The provisions of Article 760 of NFPA 70 are adopted by reference with the following modifications:
1. Revise the first paragraph of section 760.3 to read:
"Circuits and equipment shall comply with 760.3(A) through (K). Only those sections of Article 300 referenced in this article shall apply to fire alarm systems."
2. Delete both exceptions to subsection 760.3(B).
3. Delete subsections 760.3(L) and (M).
4. Revise subsections 760.53(B)(1) and (2) to read:
"(1) Ducts Specifically Fabricated for Environmental Air. Cables installed in ducts, specifically fabricated for environmental air shall be installed in accordance 300.22(B).
(2) Other Spaces Used for Environmental Air (Plenums). Cables installed in other spaces used for environmental air shall be installed in accordance with 300.22(C)."
5. Revise section 760.135 to read:
"Installation of PLFA Cables in Buildings. Installation of power-limited fire alarm cables in buildings shall comply with 760.135(A) through (J).
(A) Listing. PLFA cables installed in buildings shall be listed.
(B) Ducts Specifically Fabricated for Environmental Air. Wires and cables installed in ducts specifically fabricated for environmental air shall be installed in accordance with 300.22(B).
(C) Other Spaces Used for Environmental Air (Plenums). Cables installed in other spaces used for environmental air shall be installed in accordance with 300.22(C).
(D) Risers – Cables in Vertical Runs. The following cables shall be permitted in vertical runs penetrating one or more floors and in vertical runs in a shaft.
(1) Types FPLP and FPLR cables
(2) Types FPLP and FPLR cables installed in the following:
a. Plenum communications raceways
b. Riser communications raceways
c. Riser cable routing assemblies
Informational Note: See 300.21 for firestop requirements for floor penetrations.
(E) Risers – Cables in Metal Raceways. The following cables shall be permitted in metal raceways in a riser having firestops at each floor:
(1) Types FPLP, FPLR, and FPL cables
(2) Types FPLP, FPLR, and FPL cables installed in:
a. Plenum communications raceways
b. Riser communications raceways
c. General-purpose communication raceways
Informational Note: See 300.21 for firestop requirements for floor penetrations.
(F) Risers – Cables in Fireproof Shafts. The following cables shall be permitted to be installed in fireproof riser shafts having firestops at each floor:
(1) Types FPLP, FPLR, and FPL cables
(2) Types FPLP, FPLR, and FPL cables installed in:
a. Plenum communications raceways
b. Riser communications raceways
c. Riser cable routing assemblies
d. General-purpose communication raceways
e. General-purpose cable routing assemblies
Informational Note: See 300.21 for firestop requirements for floor penetrations.
(G) Risers – One- and Two-Family Dwellings. The following cables shall be permitted in one- and two- family dwellings:
(1) Types FPLP, FPLR, and FPL cables
(2) Types FPLP, FPLR, and FPL cables installed in:
a. Plenum communications raceways
b. Riser communications raceways
c. Riser cable routing assemblies
d. General-purpose communication raceways
e. General-purpose cable routing assemblies
(H) Other Building Locations. The following cables shall be permitted to be installed in building locations other than the locations covered in 770.113(B) through (H):
(1) Types FPLP, FPLR, and FPL cables
(2) Types FPLP, FPLR, and FPL cables installed in:
a. Plenum communications raceway
b. Riser communications raceway
c. Riser cable routing assemblies
d. General-purpose communication raceways
e. General-purpose cable routing assemblies
(3) Types FPLP, FPLR, and FPL cables installed in a raceway of a type allowed in Chapter 3.
(I) Nonconcealed Spaces. Cables specified in Chapter 3 and meeting the requirements of 760.179(A) and (B) shall be permitted to be installed in nonconcealed spaces where the exposed length of cable does not exceed 3 m (10 ft).
(J) Portable Fire Alarm System. A portable fire alarm system provided to protect a stage or set when not in use shall be permitted to use wiring methods in accordance with 530.12."
6. Revise Table 760.154 to read:
"Applications of Listed PLFA Cables in Buildings
Applications | Cable Type
| |||
FPLP & FPLP-CI | FPLR & FPLR-CI | FPL & FPL-CI
| ||
Applications | Cable Type
| |||
FPLP & FPLP-CI | FPLR & FPLR-CI | FPL & FPL-CI
| ||
In fabricated ducts as described in 300.22(B) | In fabricated ducts | N | N | N |
In metal raceway that complies with 300.22(B) | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
In other spaces used for environmental air as described in 300.22(C) | In other spaces used for environmental air | N | N | N |
In metal raceway that complies with 300.22(C) | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
In risers | In vertical runs | Y* | Y* | N |
In metal raceways | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
In fireproof shafts | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
In plenum communications raceways | Y* | Y* | N | |
In riser communications raceways | Y* | Y* | N | |
In riser cable routing assemblies | Y* | Y* | N | |
In one- and two-family dwellings | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
Within buildings in other than air-handling spaces and risers | General | Y* | Y* | Y* |
Supported by cable trays | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
In any raceway recognized in Chapter 3 | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
In plenum communications raceways | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
In riser communications raceways | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
In riser cable routing assemblies | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
In general-purpose communications raceways | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
In general-purpose cable routing assemblies | Y* | Y* | Y* | |
Note: An "N" indicates that the cable type is not permitted to be installed in the application. A "Y*" indicates that the cable is permitted to be installed in the application, subject to the limitations described in 770.110 and 770.113."
