DETECTION:

NFPA 72 (UAE Life and Safety Code) requires:

Complete coverage of a building including all rooms, halls, storage areas, basements, attics, lofts, space above suspended ceilings, and
other subdivisions and accessible spaces.
1. Exceptions:
a. Where the ceiling is attached directly to the underside of the supporting beams of a combustible roof or floor detect.
b. No combustible material exists in the space.
c. Where small concealed spaces exist over rooms (less than 4.6m 2).
d. In spaces that are formed by joists in walls, floors or ceilings where the distance between joists is less than 150mm.
e. Below open grid ceiling for ceilings as per 17.5.3.1.3.
2. Smoke Detection:
a. Spacing shall be as is indicated on the right for smooth ceilings (9m). Rooms 84m2 or less shall only require 1 smoke
detector. Detectors shall be mounted 100mm away from walls minimum.
b. Ceiling can be considered smooth with beam depths of less than 10% of the ceiling height.
c. Ceilings with beam depths greater than 10% of ceiling height see 17.7.3.2.4.2 unless room is less than 84m2 then
smooth ceiling spacing may be permitted (i.e. 1 Detector).
d. Sloped ceilings see 17.7.3.2.4.3.-17.7.3.2.4.6.
e. Concealed accessible spaces above suspended ceilings and below raised floor shall be treated as separate rooms and
smoke detection should be provided. Should these spaces also be used for return air plenums they must conform to
17.5.3.14 or 17.7.4.2. Refer to 9.2 for raised floors 400mm above floor level and 9.3 for suspending ceilings above
800mm or containing combustible materials.
f. Smoke detectors are required in environmental air ducts or plenums used by the HVAC system. These detectors must
be suitably rated for this environment, open area detectors should not be used i.e. where detectors are required for
smoke spread control 17.5.5 shall apply and in open area protection 17.7.3 shall apply.
g. Smoke detectors in concealed spaces (i.e. ceiling voids) more than 3m above the finished floor shall be provided with
a remote alarm or supervisory indicator. Requirements for remote alarm indicators can be found in 17.4.7.1-17.4.7.3.
h. VESDA systems should be considered in areas that will have stratification of smoke.
i. Air sampling type smoke detection system (VESDA) sampling port shall be treated as individual smoke detectors for
spacing purposes. See 7.1.5 and 7.1.6 of UAE Life and Safety code for local recommendations as well.
j. A lobby smoke detector shall be located on the ceiling within 6.4m of the centerline of each elevator door within the
elevator bank under control of the detector.
k. Doors with hold open devices to have smoke detectors at either side of the door within 1.5m FIRE CABLING:
l. Household smoke detection: NFPA 72 (UAE Life and Safety Code) requires:
i. In all sleeping rooms and guest rooms For systems employing relocation or partial evacuation, a Level 2 or Level 3 pathway
ii. Outside of each separate dwelling unit sleeping area within 6.4m of any door to a sleeping room, with the survivability will be required.
distance measured along a path of travel.  Exception 1: Level 1 shall be permitted where notification zones are
iii. On every level of a dwelling unit, including basements separated by less than 2-hour fire rated construction.
iv. On every level of a residential board and care occupancy (small facility), including basements and excluding  Exception 2: Level 1 shall be permitted where there are at least two
crawl spaces and unfinished attics. pathways that are separated by at least one third the maximum diagonal of
v. In the living area of a guest suite. the notification or signaling zones that the pathways are passing through
vi. In the living area of residential board and care occupancy (small facility). and the pathway is Class X or Class N (Refer to Chapter 12 for class
3. Heat detection description).
a. Spacing shall be as is indicated above for smooth ceilings (listed spacing of 7.5m assumed as this will ensure operation Pathway survivability level 0: No provision for pathway survivability
before sprinkler heads) up to 3m ceiling height. Detectors shall be mounted 100mm away from walls. Ceilings are Pathway survivability level 1: Pathways are fully protected by automatic sprinkler
considered smooth if beam construction is less than 100mm. system according to NFPA 13 with any interconnecting conductors, cables, or other
b. For ceilings with beams greater than 100mm but less that 460mm 0.66 spacing shall be used. physical pathways installed in metal raceways.
c. Ceilings with beams greater than 460mm, each bay formed by the ceiling beams shall be treated as a separate room. Pathway survivability level 2: Pathways are fully protected by automatic sprinkler
d. For ceilings higher than 3m please consult table 17.6.3.5.1 and paragraph 17.6.3.5.2. system according to NFPA 13 with any interconnecting conductors, cables, or other
e. Sloped ceilings refer to section 17.6.3.4 of NFPA 72. physical pathways installed in metal raceways; or consist one of the following:
Best practices: a) 2-hour fire rated circuit integrity or fire-resistive cable or fire-resistive
1. Heat or Smoke detection should not be used in bathrooms with showers/baths as steam may trigger false alarms. cable
2. Smoke detection should be used in toilets and wash and cloak rooms. Detectors should not be placed in individual cubicles b) 2-hour fire-rated cable system [electrical circuit protective system]
however but only in main toilet room lobby. c) 2-hour fire-rated enclosure or protected area
3. Smoke detection should not be used in kitchens or where smoke generating equipment is housed as these may trigger false Pathway survivability level 3: Pathways are fully protected by automatic sprinkler
alarms. Rate of rise heat detectors should be used. system according to NFPA 13 with any interconnecting conductors, cables, or other
4. VESDA type detection rules of thumb: physical pathways installed in metal raceways and
a. No more than 4 pipes exiting from detector panel a) 2-hour fire rated circuit integrity or fire-resistive cable
b. 50m maximum pipe length b) 2-hour fire-rated cable system [electrical circuit protective
system]
c) 2-hour fire-rated enclosure or protected area
Best practices:
Number of devices per loop of a fire alarm strategy is dependent on the manufacturer fire
alarm panel and this should be consulted.
