in
which occupant movement is restricted to a single room by security measures not
under the control of the occupant.
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Fire compartment means an enclosed space in a building,

(a) that is separated from all other parts of the building by enclosing construction
that provides a fire separation, and

(b) that may be required to have a fire-resistance rating.
DEFINITIONS

Impeded egress zone means a supervised area in which occupants
have free movement but require the release, by security personnel,
of security doors at the boundary before being able to leave the
area, but does not include a contained use area.OBC

Smoke alarm means a combined smoke detector and audible
alarm device designed to sound an alarm within the room orsuite in
which it is located on the detection of smoke within that room
or suite.

Smoke detector means a fire detector designed to operate when
the concentration of airborne combustion products exceeds a predetermined level.
DEFINITIONS

3.2.4.2 Except as permitted by Sentence (6), if there are openings through a firewall, other
than those for piping, tubing, wiring and totally enclosed noncombustible raceways, the
requirements in this Subsection shall apply to the floor areas on both sides of the firewall as if
they were in the same building.

(6) Buildings interconnected by walkways permitted in Articles 3.2.3.19. and 3.2.3.20. or by
vestibules provided in conformance with Article 3.2.6.3. shall be treated as
separate buildings for the purpose of fire alarm installation required by this Subsection.

3.2.4.3. TYPE: Single stage required in schools except in “special needs facilities” – There is no
definition of what a special needs facility is

3.2.4.4. (2)(c) Appendix note:

Alert signals are permitted to sound in designated areas.

Permits use of a key or “other similar device” to activate alarm signals form a manual pull
station
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OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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3.2.4.4.(3) – coded 2 stage systems are permitted to sound the alert tone only
in the zone of initiation. The code must be repeated 4 times then a
continuous alert signal is to sound in the zone of activation.

3.2.4.6 The entire fire alarm system is to be commissioned as a whole and
test records provided indicating the integrated test was conducted.
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3.2.4.7 Automatic silence IS allowed:

1 minute in care and treatment (alert signal only);
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5 minutes in buildings not required to have an annunciator;

20 minutes in all other cases.

A manual silence switch is ok, but only if installed inside the control unit
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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3.2.4.8. Signals to FD. In a group C retirement home, regardless if
monitoring is required, if there are sprinkler water flow switches,
then you MUST connect them to the FD

If a single stage system is provided in a building and the building is
not sprinklered, then signs have to be installed above each manual
pull station indicating that the fire department has to be called and
indicating the phone number to call
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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
3.2.4.9. Annunciator and Zoning: Separate zones for:

fire extinguishing systems required by NFPA 96,
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contained use areas,
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impeded egress zones,
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2 hour fire resistance rated fire compartments
If no annunciator is required, a visual and audible trouble signal
device is required at the main entrance.
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If a silence switch is provided, and it’s in a hotel, then a trouble signal
also has to be installed at the main reception or other continually staffed
location
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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3.2.4.10 electrical supervision: standpipe water control valves only
trouble” signal to the annunciator and
have to send a “
not a supervisory alarm.

Heat tracing cable for sprinkler/standpipe or to keep an exit or
means of egress free from ice to be monitored for loss of power;
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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3.2.4.11 fire detectors are required in hazardous classrooms and
change rooms in elementary and secondary schools. BUT post
secondary schools are not mentioned.
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3.2.4.12. smoke detectors are required in contained use areas
AND the corridors serving these rooms and areas.
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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Smokes are required in each elevator machine room or
machinery space ( this could include the interstitial space
between the top of the elevator shaft and the elevator machine
room.

NOTE: it does not say that smokes are required at the top of the
shaft, or in the pits. Heat detectors can be installed at the top of
the shaft. The code is silent about any device in the pit of
elevators and escalators.
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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Hotel refrigerated areas do not require heat detectors but in all
other occupancies refrigerated areas do require heat detectors
and are considered storage spaces (unless the spaces are
sprinklers)
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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Care and treatment facilities: smoke detectors in rooms are to
cause an audible and visual signal to activate outside the room if
staff can see all rooms from their station if not then a signal has to
go to the main nursing station.
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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Only the elevators controlled by the machine room where the
smoke detector activated are required to recall.
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Smoke detectors can be substituted for heat detectors in F
occupancies where they are subject to false alarms due to
activities in the building
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NOTE: Nowhere does it mention in the smoke detector section
that smoke detectors are required to be installed in computer
room subfloors.

