The fire alarm requirements in Chicago have always been somewhat unique from other large cities and definitely different than the suburban requirements. That’s expected, but the accumulation of requirements via policies, memorandums and rules rather than by municipal code made keeping track of specific requirements difficult. The implementation of the new Title 14B of the [Read More]
New Chicago Construction Code Impact on Fire Alarm Shop Drawings
A brief overview of the new City of Chicago shop drawing requirements.
New Chicago Construction Code Occupancy Types
In a previous blog, we discussed which Chicago Construction Codes have already been updated, which are going to be updated on 8/1/20 and which are going to be updated in 2021. We’ve also reviewed one of the upcoming changes to fire alarm requirements in Chicago. In this blog, we’ll continue to identify changes to required [Read More]
What Are The Changes In The New Chicago Fire Code?
We’ve been asked by many design firms and installers whether the adoption of the new Chicago Building Code (CBC) will affect the existing requirements for fire alarm systems. The actual changes to the Chicago Fire Code won’t be adopted until 2021, but there are changes in the new CBC that can affect fire alarms systems [Read More]
What Are the Changes In The New Chicago Construction Code?
The Chicago Construction Codes are about to undergo a major update on August 1, 2020. At this time, they are generally grouped together under Titles 13, 15 and 18 of the Chicago Municipal Code, but will be broken out into their own sub-titles in Title 14. A letter designation will title the sub-tile to reflect [Read More]
Can I Install an Emergency Voice System Without a Microphone?
I was recently asked whether a designer that wanted to use a voice message as a general alarm announcement for a fire alarm system that would not by code require an emergency voice system, be required to have a microphone installed as well. I hadn’t run into that situation before, but it makes sense to [Read More]
Is it appropriate to put a fire alarm panel in an unconditioned space?
It can be hard to find a good home for the fire alarm panel. If the owner doesn’t want the panel in the entrance and there isn’t space in an electrical room, it tends to be put in a ‘back of the house’ location. What if the best choice is an unconditioned space (no temperature [Read More]
New Electrical Code for the City of Chicago
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The City of Chicago has adopted the 2017 version of NFPA 70 (NEC) as its new electrical code, with amendments of course. The new code is set to become effective on March 1, 2018. I’ve got a copy of that new code and have begun going over the fire alarm/voice evacuation section to find variations [Read More]
Can I use a CO duct detector in lieu of a spot CO detector?
Carbon monoxide detection requirements can be confusing given the differences between existing and new building requirements, knowing where the detectors should be located and whether you need them at all. Any building that uses a fossil fuel burning appliance should have CO detection. The locations for that detection are varied and a subject for another [Read More]
Can I use a PBX phone line for a DACT connection to the fire department?
With the impending discontinuation of the hard copper (POTS) phone lines, and in fact many municipalities already no longer have hard copper pairs from end user to the fire department dispatch center, is it a violation of NFPA 72 if the DACT connections to the fire department use PBX phone lines? Some fire alarm system [Read More]
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