Electrical Design II

(ELEC3110)

Winter 2023 - Week 9

 Topics
• Emergency Lighting Continued…
• Illuminated Exit signs
• Review of requirements for next assignment submission
• Generators
• What is an electric generator?
• Standby Generators
• Emergency Generators
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• What are they?
• Illuminated signs located so that the public can always determine how to exit a building
anywhere along the path of exit.
• Must now always have arrows pointing in the direction of exit (not strictly required until
January 2020).

Newer style “Green Running Older red letter type (cannot no

Man” Pictograph with longer install these in new
directional arrow, ISO 7010 construction as per OBC, must install
green running man pictograph type,
ISO 7010)
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• Where are they required?
• Ontario Building Code:
• Part 3 Buildings: OBC Code rule 3.4.5
• Part 9 Buildings: OBC Code rule 9.9.11.3
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• What does this all mean???
• In general, exit signage must be provided so that no point along the exit path can be
found where an exit sign is not visible.
• Exit signs can be:
• double sided or single sided
• wall mounted or ceiling mounted

Double sided Single sided

ceiling mounted wall mounted
 Illuminated Exit Signs

Ceiling mounted Wall mounted

Floorplan Floorplan
Two Sided One One Sided
Symbols: Symbols:
Sided
(Shaded (Shaded
side side
indicates indicates
exit sign exit sign
face) face)
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• Compliance with ISO 7010 (as per OBC):

• Must be running
man green
pictograph showing
direction of exit path

• Must include
directional arrow
to clarify direction
of exit path
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• Mounting Locations:

• Above Doorways: Place a single sided exit sign above every doorway along
the exit path as well as the exit door itself with appropriate direction arrow...
Including the exterior door.

• In Hallways and Open Areas: an exit sign should be visible at every point in
hallways and open areas. Wall mounted or ceiling mounted signs at hallway
intersections to guide people out of the building.

• Unless larger signs are purchased, maximum viewing distance for exit signs is
generally limited to 200 feet (about 35m).

• If nearest exit sign to a given point is more than 200', place intermediate wall
or ceiling mounted sign(s) with appropriate directional arrow in the exit path
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• Intersection in hallway example #1:
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• Intersection in hallway example #1:
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• Open Office
• example:
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• Exit signs must always be illuminated at all times, even during power
failures
• Much like emergency lights, a generator or battery must power the exit
signs during a power failure. We will consider battery powered units
as we did with emergency lighting.
• Lithium batteries have made exit signs with built-in batteries the most
common method of powering them. These units are called self-
powered exit signs.

Battery
Status
Light
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• Exit signs must always be illuminated at all times, even during power
failures
• Much like emergency lights, a generator or battery must power the exit
signs during a power failure. We will consider battery powered units
as we did with emergency lighting.
• Lithium batteries have made exit signs with built-in batteries the most
common method of powering them. These units are called self-
powered exit signs.

Floorplan
Symbol:
• Updated Illuminated Exit Signs
Open Area
Floorplan
Example
with Exit
Signs
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• Similar to emergency lighting, exit signs must also be included in the
luminaire schedule:
 Illuminated Exit Signs
Same considerations as we discussed for Emergency Lighting:
 OBC Part 3 Buildings:
power exit sign units from
a circuit that powers
nothing but exit signs
and emergency lighting.

 OBC Part 3 and Part 9

Buildings:
Power with same circuit as
lights in room, as long
as upstream of
any lighting controls (self
powered units only).
 Illuminated Exit Signs
• In Class:
• Review steps for generating a lighting design:
1. Select Light fixtures, create luminaire schedule:
• Ceiling types: recessed, surface mount, suspended, wall mounted, etc.
2. Lay out fixtures on floor plan
• At minimum use published spacing criteria, better way would be to use lighting
software to verify lighting levels
• ALL AREAS
3. Lighting controls that meet NECB requirements: Manual switch, bi-level (if required),
occupancy sensing or timers (if allowed and preferred)
4. Select emergency lighting and exit signs, include in luminaire schedule
5. Lay out emergency lighting and exit signage on floor plan
6. Circuit all normal and emergency lighting to 15A circuits in panelboards
• Show updated panel schedules
• Show all circuiting on floor plans
 Assignment Submission #3
• Lighting Design Criteria:
• Legend:
• Light fixture types (ceiling, wall, round, rectangular, etc…)
• Lighting controls:
• Wall switches of all types that are used
• Occupancy sensors
• Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs
• Normal lighting layout for all areas:
• Select appropriate fixtures for the various ceiling types
• One single fixture type fort the entire building is NOT acceptable
• Lighting controls that meet NECB requirements
• Wall switch type occupancy sensors or timers where required
• Bi-level control where required
• Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs for all areas
 Assignment Submission #3
• Lighting Design Criteria (continued…):