7. Insert new parts V and VI to read:
"Part V. Required Fire Alarm and Emergency Voice Communications Systems
760.180 General. The provisions of the Chicago Electrical Code governing the installation of required fire alarm systems and required emergency voice communication systems are hereby declared retrospective as well as prospective and shall apply to both existing buildings and buildings hereafter constructed, altered or converted.
The workmanship, equipment and quality of installation shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 of this Code. The installation shall not be deemed complete before notification and inspection by the authority having jurisdiction.
760.181 Plans Required. Before work is begun on the installation or alteration of a required fire alarm or emergency voice communication system, complete and detailed plans and specifications of the proposed installation shall be submitted to the authority having jurisdiction. Only after approval by the authority having jurisdiction may work begin.
In addition to any other information required by the authority having jurisdiction, the plans shall include:
a. Complete legible raceway diagrams showing all horizontal and lateral sections and two corresponding legible circuit diagrams
b. Locations and details of the circuits of the control panel, alarm sending stations, automatic detectors, alarm sounding devices, supervisory test switches, trouble sounding device, trouble sounding device test switch, pilot light and switch
c. Details of separate conductors in each raceway and the connections to their respective terminals
d. One-line wiring diagrams showing the service entrance conductors, equipment, and fire alarm supply source
e. Full load calculations for all initiating and signaling circuits
All diagrams shall be identified with the complete name, address, and class of occupancy such as school, hotel, hospital, etc.
760.182 Wiring Methods. The installation shall be performed such that the equipment, quality and workmanship conform to the requirements of Chapters 1 and 3 of this Code and as provided for in 760.182(A) through (G).
(A) Raceway. All conductors of the system shall be enclosed in an approved metal raceway system. This raceway system shall be dedicated and contain only the system conductors and any required interfaces.
Exception No. 1: Elevator traveling cables.
Exception No. 2: Type MI cable need not be installed in raceway.
(B) Raceway Fill. The fill of any part of the raceway shall not exceed 40% of the internal cross-sectional area of the raceway.
(C) Enclosures Fill. The fill of enclosures shall be as found in 314.16. Equipment protruding into the box or enclosure reduces the volume of the enclosure accordingly and shall be considered for fill purposes.
Exception: Listed system control equipment enclosures where all entering conductors terminate to the equipment within the enclosure.
(D) Marking. The covers of all boxes for the raceway system shall be red in color.
(E) Protection. The raceway system shall be protected to minimize physical damage.
Where other sections of the Chicago Building Code require protection from fire, the raceway system shall follow one of the methods below:
(1) Run within a room or area(s) dedicated to the protection of electrical equipment, meeting the fire resistance construction rating of the specifying section of the Chicago Building Code.
(2) Protected by an electrical circuit protective system listed to meet UL 1724. The installation shall comply with any restrictions provided in the listing.
(3) Embedded in concrete with a minimum of 50 mm (2 in.) cover around the raceway. Any supports for the concrete shall be protected by equivalent encasement or other means to achieve the required fire resistance rating.
(F) System Control Equipment. Listed enclosures and back-boxes containing system control equipment shall not have any conductors entering other than those conductors that terminate at the control equipment within these enclosures.
(G) Foreign Equipment Interfaces. Where equipment is installed to interface with outside equipment, foreign to the alarm system, and a monitoring relay is used for this purpose, the enclosure containing the monitoring relay shall be within 914 mm (3 ft) from the equipment being served.
Informational Note: An example of this equipment would be fan, electric lock or disconnect status monitoring.
(H) Voice Communication Circuits. The voice communication circuits and the fire detection circuits of a required fire alarm system may share the same conduit or approved raceway and use common control equipment and power supplies, subject to 760.182(B) and any fire protection requirement applicable to the voice communication risers.
760.183 Fire Alarm and Emergency Voice Communication Circuit Conductors. Conductors shall have the properties of NPLFA circuit conductors as covered in Part II of Article 760. The minimum size shall be 16 AWG. 18 AWG shall be permitted when installed as part of a multi-conductor cable.
