HomeMy WebLinkAbout401.012 - Fire Alarm System SpecificationsEffective Date: October 2016 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/22/2025 Section 401.012
Next Revision Date: 7/22/2028 Page 1 of 9
Fresno City Fire Department
400 Prevention Manual
SECTION 401.012 FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to clarify the Fresno Fire Department’s (FFD or
Department) requirements related to the preparation and submission of all non-
electronic fire alarm system (and similar) construction documents.
APPLICATION
This policy applies to all permit applicants submitting non-electronic fire alarm system
(and similar) construction documents to FFD for review. This policy applies to all
locations within the City of Fresno (COF) and contract service areas and to both
required and voluntary fire alarm systems.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
Based upon the need for uniformity in application across the Department’s diverse
service delivery area, and after careful deliberation, the Department has determined
the following:
1. Fire alarm systems are to be drawn with care by a trained person meeting all
of the requirements found within the applicable laws, codes, ordinances, or
standards.
2. Construction documents shall be drawn on a minimum of twenty-four-inch by
thirty-six-inch (24” x 36”) paper and shall be drawn to an indicated scale of not
less than one-eighth inch (1/8’) = one foot (1’).
3. All notes and other information on each plan sheet must be a minimum of
twelve-point (12pt.) font or larger. Fonts must be either: Engineers font,
Architects font, Arial font or Calibri font. Construction documents using
unusual, illegible, or difficult to read fonts will not be accepted for review. The
Fire Marshal, or designee, will make the determination of legibility and
acceptability, and the determination will be final.
4. A clear area of not less than four-inches by six-inches (4” x 6”) shall be located
in the bottom right-hand corner of each plan sheet (excluding the title block).
This area must be free of any text, mark, etc., to facilitate the marking of
construction documents by Department staff.
Effective Date: October 2016 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/22/2025 Section 401.012
Next Revision Date: 7/22/2028 Page 2 of 9
5. Drawings are required to generally be organized based upon the United States
Department of Energy, Fundamentals Handbook for Engineering Symbology,
Prints, and Drawings (Vols. 1 & 2) (1993 ed., 2015 upd.). Available for
download at:
https://www.standards.doe.gov/standards-documents/1000/1016-bhdbk-
1993-v1
6. Drawing line weights, match lines (where used) and legibility (including printed
pages) must be in accordance with either the United States Department of
Energy, Fundamentals Handbook for Engineering Symbology, Prints, and
Drawings (Vols. 1 & 2) (1993 ed., 2015 upd.), or the latest edition of the
American Institute of Architects design guidelines.
7. All fire protection symbols must be in accordance with National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) 170 Standard for Fire Safety and Emergency Symbols
(2021 ed.) where a symbol is provided.
8. Each of the following items shall be included on the fire alarm system plan
submittal booklet (these items will be verified by FFD support staff during their
completeness review). Construction documents will not be accepted for review
if this information is not present:
A. A detailed scope of work for the project including a description sufficient
to clearly indicate the location, nature and extent of the work. A scope
of work indicating “installation of a fire alarm system”, or similar non-
descript scoping is insufficient to gain approval, and construction
documents will not be accepted for review.
B. Name of owner, occupant, or contracted construction firm.
C. Location of the project, including the City of Fresno officially assigned
address, and the City of Fresno building permit number.
D. An estimated value of the work for which the permit is being issued. The
estimated valuation shall include the total value of work, including
materials and labor, for which the permit is being issued.
NOTE: Where, in the opinion of the Fire Marshal (or designee) the
valuation appears to be underestimated, the permit will be denied unless
the permit applicant can show detailed estimates acceptable to the Fire
Marshal (or designee). The Fire Marshal (or designee) has the authority
to adjust the final valuation for permit fees, regardless of valuation
proposed by the permit applicant.
Effective Date: October 2016 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/22/2025 Section 401.012
Next Revision Date: 7/22/2028 Page 3 of 9
E. Name of the installing contractor, address, phone number, license
classification and license number, with wet stamp and signature on each
plan sheet.
F. The California Building Code (CBC) occupancy group and whether the
building is equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system.
G. Equipment legend. Equipment legends shall be prepared in the format
shown on the sample legend at the end of this policy.
H. Signal transmission means shall be in accordance with NFPA 72
requirements for all signals. When using a radio transmission signal,
the designer must note whether the transmitter used is for use as a
single transmission path or as a secondary path (drawing must reflect
the applicable installation).
I. In addition to all of the information noted in this document, the
construction documents and submittal booklet shall also contain all
documentation required as noted in NFPA 72 Chapter 7. As noted in
the adopted referenced standard, this information constitutes the
minimum amount of information required to be submitted to the authority
having jurisdiction.
9. Each of the following items must be included on the fire alarm system plan
sheets (these items will be verified by FFD support staff during their
completeness review). Construction documents will not be accepted for review
if this information is not present:
A. A site plan of the location on the drawing. A site plan must show the layout
of the building relative to public streets and private drives. A location pin
from mapping software does not meet the requirements of a site plan.
B. The CBC occupancy group and construction type of the proposed building.
C. The room use, square footage measurements, room dimensions, finished
ceiling heights and occupant loads (in assembly areas) within each space.
D. If delayed egress is being requested.
Note: Additional notes, etc., are required for delayed egress submittals.
E. Fire alarm sequence of operation matrix. Matrices must be prepared in the
format shown on the sample matrix at the end of this policy.