• Luminaire Schedule that includes

• WATTS, LUMENS, COLOUR TEMP, and MAKE/MODEL for EVERY LIGHT FIXURE
• WATTS and MAKE/MODEL for EVERY EMERGENCY LIGH and EXIT SIGN

• Circuiting for ALL LIGHTING

• We will continue to circuit lighting to the panel schedules that were included in
assignment submission #1
• Circuit lighting to 15A 120V circuits such that 80% of the circuit is not exceeded
• INCLUDE UPDATED PANEL SCHEDULES THAT SHOW WHAT LIGHTING IS
CONNECTED TO WHAT CIRCUITS
• ALSO, FLOORPLAN MUST SHOW WHAT CIRCUIT LIGHTING IS CONNECTED TO
• PANEL SCHEDULE CIRCUITS AND CIRCUITS SHOWN ON LIGHTING
FLOORPLANS MUST MATCH

• Due: Week 11 – Friday March 24 at midnight

 Emergency Lighting – Alternative to Battery Units
• So far (and for your assignments), battery units have been considered as the
means to provide emergency lighting where required in buildings
• Review
• OBC 3.2.7.4 – Power requirements for Emergency Lighting
• OBC 3.2.7.5 – Requirement IF generator is selected as power source

• But what is a generator?

 Generators
• What is an electric generator?
• An engine driven machine that generates electricity
• Engine can run on diesel or natural gas
• Located outside of the building
• Used to power a building (or part of a building) during a power failure
 Generators
• A generator alone is not enough… A switch must also be used to:
• Disconnect utility power from the building
• Start the generator
• Connect the generator to the building instead
• This switch is called a TRANSFER SWITCH
• It is located inside the building
 Generators
• General arrangement of a standby generator system:

Transfer Switch

Communication
Wiring

Generator
Utility Power

Building
Sample Single Line Diagram – Standby Generator
 Generators
• There are two classes of generators:
• Standby

• Emergency
 Generators
• Can a standby generator be used to power normal building
lights to serve as emergency lights?

• Can an emergency generator be used to power normal

building lights to serve as emergency lights?
 Generators
• How do generators connect to a building power system?
• A transfer switch disconnects building loads from utility power, and
connects the generator to them.
• For a standby generator, a transfer switch generally connects the
generator to:
• The whole building
• For an emergency generator, a transfer switch often connects the
generator to:
• Essential loads only:
• Emergency lighting
• Fire pump, fire alarm panel
• Medical equipment
Emergency Lighting – Emergency Generators
• OBC:
• 3.2.7.4. Emergency Power for Lighting
• 3.2.7.5. Emergency Power Supply Installation:
• CSA C282, “Emergency Electrical Power Supply for Buildings”
• Emergency Rated – Reliable enough for life safety applications
• Must be in a heated enclosure so that it does not fail to start in cold
temperatures
• Must be tested monthly (can be programmed to auto-test)
• Onboard controller that monitors for trouble or failure, and an
alarm is required inside of building to notify owner
Emergency Lighting – Emergency Generators
• Canadian Electrical Code:
• 46-108(4) – separation of emergency system wiring from normal
system wiring
• See Appendix B46-1 diagram…