Exception No. 1: Conductors which are listed and approved for the inter-connection of component parts for control equipment within a common enclosure or between close-nippled (6 in. or less) enclosures.
Exception No. 2: Conductors for coaxial cables, a minimum of 22 AWG for the center conductor.
Exception No. 3: Non-conductive fiber optic conductors.
Exception No. 4: Listed insulated continuous line-type heat detectors.
Exception No. 5: Listed elevator traveling cables.
Where equipment is listed to use a conductor size larger than the above minimums, the listed minimum shall be followed. All conductors making up a complete circuit shall be of the same size throughout that circuit.
All conductors and cables shall be installed in a manner consistent with their listing, following all specifications by the manufacturer related and requisite for such listing.
(A) Ampacity. 18 AWG and 16 AWG conductors shall only supply loads that do not exceed the ampacities given in Table 402.5. 14 AWG and larger conductors shall only supply loads that do not exceed the ampacities given in 310.15 as applicable.
(B) Voltage Drop. The maximum voltage drop at any point along an individual circuit shall not exceed 5% of the nominal voltage initially provided. The calculation for voltage drop shall be made at the minimum operating voltage supplied by the control equipment when operating on secondary power using the maximum possible current draw for that circuit.
(C) Electrical Circuit Protection. To prevent possible system performance degradation or destruction due to electrical, electromagnetic, radio frequency, surge, transient or induction of or into any part of the system the following shall be performed:
(1) Branch circuits feeding system power supplies shall be maintained a minimum of 50 mm (2 in.) from all other conductors within an enclosure.
(2) Branch circuits feeding system power supplies shall be provided with listed transient voltage surge suppressors with a let-through voltage rating not greater than 400 volts.
(3) AC circuits receiving power from system power supplies shall use twisted pair conductors, shielded conductors or both as necessary.
(4) Any conductive circuit which runs outside the building envelope, shall be protected with listed isolated loop circuit protectors. The protectors shall be mounted within 1.52 m (5 ft) of the penetration to the outside with no equipment connected to the circuit between the protector and the penetration to the outside. The protector shall be suitably grounded.
(5) Any circuit for which the system is listed as using a twisted pair, shield or both shall provide these conductors in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
(D) Terminations. All conductors shall be securely connected to their respective terminations by one of the following means:
(1) Wrapping a single solid or bunch-tinned conductor 7/8 turn around a screw terminal.
(2) Placing a single conductor under a cup washer at a screw terminal.
(3) Under a notched clamping plate for the termination of two separate solid or bunch-tinned conductors of the same gauge size.
(4) Inside a pressure terminal where pressure is provided by a set screw to a single conductor.
Exception No. 1: Conductors which are part of an assembly provided by the manufacturer with retained plug connectors used within an enclosure or close-nippled (6 in.) enclosures.
Exception No. 2: Non-conductive fiber optic conductors.
(E) Splices. All conductors shall be installed continuous from the control equipment to all field equipment terminations without any splices, taps or intermediate terminations until reaching the end of the circuit.
Exception No. 1: Connections to elevator traveling cables using a suitable listed fully insulated terminal block meeting the termination requirements of 760.183(D).
Exception No. 2: AC/DC circuits receiving power from system power supplies and supplying system equipment on multiple floors/zones shall use a suitable listed fully insulated power distribution block meeting the termination requirements of 760.183(D).
Exception No. 3: Where shielded conductors are connected to equipment which has no provision for shield drain wire termination a suitable listed fully insulated terminal block meeting the termination requirements of 760.183(D).
Exception No. 4: Connection to listed supervisory devices manufactured with built-in monitoring switches having conductor leads shall use a suitable listed fully insulated terminal block meeting the termination requirements of 760.183(D).
Exception No. 5: End-of-line devices which do not have separate terminals on equipment on which to terminate shall use a suitable listed fully insulated terminal block meeting the termination requirements of 760.183(D).
Exception No. 6: For existing systems with in place conductors where the system will be extended or altered, a suitable listed fully insulated terminal block meeting the termination requirements of 760.183(D) shall be used when:
(1) Special permission has been granted
(2) There is no T-tapping or other wiring method that will impair the required supervision
(3) Drawings show the exact location of each junction box containing a splice
(4) Junction box containing such splices shall be located in a protected fire rated area as required in 760.182(E)
(5) Only one such box shall be permitted on a floor and shall be painted red and marked "FIRE ALARM SPLICE."
760.184 Power Supply. The primary power supply to a required fire alarm system shall originate from an emergency system installed as required in Article 700.
Emergency branch circuits supplying the fire alarm system shall be grouped and permanently identified as "FIRE ALARM CIRCUIT."
Informational Note: Refer to NFPA 72, Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, See 10.6.5.2.2 Circuit Identification and Accessibility regarding more labeling of fire alarm disconnecting means.