ULC standards require smoke detectors to be installed pendent as
they are tested and listed in this manner
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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3.2.4.14 central vac required to shut down on fire alarm


haven’t seen a single one of these in 27 years yet the
code doesn’t regulate connection of sub panels for
computer rooms which I see in every building
3.2.4.15 elevator recall. Smokes required on unsprinklered recall
levels in buildings provided with emergency recall feature. This
should be in the smoke detector section
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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
3.2.4.18 manual pull stations. Required in:

Principal entrance to a building;
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near every REQUIRED exit (not every exit from a building – only the required ones);

main reception areas of hotels require a manual pull station.
(6) in a C occupancy, if a MPS is not installed per 1 and 4, then a MPS is
required in each dwelling unit near the egress; smoke detectors are required
to be installed in floor areas, public corridors and stairwells, and fire detectors
installed in the floor area common areas and in rooms not located within
dwelling units.

Why are there smoke detector requirements in the manual pull station section of
3.2.4?
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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If MPS are installed in dwelling units then signs are required to be
installed above MPS in floor areas having them reading “ FIRE
ALARM PULL STATION LOCATED IN APARTMENT UNITS”

Keyswitch MPS are permitted in contained use areas. Required
to be listed.
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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3.2.4.19 Alert and Alarm Signals
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(1) the same audible signal devices are permitted to sound alert
and alarm signals (this is a permissive statement not a prescriptive
statement) and implies different devices are permitted to sound
alert and alarm signals
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(2) speakers are ok to use for other purposes but not allowed for
background noise or music. Alert and alarm tones always have to
take priority
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(3)(c) this has always confounded me:

In a corridor used by the public and in a floor area or part of it
where the public may congregate in a Group A occupancy.
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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3.2.4.19 (5) The only exemption in the entire code that allows
audible signalling devices to be deleted and replaced with visual
signalling devices:
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in areas regulated by 3.3.3.6. such as operating rooms, recovery
rooms, delivery rooms, intensive care units and critical care units in
special care and treatment facilities.
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So you can stop asking now. 
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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3.2.4.20 Audibility
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Alarm signal dbs to be attained throughout all floor areas.
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Alert signals are required to be audible in continually staffed
locations.
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MUST USE AN INTEGRATING SOUND LEVEL METER FOR ANY TONE
OTHER THAN TEMPORAL (this means for every alert signal tone in a
two stage system). For temporal, a non-integrating sound level
meter is to be used.
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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3.2.4.20:

Alarm signals are regulated (temporal) but alert signals are not. The
appendix note states that there must be a noticeable or a measurable
difference between alert and alarm signals to reduce confusion.
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For some reason the “slow whoop” is used more often than not for alert signals.
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
Exception for residential occupancies: Appendix note says if putting horns in
corridors and the 100 bdA wil be exceeded in an attempt to achieve 75 dbA
in sleeping areas then “piezo electric devices similar to smoke alarm
sounding devices” can be installed if they are provided with the temporal
pattern. This makes it sound like a smoke alarm and not a building audible
signalling device. This clause appears to allow different sounding devices.
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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3.2.4.22. Smoke alarms. Smoke detectors are allowed to replace
smoke alarms and do not need to send a signal to the fire
department and only sound within the suite of origin.
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Sound pressure levels: max of 100 but this can be exceeded if
the max of 100 is never exceeded measured at 2 m above the
finished floor.

Measurements to be 3 m from the device.

Minimum 65dbA, 3 m from device, AND 10 db above ambient
noise.
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OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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The voice comm system can silence the alert signals:

after 10 s in hospitals,
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30 seconds in all other cases.
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30 seconds for alarm signals in a single stage system
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(7) if the occupant load is over 1000, AND a two stage system is
provided, then a voice communication system must be
provided. This will reduce the use of two stage systems.

(9) if trained staff are not present at all times then digital voice
messages MUST be used
OBC: THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
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3.1.8.8. (8) In a Group B, Division 3 occupancy that contains sleeping
accommodation for not more than 10 persons and not more than six occupants
require assistance in evacuation in case of an emergency and which is equipped
with a fire-alarm system, a duct need not be provided with a fire damper at a fire
separation provided duct-type smoke detectors have been installed to control
smoke circulation as described in Article 3.2.4.13.