AUDIBLE INDICATORS:
NFPA 72 (UAE Life and Safety Code) requires:
1. Sound levels not to exceed 110dBA in any areas
2. Public areas sounders to be 15dBA above ambient
a. Table A.18.4.3 for average ambient sound level guidelines in buildings.
3. Sleeping areas require 75dBA at the pillows. See 18.4.5 for detailed sleeping area
requirements.
4. Do use different types of audible indicators within a space or zone if it can be avoided.
5. Audible indicators shall be installed at all building exit and refuge areas .These shall
conform to 18.7
Best practices:
1. Device sound output should be known and manufacturer datasheets should be
consulted with the specifications of the devices ultimately determining device placing. If
available an acoustic study of similar type areas should be consulted.
2. General rule of thumb is to place an audible ceiling indicator or small horn type audible
indicator is to place an indicator twice the distance of the ceiling height. I.e. if ceiling
height is 3m place an audible indicator every 6m.
3. Place large wall mounted horn type audible indicators for large open floor areas such
as basements
4. Place large wall mounted horn type audible indicators in plant rooms.
5. Place an audible indicator in sleeping areas.
6. Coverage may not be required in areas that aren’t normally occupied i.e. store rooms.
VISUAL INDICATORS:
NFPA 72 (UAE Life and Safety Code) requires:
1. Specification for visual indicators in terms of light output and spacing is determined by
tables 18.5.5.4.1 a) and b).
2. If a room is not square the room size from these tables that allows the entire room to be
encompassed or allows the room to be subdivided into multiple squares shall be used.
3. Visible notification appliances shall be located not more than 4.57m from the end of
corridor with a separation not greater than 30.5m between appliances. If there is an
interruption of the concentrated viewing path such as a fire door, elevation change or MANUAL CALL POINTS:
any other obstruction the area shall be treated as a separate corridor. NFPA 72 (UAE Life and Safety Code) requires:
4. Combination smoke detectors and visible notification appliances shall be installed in 1. Manual call points shall be located within 1.5m of each exit doorway on each floor.
sleeping areas. For sleeping areas greater than 4.87m the visible notification appliance 2. Additional manual call points shall be provided so that the travel distance to the nearest manual call point does not exceed
shall be located within 4.87m of the pillow. 61m. (45m reduced to 25m and 16m in limited mobility areas where rapid fire development is an issue).
5. Visual indication shall be required in areas with high ambient noise level areas i.e. plant 3. Manual call points shall be mounted on both sides of grouped openings over 12.2m in width and within 1.5m of each side of
rooms. grouped openings.
6. Visual alarm indication shall be provided in areas that are sensitive to audible alerts, Best practices:
operating theatres in hospitals for example. Manual call points should be provided in every plant room.
7. Visual indicator requirements at elevator lobbies/machine rooms. See 29.
FIRE ALARM INTERFACES:
FIRE TELEPHONES: NFPA 72 (UAE Life and Safety Code) requires:
NFPA 72 (UAE Life and Safety Code) requires: 1. NFPA requires emergency control function interfaces from various systems to fire alarm system. See Chapter 21.
1. Fire telephone stations or jacks shall be provided at the following locations: Best practices:
a. Each floor level List of interfaces for fire alarm systems (additional interfaces can also be considered not listed here).
b. Each notification zone 1. Mechanical Plant
c. Each elevator cab 2. Ventilation Fans
d. Elevator lobbies 3. MCC’s
e. Elevator machine room(s) 4. Smoke Ventilation Systems
f. Emergency and standby power room(s) 5. LPG Control Panels
g. Fire pump room(s) 6. Gas shut off valves
h. Areas of refuge 7. Smoke dampers
i. Each floor level inside and enclosed exit stair(s) 8. Sprinklers
j. Other room(s) or area(s) as required by the authority having jurisdiction. 9. Fire suppression systems
2. Wall mounted telephone appliances or related jacks shall be not less than 910mm and 10. Emergency lighting
not more than 1.68m above floor level with clear access to the appliance that is at least 11. Lighting Control Systems
760mm wide. 12. Intruder Alarm Systems
Best practices: 13. Public Address
Fire telephone stations or jacks should be considered in all plant rooms 14. Access Control
15. Vehicle Barriers
16. Lifts (top of shaft or in machine room)