• The electrical distribution system must be divided so that

emergency system wiring is completely separate from non-
emergency system wiring:
• Separate breaker panels
• Separate wiring and conduits
• Separate transfer switches!!!
Sample Single Line Diagram – Emergency Generator
Emergency Lighting – Emergency Generators
• Emergency power systems (including all of the interconnected
wiring) must be installed so that they run as long as possible
during a fire:
• OBC:
• 3.2.7.10. Protection of Electrical Conductors
• Subrule (1)(d) – required for emergency lighting, BUT
• Subrules (8), (9), and (10) provide exceptions
Emergency Lighting – Emergency Generators
• OBC:
• 3.2.7.4. Emergency Power for Lighting
• 3.2.7.5. Emergency Power Supply Installation:
• CSA C282, “Emergency Electrical Power Supply for Buildings”
• Emergency Rated – Reliable enough for life safety applications
• Must be in a heated enclosure so that it does not fail to start in cold
temperatures
• Must be tested monthly (can be programmed to auto-test)
• Alarm required inside of building to notify owner of generator failure
Emergency Lighting – Emergency Generators

• Questions of Comments?
Electrical Design II
(ELEC3110)

Winter 2023 - Week 10

 Topics
• OBC Code provisions for Emergency Generators –
continued…
• Recap of CSA-C282 Requirements
• Emergency power supply for items other than emergency
lighting
• CEC separation of normal and emergency wiring VS
Ontario exception
• Introduction to Fire Alarm Systems
 Emergency Generators – Continued…
• Recap of OBC provisions considered so far:
• 3.2.7.4(1)(a) – Batteries OR generator can be
used for emergency lighting
• 3.2.7.5 – Requirement IF Generator is used
 Emergency Generators – Continued…
• CSA-C282 important provisions of an emergency generator system
(This standard is accessible via Conestoga College CSA
OnDemand):
• CSA-C282 5.1 – Required components
• CSA-C282 6.4.1 – Performance – startup time requirements
• CSA-C282 6.8.1 – Temperature to ensure engine start
• CSA-C282 6.11.1 – Emergency lighting in enclosure required
• CSA-C282 6.15.1 - Load Testing Provisions
• CSA-C282 7.3 – Fuel supply requirements
• 7.3.1, 7.3.2 – Diesel
• 7.3.7 – Natural Gas
• CSA-C282 7.4 – Control Panel required
• Fault alarms to be local AND remotely to an annunciator (Table 1)
• CSA-C282 11 – Operation and Maintenance program
• 11.4 – Periodic testing requirements
 Emergency Generators – Continued…
• What about other building services (other than emergency
lighting)? What other life safety items would call for the installation
of an emergency generator?
• OBC 3.2.7.9:
• Two hours of emergency power supply FROM AN EMERGENCY
GENERATOR required for:
• Elevators in a high rise buildings
• Ventilation service that maintain air quality in:
• care and treatment facilities
• high rise buildings
• Fans required for venting to aid fire fighting in high rise
buildings
• Fire pumps
 Emergency Generators – Continued…
• It can be seen that emergency generators play an important
role, especially during fires. It is important that the system as
a whole run for as long as possible to assist with fire fighting
in a fire.
• OBC 3.2.7.10
• The power and control wiring that form part of the
emergency power system must be able to withstand
fire for a certain durations:
• OBC 3.2.7.10(2) – 1 hour for some applications
• OBC 3.2.7.10 (3) – 2 hours for others
• OBC 3.2.7.9 – Notable exception!
 Emergency Generators – Continued…
• CEC Section 46 provides rules for the INSTALLATION of
emergency power supply systems
• CEC 46-102:
• Testing frequency (agrees with OBC for non-health-care facilities)
• CEC 46-108(1,4,5):
• Separation of emergency system conductors from non-emergency
systems
• Appendix B, diagram B46-1
• Exception in Ontario – see ESA bulletin
• CEC 46-204:
• Reminder to fire rate conductors per Building Code
 Emergency Generators – Continued…
• Three options for achieving required fire protection:
1. Mineral Insulated Cable:
http://www.applied-tpg.com/media/31563/FRW_Com_Sys1850_Brochure.pdf

2. Fire Rated Armored Cable:

https://cl-pdfv10.ae-
admin.com/omnicable/files/AutoSpec_VITALink_MC_2_Hour_Fire_Rated
_Power_Cable_Cable.pdf

3. Fire rated service spaces with equivalent fire rated

material (drywall):
https://iaeimagazine.org/2009/may2009/achieving-fire-protection-of-electrical-
life-safety-circuits/
 Emergency Generators – Continued…