3.1.8.12. (2) Except as required by Sentences (3), (5), (6) and (7), a hold-open
device permitted by Sentence (1) shall be designed to release by a signal from,

(a) an automatic sprinkler system,
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(b) a heat-actuated device,
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(c) fusible link, or
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(d) a smoke detector located as described in CAN/ULC-S524, “Installation of Fire
Alarm Systems”.
3.2.4: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FIRE
ALARM SECTION
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(3) Except as required by Sentences (4), (5), (6) and (7), a holdopen device permitted by Sentence (1) shall be designed to
release upon a signal from a smoke detector located as
described in CAN/ULC-S524, “Installation of Fire Alarm Systems”, if
used on,


(e) a door required to function as part of a smoke control system.
(5) Sentences (2) and (3) do not apply in a hospital or long-term
care home to,
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(a) a door located between a corridor used by the public and an
adjacent sleeping room, or

(b) paired doors described in Sentence 3.3.3.3.(4).
3.2.4: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FIRE
ALARM SECTION
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3.1.9.1 Fire stopping is not required for sprinkler pipes that are
provided with escutcheon plates per NFPA 13
3.2.4: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FIRE
ALARM SECTION
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3.2.1.5. In buildings not required to be sprinklered, the basements
shall be sprinklered or subdivided into 600 m2 fire compartments
that are required to be rated per the floor above. This can mean
that they will be required to be separately zoned.

3.2.3.20 requires smoke barrier doors in underground walkways
but if held open, they would be regulated and require smoke
detectors for release
3.2.4: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FIRE
ALARM SECTION
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3.2.6.2.(5) in an unsprinkered building with the recall feature,
smokes are required in each elevator lobby on each level
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3.2.8.8. smokes required “on the ceiling of each storey in the
vicinity of the openings through floor assemblies”. Smokes are
also to be provided where required for the activation of the
smoke control system. ( system activated when two smokes in a
single zone in a floor area having an interconnected floor space
are activated.)
3.2.4: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FIRE
ALARM SECTION
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3.3.2.4.(14)(e) : Aisles … fire detectors are to shut down
projection systems and turn on normal lighting in seating areas

3.3.2.4.(14)(g) Smoke detectors in seating areas are to activate
smoke evacuation system for seating areas
3.2.4: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FIRE
ALARM SECTION
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
3.3.2.1.2.

(4) fire curtains are to close on activation of the FAS and heat
actuated devices
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(5) smoke vents are to activate automatically upon operation of the
sprinkler system. This is only done via the FAS
3.4.6.16 maglocks are permitted to release on second stage only
in care/treatment/detention occupancies
3.2.4: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FIRE
ALARM SECTION
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3.4.6.16 maglocks are permitted to release on second stage only
in care/treatment/detention occupancies
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(7) gaming premises are to have smoke detectors in each room
and corridor accessible by the public when maglocks are
installed in the building. This applies even if it’s a single maglock.
3.2.4: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FIRE
ALARM SECTION
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3.6.2.7 (2) smoke detectors are required in an electrical vault if
the building is required to be sprinklered and sprinklers were
omitted from the vault.
3.2.4: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FIRE
ALARM SECTION
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3.13.5.2. Rapid transit stations:

(1) MPS are not required. Audible signal devices are not required.

(3) fire detectors are required in service rooms, ancillary spaces, leased
spaces, booths and kiosks.
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(5) an annunciator is required in a designated collection booth or within
viewing distance of the booth
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(6) all fire detectors are to be annunciated. This means system must be
addressable.

If a RTS exit is through another building, then the bulding above must be
annunciated on the RTS annunciator and a flashing warning sign is
required at the entrance to the building
3.2.4: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FIRE
ALARM SECTION
ULC S524

Applies to voluntary and required fire alarm systems

What is a fire alarm system: An interconnected control unit,
manual station and audible signal device
ULC S524 AND S537
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3.1.8. cannot use a voice communication system in lieu of alert
and alarm signals, only supplement those signals

3.1.10. 10 s response time for single stage systems, alarm signals,
auxiliary function operation but 90 seconds for trouble input
response time

Special note: 3: manual control of paging and alarm selection to
confirm output operation with “sensory indication” to the
operator within 1 second that the function has been requested.
ULC S524 AND S537
 3.3.1.1.
(m). only need to connect genset for
common trouble to FAS when the genset is the
sole source of emergency power.
ULC S524 AND S537

3.3.1.3. Class A system: can have a single conduit for feed and
return run when serving a single device or when serving multiple
devices in a room not exceeding 100 sq m
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3.3.1.6. wiring between control units and transponders within the
same room are not required to be supervised if in EMT and less
than 18m apart

3.5 Plan and specs : input output schedule; sew of op; zoning,
device addresses, fault isolation module locations, ancilliary
device connection, block wiring diagram showing all
interconnections of control equipment and devices
ULC S524 AND S537

4.1 operating and controls not more than 1.8 m above finished
floor

4.2 data communication links: Style C DCL does not require
detection of a single ground. (input circuit transmits ground and
second ground doesn’t disable the DCL

