Updates Regarding Code Changes on the Installation, Inspection and Testing of Smoke Alarms, Carbon Monoxide Alarms & Fire Alarm Systems – September, 2009

The Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code has been updated effective June 15, 2009. All fire alarm system installation, inspection and testing must be in compliance with the National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72), 2002 edition, as amended for Vermont. A complete copy of these rules is available at http://www.dps.state.vt.us/fire/rules.htm.

Highlights of the code changes and interpretations include:

• NFPA 1: 1.13.1 (6) - Certificate of Fitness (TQP) Renewal for inspection and testing of fire alarm systems: A person with a current commercial fire alarm license, type – S G7c, will no longer need to document 8 hours of approved related instruction to renew a certificate of fitness because the related instruction has already been documented for renewal of the type – S license. A person with a current master or journeyman electricians license is required to have a certificate of fitness for inspection and testing of fire alarm systems, including the initial acceptance testing as required by NFPA 72: 10.4.1.1. A person with a current master or journeyman electricians license is still required to document 8 hours of related instruction on fire alarms to renew a certificate of fitness.
• NFPA 1: 1.13.8.1 – Certificate of Fitness (TQP) Renewal forms: A person must now complete and sign a statement regarding the status of any fines, penalties or unemployment compensation that is due the state, in addition to the previous statements in regards to tax and child support.
• NFPA 1: 1.4.5.8.5 – Fire Alarm Inspection documentation: Inspection reports for fire alarm systems that list violations must now also list the code citation for each violation. The inspection report must be sent to the Division of Fire Safety regional office within 14 days of completion of the inspection.
• NFPA 1: 11.5.4.1 – Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms where there are Through the Wall Vents: A CO alarm is now required adjacent to a fuel-fired heating appliance where the appliance is vented through the wall and terminates less than 7 feet above ground level. A CO alarm must be located as established in the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the distance between the CO alarm and the appliance (normally 10 – 15 feet but varies by manufacturer). An additional CO alarm adjacent to the appliance is not required where CO alarms are correctly installed in the building as otherwise required by the code for all buildings where people sleep.
• NFPA 1: 13.7.1.4.5.1 - Fire Alarm Circuit Classification: Class “A” wiring is now required for new fire alarm systems in high risk buildings including healthcare, detention, residential board and care and assembly occupancies with more than 300 people, to improve the reliability of the system.
• NFPA 1: 13.7.1.4.8.6 - Photoelectric Smoke Alarms: All newly installed smoke alarms, including replacement smoke alarms, are now required to be photoelectric. Combination photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms are not permitted. Existing ionization smoke alarms are not required to be replaced unless installed in dwelling units within 20’ of a cooking appliance, or within close proximity (3’) of a bathroom containing a shower or tub. Ionization smoke alarms in these areas are required to be replaced with photoelectric smoke alarms to avoid nuisance alarms. Combination photoelectric and carbon monoxide alarms are permitted.
• NFPA 1: 13.7.1.4.10.2 - Emergency Forces Notification to alert the fire department of a fire or other emergency;
  • High Risk Occupancies: Emergency forces notification for buildings classified as healthcare, detention & correctional, residential board & care, assembly with more than 300 people, and all high rise buildings, is now required to be accomplished by a dedicated line to the fire department, the dispatching agency for the fire department or an approved central or remote station. A dedicated line means that the line is used only for emergency forces notification and is not used for other purposes. The secondary transmission means is permitted to be any type acceptable under NFPA 72.
  • All Other Occupancies: Emergency forces notification required for any other building classification is permitted to be by any means acceptable under NFPA 72. Specific means of transmission are covered under section 72: 8.5.3. Performance requirements for other transmission technologies are covered under section 72: 8.5.4. The intent of section 8.5.4 is that any alternative transmission technology provide similar quality and reliability as a utility provided service by monitoring the line for integrity, signal verification, providing battery back up and ensuring security and maintenance of the system. The building fire alarm equipment including the fire alarm system transmitter and the supervising station receiving equipment are required to be listed as fire alarm equipment and the communications equipment in the building is required to be listed as applicable for general-purpose communications equipment.
• NFPA 1: 13.7.1.4.10.2 - Fire Alarm Control Panel Marking: The control panel for all fire alarm systems must now be marked with information as to the method of emergency forces notification. The information must include the means of transmission, the servicing contractor and the location of the associated equipment. The information must be provided for both the primary and secondary means of transmission. Information from more than one contractor may be required for some buildings. Where the owner fails to have the information provided by a contractor(s) it is considered a code violation and must be reported on the annual inspection report.
• NFPA 1: 13.7.1.4.10.2 - Marking of Connections used for Emergency Forces Notification: Connections of wiring to all panels or appliances used for the emergency forces notification are now required to be identified at each connection point within the building to assist in the periodic inspection of the fire alarm system and minimize the change that wires are inadvertently disconnected.