• Questions or Comments?
 Smoke Alarms
• What devices are required in single dwellings and dwelling
units to safeguard human life?
• Smoke Alarms
• Carbon Monoxide Alarms (fuel burning appliances are
present)
• What is a smoke alarm?
• In the OBC definitions section:
• “Smoke alarm means a combined smoke detector and
audible alarm device designed to sound an alarm
within the room or suite in which it is located on the
detection of smoke within that room or suite.”
• The same device that detects the smoke also sounds
an audible alarm
• Historically - Smoke alarms have
been available as audible alarms
only, and as:
• Battery operated
• Direct Wired (120V)
• Direct wired (120V) with battery as
backup power
• We will soon see that NONE of
these meet current OBC rules for 120V Direct Wired with Battery Backup
new construction

120V Direct Wired Battery Powered

 Smoke Alarms
• Required in both PART 3 buildings AND PART 9 buildings:

• OBC 3.2.4.22:
(1, 2, 3) – Where smoke alarms are required
(5(c), 12, 13, 14) – What they must be quipped with

• OBC Part 9:
9.10.19.1(1) – Where smoke alarms are required
9.10.19.3(1) – Where smoke alarms are required
9.10.19.1(2) – What they must be quipped with
9.10.19.2(1) – What they must be quipped with
9.10.19.3(4,5) – What they must be quipped with
 Smoke Alarms
• Until recently, smoke alarms were not required to have a
visual signaling component.
• Smoke alarms in new construction must now have a
visual signaling component as per OBC.
• Existing homes are not required to upgrade to meet this
requirement
 Smoke Alarms
• Suggested Floorplan Symbol:

LED Strobe

Smoke alarm with

visual signaling
component
 Smoke Alarms
• So to comply with current
OBC, smoke alarms must
now have:
• Connection to a 120V
circuit in the house
• Visual signaling component
• Backup power supply
(typically battery backup if
in houses)

Meets
Requirements
 Smoke Alarms
• Special Consideration must be given to the power circuit
connected to smoke alarms:
• Alarms are powered with 120V
• Low wattage requirement – typically 1 Watt

• We already have seen that they must have batteries for

backup in the case of a power failure

• PART 3: OBC 3.2.4.22(5)(a,b) – circuit requirement

• PART 9: OBC 9.10.19.4(1)(a,b) – circuit requirements
 Smoke Alarms
• Where OBC provides most requirements for smoke alarms,
the CEC supplements with additional ones – CEC Section 32
• Power supply to smoke alarms in dwelling units
(residential):
• CEC 32-200(1) – Additional circuit requirements
• Must be powered from a circuit that also powers:
• lighting or
• a mixture of lighting and receptacles
 Smoke Alarms
• Interconnection of Smoke Alarms:
• Part 3 - OBC 3.2.4.22(8)
• Part 9 - OBC 9.10.19.5
 Smoke Alarms
• Smoke alarms are three (3) wire devices because of this:
• Black and white wire for connection of 120V
• Red wire for interconnection signal so that if one alarm activates, all of
them will activate
 Smoke Alarms
• As we saw with Emergency
Power Supplies, the OBC
some times requires that
other standards are
followed:
• PART 3 – OBC 3.2.4.22(6)(b)
• PART 9 – OBC 9.10.19.4(b)

• BOTH parts call for smoke

alarms to be installed in
conformance with
CAN/ULC-S524
 Smoke Alarms
• Summary of CAN/ULC-S524
smoke alarm location Ceiling
requirements (Wall or Ceiling
mounted):
• Ceiling mounted:
• Locate no closer than
150mm from wall
• Wall mounted smoke alarms:
• Locate lower than 150mm
from ceiling, but higher than
300mm from ceiling Wall
• Keep this in mind when
locating smoke alarms on
floor plans CAN/ULC Installation Requirements for
Smoke Alarms
 Smoke Alarms

• Questions or Comments?
 Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• Requirement for Carbon Monoxide Alarms:
• What is Carbon Monoxide?
• Carbon monoxide, or “CO,” is an odorless, colorless
gas that can kill you.
• https://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm
• More than 50 people die each year from carbon
monoxide poisoning in Canada, including 11 on
average in Ontario.
• Produced when carbon-based fuels are incompletely
burned such as wood, propane, natural gas, heating
oil, coal, kerosene, charcoal, and gasoline
 Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• OBC requirements for Carbon Monoxide Alarms:
• For building outside of part 9, rules are found in Part 6:
• OBC 6.2.12 – Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• (1) – Application
• (2) – Location
• (3) – Installation