4.2.4 loop loading: conventional field devices monitored by a
supporting field device do not count against DCL capacity
ULC S524 AND S537

4.2.5. area of coverage for inputs and outputs to be the same for
transponders but only in large scale networks.
ULC S524 AND S537

4.3 Large scale networks “when multiple faults cause the network
to be severed, it is intended for each portion of the network to
function as intended within the capabilities of each section

4.3.6: at least one field control panel or transponder, in addition
to the CACF/DCC/ANN required by the NBC, requires a paging
microphone, an NBC conforming ANN, and an All call switch.
ULC S524 AND S537

4.3.7. Transponders required to be located in a 1 hour rated
room (this is above the NBC requirements and should be
regulated by the NBC)

4.3.11. conductors to interconnect transponders/control
equipment to be fire rated for 1 hour or installed in 2 physically
separated 1 hour rated compartments.

4.5.2. Voice communication busses don’t require supervision
during use but do during times when the bus is being used for non
fire safety purposes (ie. General paging). Single ground
detection not required on the voice communication buss
ULC S524 AND S537

5.2.2. manual pull stations should be on the latch side but
nevertheless within 1500 mm max lateral distance from the
opening

5.4.1.1. top of audible signalling devices not less than 2.3 m
above the finished floor and 150mm below the ceiling.

5.4.1.7. Audible signalling devices shall generate similar sounds
and sound patterns when activated.
ULC S524 AND S537

5.7.2.2. 450 mm clear space required around all fire detectors
unless detectors obstructions are less than 100mm deep and 450
mm away from air diffusers. If partitions extend within 450 mm of
ceiling then special spacing requirements are applicable.

5.7.2.5 if fire detectors are subjected to positive and negative air
flow, a special plate is required or conduits/entry points have to
be sealed.
ULC S524 AND S537

5.7.3. Heat detector spacing requirements are NOT applicable to
smoke detectors. heat detectors do not get installed on ceilings
higher than 9 m. smoke detectors on ceilings above 3.6 m,
require engineering judgement.

5.7.5.3.2. Smoke detectors on every 3rd floor if building is over
18m . This should be in the OBC.
ULC S524 AND S537

5.7.5.3.4. Smoke detectors can be substituted with fixed
temperature heat detectors due to low ambient temperatures,
below 0 degrees C ,

5.14 fault isolation modules see standards bulletin 2012-03 5.14.5:
fault isolation modules not required on both sides of fire
separations unless they are required zones under the NBC.
ULC S524 AND S537

A2.1: special spacing requirements for thermal stratification
(skylights and large glass areas)

A5: check it out for smoke detector use for door release. One
smoke required if any area above the door is 600 mm or less
(swing side of door). Greater than 600mm both sides then one
smoke on each side. Door frame mounting requires one smoke
detector. Install centre line and not closer than 300 mm when
corridors less than 1500mm, and 600 mm in all other cases.
ULC S524 AND S537
ULC S537

Bulletin 2008-05: all devices need to be re-verified after a
program/software change if a LISTED compare program is not
used. No manufacturers currently have a listed compare
program.

Bulletin 2006-03 – when a 4th party is required to conduct the
verification
ULC S524 AND S537

3.1.3 each device to be tested. This means that line isolators
have to be tested and documented.

3.2 Documentation: seq of op and operating instructions to be
documented in test documents.

3.3.2.1. field devices at the electrically furthest point from the
power source to be tested that it receives rated power. This I
have never seen documented in any verification records I have
ever seen.
ULC S524 AND S537

4.1.4. and 4,2,1,4 a printout of active field device software
correlation report is to be provided as part of the verification. If
the report can’t be printed, EVERY device has to be tested to
confirm the correct output circuit operation. Again, I have never
seen this done

4.2.4 system response times to be tested and recorded – NOT
JUST sprinkler device delay times
ULC S524 AND S537

4.5.2. If multiple annunciators or sequential displays, each must
be checked for alarm and supervisory operation and zone
annunciation, unless proven with a software compare program
(must be listed) or “manufacturers technical documentation”.
Has anyone ever seen this submitted with a verification?

4.6 Every printer has to be tested to ensure it printed correctly

5.10.(c) Audibility of alert and alarm signals to be tested.
ULC S524 AND S537

6.4 If wiring extended form a junction box, every device on the
circuit has to be reverified.
ULC S524 AND S537

Raise your hand if you’re still awake
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
Paul Latreille, CET
www.secur-fire.com
latreillep@noti-secur.com
QUESTIONS?