4/29/2018 Surviving Survivability – A User’s Guide to Survivable Fire Alarm Circuits Larry D. Rietz, SET 23 May 2018 Automatic Fire Alarm Association SURVIVING SURVIVABILITY - A USER’S GUIDE TO SURVIVABLE FIRE ALARM CIRCUITS Larry D. Rietz, SET 23 May 2018 Content is Copyright 2018 © Jensen Hughes, Inc. All Rights Reserved PRESENTATION LEARNING OBJECTIVES What is the Code history of circuit survivability? What effect does product listing have on survivable cable? What fire alarm circuits must be survivable and how can this be accomplished? How can a designer provide and an AHJ approve a survivable cable installation? NFPA ® and NFPA 72 ® are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association ®. NFPA documents are copyrighted by the NFPA. Advancing the Science of Safety 3 1 4/29/2018 Disclaimer Portions of this program are reprinted from NFPA 72 ® – 2016, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code , Copyright © 2015, National Fire Protection, Quincy, MA and other previous editions of NFPA 72. This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of the NFPA on the referenced subject, which is represented only by the standard in its entirety. NFPA 72 ® is a registered trademark of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02169. This presentation does not reflect the official position of the National Fire Protection Association. The content, opinions, and conclusions contained in this presentation are solely those of the presenter and do not necessarily represent the views of Underwriters Laboratories. UL makes no guarantee or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein. UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC © 2017 All Rights Reserved. Advancing the Science of Safety 4 SURVIVING SURVIVABILITY CODE HISTORY OF CIRCUIT SURVIVABILITY Advancing the Science of Safety 5 CODE HISTORY Survivability is NOT new! 1993 National Fire Alarm Code Advancing the Science of Safety 6 2 4/29/2018 CODE HISTORY 1996 National Fire Alarm Code Advancing the Science of Safety 7 CODE HISTORY 1999 National Fire Alarm Code Advancing the Science of Safety 8 CODE HISTORY 2002 National Fire Alarm Code Advancing the Science of Safety 9 3 4/29/2018 CODE HISTORY 2007 National Fire Alarm Code Advancing the Science of Safety 10 CODE HISTORY 2010 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Most significant changes to circuit or pathway survivability 2 New Chapters: Chapter 12: Circuits and Pathways Chapter 24: Emergency Communications Systems (ECS) Advancing the Science of Safety 11 CODE HISTORY 2010 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Chapter 12 Advancing the Science of Safety 12 4 4/29/2018 CODE HISTORY 2010 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Chapter 23 Advancing the Science of Safety 13 CODE HISTORY 2010 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Chapter 24 EVACS – Fire Alarm Systems Advancing the Science of Safety 14 CODE HISTORY 2010 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Chapter 24 Requirements: In-Building MNS: Level 0 or greater per Risk Analysis Wide Area MNS: Level 0 or greater per Risk Analysis Two-way In-Building Wired ECS: Level 2 or 3 Two-way Radio Communications Enhancement: Level 2 or 3, except antennae (2016 moved to NFPA 1221) Area of Refuge (Area of Rescue Assistance) Emergency Communications: Level 2 or 3, except off-premises communications Elevator Emergency Communications: Level 0, 1, 2, or 3 Other ECS: Determined by Risk Analysis Advancing the Science of Safety 15 5 4/29/2018 CODE HISTORY 2010 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Chapter 24 Further Requirements for Relocation or Partial Evac: Advancing the Science of Safety 16 CODE HISTORY 2013 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Only a few minor changes to the above noted language Chapter 23 section changed to only refer to tone fire alarm system, but the same “conflict” with Chapter 24 exists. Advancing the Science of Safety 17 CODE HISTORY 2016 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Chapter 12 and 23 remain basically unchanged regarding survivability. Chapter 24 makes some changes. Advancing the Science of Safety 18 6 4/29/2018 CODE HISTORY Important Definitions Pathway Survivability : The ability of any conductor, optic fiber, radio carrier, or other means for transmitting system information to remain operational during fire conditions. (NFPA 72-2016) Pathway Class : Classification of a circuit (pathway) based on performance characteristics. Code defines performance of Class A, B, C, D, E, N, and X. Redundant : A second, return, or alternate path; a backup. Mostly closely associated with Class A, N, and X pathways. Advancing the Science of Safety 19 CODE HISTORY Important Definitions Evacuation Zone : A signaling zone. (Term is not