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Fire Alarm Application Note
About Fire Alarm Codes
There are various fire alarm codes written by industry associations and
institutes. For example, the National Fire Alarm Protection Association
writes the National Life Safety Code, also known as NFPA 101. There are
other fire alarm codes written by other associations or institutes such as
BOCA and ICBO that specify whether or not a given building or structure
type is required to have a fire alarm system and if so what fire alarm system
functions must be supported. Each state and local government jurisdiction
adopts in part or in entirety these codes which become that jurisdiction’s
code.
In addition there are also standards that govern the design, installation and
service of fire alarm systems. For instance, the use and placement of smoke
and fire detection devices is specified in the National Fire Alarm Code. The
most popularly adopted code is the National Fire Alarm Code, commonly
referred to as NFPA 72.
Code Enforcement
Codes are enforced by the person who is designated by the state or local
government as the “Authority Having Jurisdiction,” also simply referred to
as the “AHJ.” The AHJ has the delegated power to review and interpret the
code as it may pertain to a particular structure. The AHJ must interpret
codes because structures often are not uniform. So for example, the AHJ will
review a fire alarm design for the correct number of smoke detectors and
their placement in relation to the structure’s layout.
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