• For Part 9 buildings:

• OBC - 9.33.4 - Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• (1) – Application
• (2) – Location
• (3) – Installation
 Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• Carbon Monoxide Alarm Devices:
• No mention of visual signaling component… not required
for carbon monoxide alarms
 Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• Carbon Monoxide Alarm Devices:

120V direct connection type

for new construction

Plug-in type available for

existing houses, not for
new construction
 Smoke and CO Alarm
• One solution is now available to help cover all OBC
requirements outside of sleeping areas:
• Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm:

120V direct
connect
Smoke AND
CO Alarm

Battery
Visual Strobe
Backup
Signal
 Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• Design Examples:
• Selection and Layout
• Circuiting
• Single Dwelling
• Multi unit residential

• Questions or Comments?
Electrical Design II
(ELEC3110)

Winter 2023 - Week 11

 Topics
• Fire Alarm Systems:
• Purpose of a Fire Alarm System
• Characteristics and Classes of Fires
• Fire alarm systems:
• Components and devices
• Wiring
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Purpose of a Fire Alarm System:
• The primary purpose of fire alarm systems is to protect lives.
• The secondary purpose is to protect property and to initiate fire
fighting in the event of a fire.
• NOTE: The best way to fight a fire is to prevent it from starting by
avoiding circumstances that could initiate a fire.

• A fire consists of four main stages:

1. incipient stage
2. smouldering stage
3. flame stage
4. heat stage
 Fire Alarm Systems
1. Incipient Stage:
• This is the first stage of a fire.
• There is no smoke, and the heat being generated is almost
undetectable.
• The fire is just beginning to appear.
2. Smouldering Stage
• This is the second stage of a fire.
• Smoke is now visible and various toxic gases are present.
• The fire is now readily detectable. It is important to note that life
cannot be sustained where the smoke level in the air exceeds 6%.
• Most fire fatalities are caused by smoke inhalation and subsequent
damage to lung tissue.
• Even at this stage, some self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
is necessary to sustain life.
 Fire Alarm Systems
3. Flame Stage
• This is the third stage of a fire.
• Flame is now present but may be invisible, depending on the type of
material being consumed.
4. Heat Stage
• This is the fourth and final stage of a fire.
• In this stage, structural steel can buckle and the shattering of glass
windows adds to the hazards.
• Uncontrolled heat and rapidly expanding air complete the
development of the fire.
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Various
detectors are
available that
detect fires at
one or more of
these stages:
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Fire will not be able to start or grow if any of the following
events occur:
• Fuel is removed or
controlled.
• Oxygen is removed or
controlled.
• Heat is removed or
controlled.
• A chain reaction is
removed or controlled.
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Classes of Fire: Fire can be divided into four classes:
1. Class A: wood, paper, rags
2. Class B: vapour, air, gas, flammable liquids
3. Class C: electrical
4. Class D: combustible metals
 Fire Alarm Systems
• What is a fire alarm system?
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVjyDgFrb2g
 Fire Alarm Systems
• What is a fire alarm system?
• OBC rule 3.2.4.5:
• Fire alarm systems, including those with voice communication capability,
shall be installed in conformance with CAN/ULC-S524, “Installation of
Fire Alarm Systems”.
• According to CAN/ULC-S524:
• FIRE ALARM SYSTEM – A combination of interconnected devices
consisting of at least:
1. a control unit
2. a manual station and
3. an audible signal device
designed to warn the building occupants of an emergency fire condition.