used in NFPA 72-2010 and later) Signaling Zone : An area consisting of one or more notification zones where signals are actuated simultaneously. (NFPA 72-2016) Notification Zone : A discrete area of a building, bounded by building outer walls, fire or smoke compartment boundaries, floor separations, or other fire safety sub-divisions, in which occupants are intended to receive common notification. (NFPA 72-2016) Advancing the Science of Safety 20 CODE HISTORY Important Definitions Evacuation : The withdrawal of occupants from a building. (NFPA 72- 2016) Partial Evacuation : The partial withdrawal of occupants from a building (usually by floor, smoke zone, or area). Relocation : The movement of occupants from a fire zone to a safe area within the same building. (NFPA 72-2016) Advancing the Science of Safety 21 7 4/29/2018 CODE HISTORY Important Definitions Raceway : An enclosed channel of metal or nonmetallic materials designed expressly for holding wires, cables or busbars. (NEC) Cable : An assembly of one or more wires running side by side, which is used to carry electric current. Cable System / Electrical Circuit Protective System(s) : An electrical circuit integrity system consisting of components and materials intended for installation as protection for specific electrical wiring systems, with respect to the disruption of electrical circuit integrity upon exterior fire exposure. (UL) Advancing the Science of Safety 22 SURVIVING SURVIVABILITY PRODUCT LISTINGS OF SURVIVABLE CABLE Advancing the Science of Safety 23 PRODUCT LISTINGS Circuit Integrity (CI) Cable is listed to ANSI/UL 2196 Standard for Tests for Fire Resistive Cables Standard was issued on May 11, 2001 with Revisions issued: • March 25, 2004 • December 7, 2006 • March 30, 2012 Referenced Standards: • UL 1424 Standard for Cables for Power-Limited Fire-Alarm Circuits • UL 1425 Standard for Cables for Non-Power-Limited Fire-Alarm Circuits • UL 1724 Outline of Investigation for Fire Tests for Electrical Circuit Protective Systems Advancing the Science of Safety 24 8 4/29/2018 PRODUCT LISTINGS Products fall into two categories: Fire-Resistive Cable (FHJR) Electric Circuit Integrity Systems (FHIT) Cable and System must survive a fire test of approximately 1,800 °F (982 °C) for 2 hours and a hose stream test, and still remain intact and the circuit operational. Depending on Listing, cable may be installed in “free air” or “in conduit”. Advancing the Science of Safety 25 PRODUCT LISTINGS Advancing the Science of Safety 26 PRODUCT LISTINGS 12 September 2012 Northbrook, IL – September 12, 2012 – UL has recently conducted research on a wide array of current products and systems originally certified under UL 2196, Tests for Fire Resistive Cables and ULC- S139, Standard Method of Fire Test for Evaluation of Integrity of Electrical Cables and determined that they no longer consistently achieve a two-hour fire-resistive rating when subjected to the standard Fire Endurance Test of UL2196 or ULC-S139. Consequently, UL and ULC will not be able to offer certification to the currently existing program related to these standards. As a result, manufacturers are no longer authorized to place the UL mark or ULC mark on the following products: •UL Classified Fire Resistive Cable (FHJR) •ULC Listed Fire Resistant Cable (FHJRC) •UL Listed cable with “-CI” suffix (Circuit Integrity) Furthermore, UL has removed from its certification directory all Electrical Circuit Protective Systems (FHIT) constructed with Fire Resistive Cable. Advancing the Science of Safety 27 9 4/29/2018 PRODUCT LISTINGS This action left designers, contractors and AHJs with no cost effective way to meet the Code requirements for survivability. Many struggled with: Performance-based Designs Building Construction Changes Use of alternate cables or systems, like Mineral Insulated (MI) Cable Advancing the Science of Safety 28 Diagram Courtesy NFPA 72-2010 Handbook PRODUCT LISTINGS The Situation Now… Several products are listed for fire alarm CI use At least two different manufacturers Both Conduit and Free Air models are available Cables are Listed with system components like conduit, enclosures, supports, pulling lubricant, etc. Advancing the Science of Safety 29 PRODUCT LISTINGS Currently Listed Products as of 4/10/2018: Advancing the Science of Safety 30 10 4/29/2018 PRODUCT LISTINGS Fire-Resistive Cable Listing Advancing the Science of Safety 31 PRODUCT LISTINGS System Installation Requirements Advancing the Science of Safety 32 PRODUCT LISTINGS The Listing now results in a “system” that must be installed to exacting standards! Advancing the Science of Safety 33 11 4/29/2018 SURVIVING SURVIVABILITY SURVIVABILE FIRE ALARM CIRCUITS Advancing the Science of Safety 34 SURVIVABLE FIRE ALARM CIRCUITS For Proper Fire Alarm Design, Need to Answer: What