NFPA 72 fire alarm monitoring

[Jeng84]

I have a campus with a protected premises fire alarm system (addressable). We're now adding a new building, it's an electrical equipment enclosure ~375SF, which would not need a fire alarm system per code (IBC 2021) however the Owner wants to install smoke detectors and manual pull station anyway. Are these devices required per NFPA 72 to be tied into the campus fire alarm network and monitored for alarm, supervisory and trouble signals? Or because it's a voluntary system it can be standalone and not connected and monitored?

 

[cdafd]

Well at first I was going to say monitoring required


Than the answer by the book is no

​

2021 ibc​

907.6.6 Monitoring​

Fire alarm systems required by this chapter or by the International Building Code shall be monitored by an approved supervising station in accordance with NFPA 72.
Exception: Monitoring by a supervising station is not required for:

1. Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms required by Section 907.2.11.
2. Smoke detectors in Group I-3occupancies.
3. Automatic sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings.

No fire sprinkler system??

college does not want it?

Ahj in someway does not require it??

I would highly recommend it be monitored, instead of waiting for fire and smoke coming out of the building,,, to alert someone


just some thoughts

For the record nfpa 72 is a design/ install standard.

Does not require monitoring..

 

[Jeng84]

Well at first I was going to say monitoring required


Than the answer by the book is no

​

2021 ibc​

907.6.6 Monitoring​

Fire alarm systems required by this chapter or by the International Building Code shall be monitored by an approved supervising station in accordance with NFPA 72.
Exception: Monitoring by a supervising station is not required for:

1. Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms required by Section 907.2.11.
2. Smoke detectors in Group I-3occupancies.
3. Automatic sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings.

No fire sprinkler system??

college does not want it?

Ahj in someway does not require it??

I would highly recommend it be monitored, instead of waiting for fire and smoke coming out of the building,,, to alert someone


just some thoughts

For the record nfpa 72 is a design/ install standard.

Does not require monitoring..

Thanks - this is very helpful!
No sprinkler system - it is not needed by code (or AHJ) and because the enclosure houses electrical equipment the Owner does not want to install it.

The reason I brought up NFPA 72 is because of clause 23.3.4.1 (2025 edition) for Nonrequired (voluntary) system and components which states " Nonrequired protected premises systems and components shall meet the requirements of this Code" and then the following sections has required features.

But you brought up a good point with the IBC section 907.6.6 as it both states "required systems" shall be monitored (this is not required) and monitoring by supervising stations is not required for single and multiple-station smoke alarms, as this only has 2 smoke detectors and a pull station I guess it can be considered a multiple-station smoke alarm.

 

[cdafd]

If it looks like a fire alarm system,,,, I call it a fire alarm system.

I guess the smokes are spaced per 72?

Still should be monitored.

How many sq ft???

 

[Jeng84]

Only 375 SF, yes the smokes are spaced per NFPA 72