At Affiliated Fire Systems, we often get asked about a smoke detector’s lifespan . Specifically, when should a building manager replace smoke detectors? There is no hard and fast lifespan for a commercial smoke detector. To be clear, commercial smoke detectors are connected to a fire alarm panel, not the battery operated devices you can [Read More]
Elevator Recall Activation
I recently had a question asked about whether two smoke detectors are required to activate simultaneously in a single elevator lobby in order for cab recall to be initiated. The answer is there is no current national code that requires two detectors to activate before recall occurs. The two detector activation is what we call ‘cross zoning’, and [Read More]
High Rise Fire Safety in Chicago, Part IV
As a recap, in our first post on this subject, we defined how the Chicago High Rise Ordinance originated. In our second post, we looked at why the compliancy rate was low. In our previous post, we discussed how a residential high rise life safety score is determined. Let’s now look at what the impact [Read More]
High Rise Fire Safety in Chicago, Part III
by 1 Comment
In our last post on the Chicago Life Safety Ordinance, commonly referred to as the Chicago High Rise Ordinance, we looked at some of the reasons a majority of residential high rises in Chicago are not compliant with the ordinance. Let’s now look at what the owners & managers of these buildings are up against [Read More]
Fire Alarm System Testing & Inspection, Part II
In our last post, we discussed why regular testing and inspection of a facility’s life safe system is both required and in a property manager’s best interest. What, then, should a proper test and inspection consist of? In this post, we’ll address proper smoke detector testing. A true test of a fire alarm system ensures the system will [Read More]
Fire Alarm System Testing & Inspection, Part I
Commercial fire alarm systems are a lot like referees. You really shouldn’t notice them until they are needed. How does a property owner or manager keep it that way, plus know that it will work when needed? A proper test and inspection of the system is the answer. Most municipalities require an annual test and [Read More]
High Rise Fire Safety in Chicago, Part II
by 2 Comments
Last week we introduced the Chicago Life Safety Ordinance and some of its requirements. Click here to review. This week we’ll answer the question we left off with: Why are some high rises fully compliant and some not compliant at all? As a response to the differences in economic and occupancy realities between residential high [Read More]
Can I put more than one sprinkler valve monitor on a single point?
Physically, you can obviously put the sprinkler devices on the same addressable circuit if there’s capacity on it. If you have a non-addressable fire alarm system or want to combine a number of valves onto a single addressable module, the valves must annunciate distictly if they have a dissimilar function. In other words, if approved by [Read More]
Chicago Life Safety Evaluation 2012 – Information on Amendments
by 2 Comments
The Chicago City Council passed two amendments to the Chicago Building Code (CBC) addressing life safety deficiencies in high rise buildings built prior to 1975. Previously, these buildings were exempted from the CBC’s life safety requirements. Collectively, they are commonly and alternatively referred to as the High Rise Building Ordinance, the High Rise Sprinkler Ordinance, [Read More]
Follow Us!