The secondary power supply capacity for a required fire alarm system shall not be less than as specified by the authority having jurisdiction for the type of occupancy served.
760.185 Location. The control equipment shall be located as near to the source of supply as is practicable. The control equipment shall be located within a room, dedicated to the protection of electrical equipment, of one-hour fire rated construction with one-hour rated and labeled doors and one-hour protected openings other than doors. No control equipment shall be located below grade.
760.187 Approval. The required fire alarm system and all equipment used in conjunction with the fire alarm system shall be of a type approved by authority having jurisdiction.
Part VI. Connection of a Required Fire Alarm System and Emergency Voice Communication System to an Off-Premise Monitoring System
760.208 General. Where the Chicago Building Code requires that a required fire alarm system or emergency voice communication system be connected to an off-premise monitoring service, the provisions of this Part and Part VII shall apply. Such connection shall be considered as a component of the required fire alarm system or emergency voice communication system and shall be incorporated in the plans and diagrams which are required by 760.181.
760.209 Type of Service. The off-premise monitoring service shall consist of either a municipal fire alarm box or a central station service. The type of service shall be as determined by the authority having jurisdiction.
760.210 Wiring Method.
(A) Municipal Fire Alarm Box. The conductors connecting the required fire alarm system to the municipal fire alarm box shall be run in metal conduit. Where the conductors run outside the building they shall be encased in galvanized rigid metal conduit or intermediate metal conduit from the penetration of the building envelope to the pedestal of the municipal fire alarm box. The conduit shall contain no conductors other than those necessary for operation of the municipal fire alarm box and conform to the following:
(1) The minimum size conduit used shall be 2 in. When outside it shall be buried a minimum of 24 in. below surrounding grade. The conduit shall be continuous with no junction boxes from the control equipment to municipal fire alarm box shell.
(2) Five 14 AWG or larger conductors shall be run. Each shall be of a different color. One shall be green, which shall be bonded to the enclosure of the control equipment inside the building and to the shell of the municipal box. Two of the remaining conductors shall be used for the fire alarm trip coil circuit. The two unused conductors will be spares.
(3) All conductors run outside the building shall be protected by a listed isolated loop circuit protector. The protector shall be located in a junction box at the point of exit from the building.
(B) Central Station Service. The conductors connecting the required fire alarm system or emergency voice communication system to the central station service shall be run in metal conduit. The conduit shall contain no conductors other than those necessary for operation of the central station service and shall conform to the following:
(1) The minimum size conduit shall be 1 in. and the conduit shall be continuous with no junction boxes from the control equipment to the central station service equipment.
(2) Where required by 760.182, conductors between the control equipment monitored and the central station service equipment shall be protected for a minimum of one hour by a listed electrical circuit protective system. The installation shall comply with any restrictions provided in the listing.
(3) Sufficient conductors shall be run to monitor all functions as required by the authority having jurisdiction. All conductors shall be color coded. One provided conductor shall be green, which shall be bonded to the enclosure of the control equipment monitored and to the enclosure of the Central Station Service equipment. Two provided conductors shall be provided as spare conductors.
(4) All current carrying conductors run outside the building to the central station monitoring facility shall be protected by a listed secondary protector for communications circuits. The protector shall be located in a junction box at the point of exit from the building.
760.211 Power Supply. Any equipment requiring power for transmission of signals off premise shall obtain this power as specified in 760.184 from a separate circuit. Any equipment within the building which is required for the completion of transmission off-premise shall also meet these requirements. (i.e. fiber-optic network interface power supply).
760.212 Function of the Connection. This connection is required so that any fire alarm, and supervisory or trouble condition as required, inside of the building will automatically notify the off-premise monitoring service of said fire or condition. All supervisory and trouble conditions shall be annunciated in a manned location as directed by the Chicago Fire Department.
760.213 Supervision. The circuits necessary for these connections shall be electrically supervised for energy failure, open circuit fault, and ground fault.
Exception: Public utility communication circuits alter the interface to the transmission equipment need only be monitored for conditions which would prevent transmission.
760.214 Fire Drill Disconnect Switch. An approved type of switch may be provided which will disconnect the required fire alarm system from the municipal fire alarm box. This switch shall be mounted in the front of the control panel and shall be externally operable. It shall be of the key operated lock type or be a passcode protected keypad type. The disconnection shall cause a trouble condition in the system. The key shall be captive when the disconnect is in the "on" position. The passcode protected keypad shall not require any passcode or special knowledge to reactivate. The central station service equipment shall have no provision for a drill/disconnect feature.
760.215 Notification of Discontinuation of Service. Where a central station service discontinues service to a building, the central station service shall notify the Chicago Fire Department within 24 hours."
(Amend Coun. J. 1-23-19, p. 94952, Art. I, § 28; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. VI, § 8)