Effective Date: October 2016 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/22/2025 Section 401.012
Next Revision Date: 7/22/2028 Page 4 of 9
F. Equipment legend. Equipment legends must be prepared in the format
shown at the end of this policy.
G. HVAC systems that flow a cumulative two thousand (2,000) cfm of supply
air must be interconnected to the fire alarm system and have automatic shut
off. Each HVAC unit must shut off when any unit detects smoke (global
shutoff). Construction documents and the sequence of operation matrix
must include HVAC supervision in accordance with the California
Mechanical Code (CMC).
i. See: OSFM bulletin 08-065 at:
http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/CODEINTERPRETATION/pdf/2008/08_065.pdf
ii. See: Fire Prevention Policy, Section 407.004, HVAC Shut Off for Fire
Alarm Systems.
H. Voltage drop calculations must use a starting voltage of 20.4V.
I. If using an exception found in NFPA 72 or the CFC, it is the
designer/contractor’s responsibility to provide adequate and necessary
documentation to use the exception(s). Alternate detector spacing, etc.,
must be noted in a sufficient and acceptable manner. The Fire Marshal, or
designee, will make the determination of acceptability, and the
determination is final.
J. Complete fire alarm riser diagram.
K. All information required as noted in NFPA 72 Chapter 7.
L. All construction documents must include the design sound pressure levels
to be produced as noted in NFPA 72 Chapter 18. This information must be
shown on the construction documents.
M. All building fire alarms installed in buildings deemed as critical infrastructure
by the Fire Marshal, or designee must have Class A or Class X wiring
installed for each circuit as noted in NFPA 72.
N. Resubmittals:
i. Revisions or changes must be called out with a cloud or delta. Each
re-submittal is required to have a new numbered delta, and previous
clouds or deltas must be removed. Submittals, addendums,
revisions, etc., without proper clouding, an associated delta, or other
substantial clarifying notes regarding the scope of work will not be
accepted for review. Changes made on construction documents
Effective Date: October 2016 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/22/2025 Section 401.012
Next Revision Date: 7/22/2028 Page 5 of 9
between versions, etc., that are not identified with a cloud or delta
are not approved. Addendum construction documents must be in
accordance with Fire Prevention Policy, Section 401.016, Fire
Related Construction Addenda.
10. Standard notes that shall be included on every set of construction documents
(verbatim):
A. It is the contractor’s responsibility to make work available for inspection.
B. A copy of the approved plan set shall be on site during any fire department
inspection.
C. Contractor required to provide decibel meter during final acceptance testing
to field verify audible characteristics. No final will be given by the
Department unless required audibility is field verified.
D. Installation shall comply with California Electrical Code (CEC), §300.21,
regarding penetrations through fire resistive assemblies to prevent the
spread of fire and toxic products of combustion.
E. All other extinguishing systems (i.e., commercial cooking, clean agent, etc.)
will be/or are interconnected to the fire alarm control panel as required,
including on the sequence of operation.
F. Exterior components shall be mounted in a weather tight manner.
G. The wiring pathway designations and survivability level shall be shown in
accordance with NFPA 72.
H. Fire Alarm Record of Completion to be provided to the Department at final.
I. A complete copy of the approved plan set shall be on site during any fire
department inspection.
J. Alarm bell shall not be on a silence-able zone.
K. All existing equipment. Existing equipment is to be noted with an (E) on all
submittal documents, if applicable.
L. Dwelling units and sleeping units visible alarm notification appliances per
CFC §907.5.2.3.2 Group R-1 and R-2.1, if applicable.
M. All dwelling units and sleeping units shall be provided with capability to
support visible alarm notification appliances CFC §907.5.2.3.3, Group R-2,
if applicable.
Effective Date: October 2016 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/22/2025 Section 401.012
Next Revision Date: 7/22/2028 Page 6 of 9
N. Designer has verified all new fire alarm equipment to be installed is
backward compatible with existing fire alarm equipment, if applicable.
O. “Shall not be used as a licensed daycare.”, if applicable.
P. “No napping permitted.”, if applicable.
Q. All applicable code references must be provided (i.e., 2016 NFPA 72
w/California Amendments, etc.)
R. “No delayed egress or access control allowed with this permit”.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
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PROCESS
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INFORMATION
As noted in the California Fire Code (CFC), the fire code official has the authority to
formulate policies they deem necessary based upon local conditions related to
construction documents for all systems and applications.
Effective Date: October 2016 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/22/2025 Section 401.012
Next Revision Date: 7/22/2028 Page 7 of 9
Effective Date: October 2016 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/22/2025 Section 401.012
Next Revision Date: 7/22/2028 Page 8 of 9
DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
California Building Code, currently adopted edition
California Fire Code, currently adopted edition
California Mechanical Code, currently adopted edition
California Electrical Code, currently adopted edition
National Fire Protection Association, Standard 72 - National Fire Alarm and
Signaling Code, currently adopted edition
National Fire Protection Association, Standard 170 - Standard for Fire Safety and
Emergency Symbols, currently adopted edition
Effective Date: October 2016 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/22/2025 Section 401.012
Next Revision Date: 7/22/2028 Page 9 of 9
United States Department of Energy, Fundamentals Handbook for Engineering
Symbology, Prints, and Drawings (Vols. 1 & 2) (1993 ed., 2015 upd.)
Sample Equipment Legend
Sample Matrix