• These components are the minimum required to be considered a fire alarm

system, but fire alarm systems generally need more components than this.
 Fire Alarm Systems
• What is a Control Unit?
• The control unit is the Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)
• It is the “brain” of the fire alarm system: a computerized panel that monitors
fire detection devices (inputs), and initiates fire alarm notification devices
(outputs) when a fire is detected.
• A fire alarm panel must be powered from a dedicated 120V 15A circuit
• Like emergency lighting, it MUST have a backup power supply such as
batteries, or emergency power from an emergency generator (OBC
3.2.7.8)

Floorplan Symbol:
 Fire Alarm Systems
• What is a Manual Station?
• Wall mounted device connected to the control station used by
building occupants to manually activate a fire alarm
• Also commonly called a “Pull Station”

Floorplan
Symbol:

Manual Station
 Fire Alarm Systems
• What is an Audible Signal Device?
• Audible notification device that tell occupants that a fire has been
detected
• Typically in hallways, open areas, washrooms... Very loud (+95dBA)

Floorplan Floorplan
Symbol: Symbol:

Fire Alarm Bell Fire Alarm Horn

 Fire Alarm Systems
• Minimum for a system to be considered a Fire Alarm System:

• Although this is the minimum required to be considered a fire

alarm system it is typically NOT sufficient to meet codes
without adding additional components
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Before discussing other components, let’s first consider when
a fire alarm system is required by code:
• Called for by OBC
• 3.2.4.1. Determination of Requirement for a Fire
Alarm System
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Fire alarm control panels often have LED displays that show
where it the building a fire alarm has been activated (i.e. fire
alarm zone)

LED Indicators
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Requirements for Zone Indication:
• OBC 3.2.4.9(1)
• OBC 3.2.4.9(2)
• OBC 3.2.4.9(3)
• OBC 3.2.4.9(5)
• Is zone indication required for every fire alarm system?

• If the fire alarm has zone indication built into it and it is

installed by the main building entrance, this can satisfy the
zone indication requirements.
• But what if the FACP is not installed at the main
entrance?
 Fire Alarm Systems
• If the FACP is not by the entrance, a device called an
“annunciator” can be placed by the entrance to tell fire fighters
where a fire alarm is active
ANNUNCIATOR
MAIN
ENTRANCE
DOOR

BASEMENT
SERVICE
ROOM

FACP
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Notification to the Fire Department
• OBC rule 3.2.4.8
• In certain circumstances, fire alarm system must have at least two
communication paths to automatically call/notify a fire alarm receiving
center (such as fire department or security monitoring company) if a
fire has been detected.
• Typically a wired telephone connection and a cellular phone
connection.
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Addition of fire alarm transmitter:

LEVEL 1 ANNUNCIATOR

MAIN
ENTRANCE
DOOR

BASEMENT
SERVICE
ROOM Fire
Alarm
Receiving
FACP Center

F.A. TRANSMITTER
 Fire Alarm Systems
• One main function of a fire alarm system is to automatically
detect a fire
• Devices exist to automatically initiate a fire alarm based on:
• Presence of Smoke – Smoke detectors:
• Ionization
• Photoelectric
• Presence of excessive heat – Heat detectors
• If the fire sprinkler system is activated
• Flow switch - to detect flow of water through sprinkler pipes
• If a fire sprinkler system valve has been closed
• Valve Tamper Switch - to detect if someone has moved a valve
handle
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Smoke and Heat Detectors:
- Signals to the FACP that smoke
Floorplan is being detected
Symbol: - Typical Locations:
• Hallways, open areas
• Stairwell landings
• Elevator machine rooms
Smoke Detector • Elevator lobbies
• Service rooms

Floorplan
Symbol: - Signals to the FACP that
excessive heat is being detected
- Typical locations:
• Storage rooms
Heat Detector • Elevator shafts
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Various
detectors are
available that
detect fires at
one or more of
these stages:
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Flow switches and Valve Tamper Switches:

Floorplan
Symbol: - Detects if water is flowing in the
fire sprinkler system, indicating
that a fire is in progress
Fire Sprinkler - Located at each valve in the fire
Flow Switch alarm system

Floorplan - Detects if anyone turns the water

Symbol: supply off to the fire alarm system
- Located at each valve in the
fire alarm system
- These devices are also known
as SUPERVISED VALVE
Fire Sprinkler Tamper Switch switches
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Flow switches and Valve Tamper Switches:
• These devices are not made specifically to connect to fire alarm systems
• Therefore, fire alarm auxiliary modules made for use with fire alarm systems
are typically used as a means to connect flow switches and valve tamper
switched to a fire alarm system

Example of a Fire
Alarm Input Module
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Manual stations and FACP
automatic detection Detection
devices must reliably Devices:
communicate fire
alarm events to the
fire alarm control
panel
• How can this be
done so that device
or circuit failures
will not go
undetected?
 Fire Alarm Systems
• We will now consider how fire alarm detection devices get
connected to a fire alarm control panel.