• NFPA 1: 13.7.1.4.10.4 - Exemption for Single Line Transmission of Emergency Forces Notification: A secondary transmission means is no longer required where emergency forces notification is provided in a building where it is not otherwise required by the code.
• NFPA 1: 13.7.3.2.7.2 – Testing for Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms: CO alarms and all CO detectors that are part of an alarm system are required to be tested as directed in the manufacturer’s instructions when installed and then annually after that. An owner or tenant may conduct monthly testing as required by NFPA 720.
• Note in regards to NFPA 101: 9.9.1 – Audibility of CO Alarms: Carbon Monoxide alarms (detectors) installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions in one-two family dwellings are considered in compliance with the requirements for audibility under NFPA 72 and 720. Carbon Monoxide alarms (detectors) installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions are also considered in compliance with the requirements for audibility under NFPA 72 and 720 for apartments when the design of the apartment unit is consistent with a single family dwelling unit, however, where Carbon Monoxide alarms (detectors) are located remote from the bedroom area, or where doors have been designed to keep out noise, the audibility of Carbon Monoxide alarms (detectors) may not meet the requirements established under section 5.1.2.1 & 5.3.2 of NFPA 720. The audibility standard may also be difficult to meet in a lodging & rooming facility or a hotel or dormitory where doors are designed to keep out noise. Where additional sound is needed the sound level can be increased by decreasing the spacing of Carbon Monoxide alarms (detectors) or by placing Carbon Monoxide alarms (detectors) in each bedroom. Where Carbon Monoxide alarms (detectors) are installed in each bedroom Carbon Monoxide alarms (detectors) are not required in the corridor or common area.
• Note in regards to NFPA 101: 19.3.4.6 – Location of Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms in Health Care facilities: Location of Carbon Monoxide alarms (detectors) at each nursing station in health care facilities enables staff to monitor any level of Carbon Monoxide and to take appropriate action prior to an alarm condition. A CO alarm using a direct digital readout of CO amounts is recommended for this purpose.
• Note in regards to NFPA 72: 1.4, 10.1.4 and 10.2.1.2 – Inspection, Testing & Maintenance of Fire Alarm Systems: The requirements of NFPA 72, Chapter 10, apply to both new and existing fire alarm systems, in regards to inspection, testing and maintenance. System defects and malfunctions must be corrected. If a defect or malfunction is not corrected at the time of the inspection then the owner must receive a written inspection report identifying the defect or malfunction within 24 hours. The notification to the owner may be by email transmission with delivery confirmation. The Division of Fire Safety regional office must be notified when a required fire alarm system is out of service for more than 4 hours. The requirements in other chapters of NFPA 72 are generally not retroactive unless the existing situation involves a distinct hazard to life or property. The change of use of a building or rehabilitation work in a building may require the general updating of a fire alarm system.
• Smoke Alarms for single-family and manufacture housing - Photoelectric smoke alarms are now required to be installed in new owner occupied single-family dwellings and in dwellings that are sold or transferred. The smoke alarms must be located in the vicinity of any bedrooms and on each level of the dwelling. Combination photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms are not permitted in these locations to avoid nuisance alarms. Smoke alarms installed in a dwelling constructed after January 1, 1994 must be directly wired to the building electrical service and have a battery back up.
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms for single-family and manufactured housing: One or more carbon monoxide alarms are now required to be installed in new owner occupied single-family dwellings and in dwellings that are sold or transferred. The CO alarm(s) must be located in the vicinity of any bedrooms in the dwelling. Combination photoelectric and carbon monoxide alarms are permitted. Carbon monoxide alarms installed in a dwelling constructed after July 1, 2005 must be directly wired to the building electrical service and have a battery back up.
• Responsibility:
  • It is the responsibility of the person conducting inspection and testing of fire alarm and detection systems to obtain and keep current a certificate of fitness (TQP) under the Vermont Fire and Building Safety Code.
  • It is the responsibility of the person conducting and testing fire alarm and detection systems to conduct the inspection and testing in accordance with NFPA 72 and related Vermont amendments.
  • It is the responsibility of the person conducting and testing fire alarm and detection systems to report any impairments not corrected at the conclusion of the inspection to the owner or owner’s representative in writing within 24 hours. A copy of the inspection report must be filed with the Division of Fire Safety regional office within 14 days.
  • It is the responsibility of the owner to hire a person with a certificate of fitness to conduct the inspection and tests for fire alarm and detection systems at least annually to cover all intervals of testing frequency for the system and correct any impairment that is found.
  • It is the responsibility of the owner to provide fire alarm system emergency forces notification for the occupancy types specified in the Life Safety Code, as amended under the Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code. 
  • It is the responsibility of the supervising station to notify the owner when the means of communication between the protected premises and the supervising station is missed or delayed beyond what is allowed under NFPA 72. If the deficiency is not corrected or continues to be a problem the supervising station must provide documentation to the AHJ. 
  • It is the responsibility of the supervising station to immediately retransmit an alarm signal to the fire department.