Fire Protection Engineers, installers and code enforcers should be aware of the new smoke detection placement requirements in the 2010 edition of NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. The new requirements – applicable to one- and two-family dwellings, guest rooms of hotels, dormitories and dwelling units in apartment buildings – are intended to reduce unwanted alarms from smoke alarms or smoke detectors installed near fixed or stationary cooking appliances. If you are installing fire detection in these types of dwellings, compliance with these new requirements is essential for optimum detection performance and higher immunity to unwanted activations.
Archive for the ‘ Residential ’ Category
Green Building Integrates Fire and Automation Systems
360 State Street — Connecticut’s greenest and largest residential development — is the first new major residential construction in New Haven in over 15 years. Situated just three blocks from both Yale University and historic Wooster Square, the 32-story, 700,000-square-foot building offers 500 rental residences in its 27-story tower. Occupancies range from studios to three [...]
CO Alarm Alerts Resident During Power Outage
Life-threatening carbon monoxide (CO) buildup can happen anywhere flame-fueled appliances or motors are used. Because CO is odorless and tasteless, there is no way for occupants to recognize its existence without CO detection. Although most incidents happen during cold months, it is not exclusively a seasonal precaution. CO detection saves lives because it detects, in very early stages, when the highly toxic gas is present.
Product: i3™ Smoke Detectors for Residential Applications
System Sensor i3™ photoelectric smoke detector/sounders offer installation ease, intelligence and instant inspection in the home to help ensure continuous operation. In 2003, fire departments responded to 388,500 home structure fires that resulted in the deaths of 3,145 people (excluding firefighters) in the United States, according to a Public-Private Fire Safety Council white paper titled [...]
Factors to Address in Fire- and Life-Safety Design
Robert E. Solomon, P.E., National Fire Protection Association, tells how identifying building use, occupancy and other factors impacts planning for an appropriate system. A comprehensive fire- and life-safety design requires a cohesive blend of alarm/detection capabilities, an appropriate suppression system and a number of other building construction features that depend on occupancy, type of facility [...]
Case History – Condo Retrofit Fixes Problems from a Previous Retrofit
New notification devices and control panels are part of a much-needed upgrade for a luxury Florida condo building.
A complete renovation of the fire and life safety systems was needed for a Sarasota, Florida, condominium building built in 1976. The Lido Surf and Sand Condominiums building, located on Lido Beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast, had numerous problems with substandard wiring, inferior workmanship and outdated equipment, stemming from a previous retrofit. A new system, consisting of Silent Knight fire alarm control panels and System Sensor notification devices, brought the building and its residents to an entirely new level of protection and life-safety readiness.
Guidelines – ICC Strengthens CO, Smoke Detector Codes
The International Code Council (ICC) has published new requirements for carbon monoxide (CO) detection and revised requirements for smoke detectors. These provisions are covered in the ICC’s International Residential Code (IRC) for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses and occurred when the ICC membership overturned two recommendations of the IRC committee.