• There are two major generations of fire alarm systems:

1) Conventional Fire Alarm Systems:
• Developed in the mid-to-late 1800s
• Based on simple electrical circuits
• Still very practical for small building applications
• Limited capabilities
 Fire Alarm Systems
2) Addressable Fire Alarm Systems:
• Developed in the 1980’s
• Based on microprocessor technology
• Very practical for mid-to-large size building applications
• Advanced capabilities
• We will first be considering CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS in the next
several slides.
 Conventional Fire Alarm Systems
• Let’s say we want to wire all detection devices (manual and
automatic) in a fire alarm zone to one circuit from the FACP
• How can we construct a circuit so that:
• Circuit can tell FACP if any one detection device is activated
• Circuit can tell FACP if a device is disconnected

FACP
 Conventional Fire Alarm Systems
• In circuit that we created in the previous slide is what is called a
CLASS B fire alarm circuit.
• It reliably notifies the FACP of:
• Alarm – When fire is detected
• Trouble – When a device has been removed
• But what is a weakness of this system?
 Conventional Fire Alarm Systems
• How can we construct a circuit so that:
• Circuit can tell FACP if any one detection device is activated
• Circuit can tell FACP if a device is disconnected
• Continue to allow ALL fire alarm devices to initial an alarm even if a
trouble condition exists

FACP
 Conventional Fire Alarm Systems
• In circuit that we created in the previous slide is what is called a
CLASS A fire alarm circuit.
• It reliably notifies the FACP of:
• Alarm – When fire is detected
• Trouble – When a device has been removed
• All detection devices can still initiate an alarm even one device has been
disconnected anywhere in the circuit

• One conventional fire alarm detection circuit mut be provided

from the fire alarm panel to each fire alarm zone. All detection
devices in that zone are connected to the zone detection circuit
for its respective fire alarm zone.
 Addressable Fire Alarm Systems
• Addressable fire alarm detection circuits:
• Also use a two wire circuit, but loop back to the FACP (very much like a
Conventional Class A fire alarm circuit)
• But the fire alarm devices use the wiring for communications, not just
switching ON/OFF based on normal/trouble/fire
• Each device can individually tell the FACP it’s status, and the FACP
can display exactly which detector is activated

FACP
 Addressable Fire Alarm Systems
• Addressable fire LEVEL 1
alarm detection
circuits:
• If one Addressable
fire alarm circuit is
provided for each
fire alarm zone, BASEMENT
this is know as a SERVICE
DCLA type wiring ROOM

FACP
 Addressable Fire Alarm Systems
• One benefit of an LEVEL 1
addressable system is
that one circuit can serve
more than one fire alarm
zone if a FAULT
ISOLATION MODULE is
placed on either side the
zone’s fire separation BASEMENT
• This wiring is known SERVICE
ROOM
as DCLC type wiring

FACP
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Let’s now begin to look at where detection devices need to
be located within a building
• Where are manual stations required within a building?
• OBC 3.2.4.18. - Manual Pull Stations
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Heat detectors and smoke detectors are types of fire detectors
(devices used to detect fire)
• Where are they required within buildings?
• OBC 3.2.4.11. - Fire Detectors
• OBC 3.2.4.12. - Smoke and Heat Detectors
• OBC 3.2.4.13. - Prevention of Smoke Circulation
• OBC 3.2.4.15. - Elevator Emergency Return
• OBC 3.2.4.16. - Sprinklers in Lieu of Fire Detectors
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Further requirements for smoke detectors in stair shafts is
provided in CAN/ULC S524:

• One at top of
stair shaft

• One every third

floor down
 Fire Alarm Systems
• Further requirements for fire detectors (smoke or heat) large
open spaces and hallways is provided by CAN/ULC S524:
 Fire Alarm Systems
• CAN/ULC states that every fire alarm must also include:
• Fire Alarm Riser Diagram (see examples in eConestoga)
• Zone Schedule (A.K.A Sequence of Operations Table) – devices for
each zone must be described