(A) Auxiliary protective signaling systems for fire alarm service within the City Limits of the City of Mt. Vernon shall be installed only in compliance with NFPA 72 and upon the following terms and conditions:
(1) Complete information regarding the system, including specifications, wiring diagrams, floor plans, and zones, shall be submitted to the City of Mt. Vernon for approval prior to installation of equipment or wiring.
(2) All devices, combinations of devices, and equipment constructed and installed in conformity with these standards shall be UL/FM approved for the purpose for which they are intended.
(3) Upon completion of the installation of the system, a satisfactory test of the entire installation shall be made in the presence of a representative of the Mt. Vernon Fire Department.
(4) Auxiliary protective signaling systems for fire alarm service shall be installed and operate on its own separate individual line or lines. It shall not be combined with or utilize the lines of any burglar alarm or other alarm system.
(5) Permission for the connection of the auxiliary system; the applicant shall submit a written request on forms supplied by the City for connection to the Fire Department or Central Dispatch alarm panels. Such connections shall not be completed until approval is granted.
(B) System Operation.
(1) The actuation of any approved device shall cause its respective zone alarm lamp on the main fire alarm control panel to illuminate and cause the alarm signals to sound an audible signal throughout the protected premises. Operating an alarm acknowledged push button (reset) on the main panel shall silence the alarm signals. However, a subsequent alarm from another zone shall automatically re-sound the signals and illuminate the corresponding zone lamp until it is acknowledged. This shall continue until all actuated devices are restored and the system is reset. Systems without the automatic resound features are forbidden.
(2) In addition, the following shall occur upon the actuation of the alarm devices:
(a) The initial operation of any manual station shall cause the alarm signal to be transmitted over the telephone lines to the remote alarm panels located at the Police Station;
(b) The initial operation of any automatic alarm initiating device shall cause the alarm signal to be transmitted first to a remote dispatch center which services the alarm system, which remote dispatch center shall manually cause the alarm system to be transmitted over the telephone lines to the remote alarm panels located at the Police Station;
(c) The transmitter shall be of the reverse polarity type.
(3) Power failures, open ground, or any disarrangements of the system wiring or components shall be indicated by an audible trouble signal and a visual signal. The audible trouble signal may be silenced; however, the trouble lamp shall remain lighted until the system has been returned to normal operating condition. Each new fault shall re-sound the trouble signal even though a previous trouble signal may have been silenced.
(4) The system shall operate from a source of 120 VAC and automatically transfer to standby batteries should the main power fail. Batteries shall be rated at sufficient capacity to operate the system for 60 hours with the main power source disconnected and then, at the end of that period, operate all alarm systems in an alarm condition for 15 minutes. Disconnecting the batteries, low battery voltage, or high battery voltage shall sound a system trouble on the main control panel. Failure of the 120 VAC system and an automatic transfer to batteries shall indicate and sound a system trouble at the remote alarm panels.
(C) Auxiliary Generator. An auxiliary generator will be considered as a standby power supply (in lieu of subsection (B)(4)), subject to the following:
(1) The generator shall be completely automatic in change over from the normal power source to generator operation, or a specifically trained operator shall be on duty at all times.
(2) Standards for the installation and operation of said generator shall be governed by NFPA 72.
(3) In the event that an auxiliary generator is utilized in lieu of an approved battery standby, attention is specifically called to NFPA 72, Section 1-5.2.5 which provides that a storage battery shall be provided that shall have a sufficient capacity for operation of the alarm system for at least four hours.
(D) Control Panel.
(1) The control unit shall be UL/FM approved, along with all necessary components required to provide a complete fire alarm system. The control shall contain all components necessary to provide a complete system. The control shall contain features to accomplish a trouble and/or alarm signal and shall provide the necessary supervised detection circuits, supervised alarm circuits, and supervised audible alarm circuits. Lamps shall be provided on the cabinet face to indicate AC power on, Alarm, and Trouble Conditions.
(2) Disconnect Transmitter Signal - A disconnect switch shall be provided behind a locked cabinet door to disable the transmitter panel. The transmitter disconnect shall be used when the system is tested or serviced and shall not allow transmission of the alarm signal to the remote panel. When operated, the disconnect shall provide a means to deter transmission and shall operate an “OFF NORMAL” lamp and sound a trouble alarm. During such periods as the disconnect circuitry is in operation, a trouble condition will be indicated at the remote panel. When the system is reset and restored, the disconnect shall reset and return to the normal condition. The disconnect switch shall be under the sole control of the alarm user, and the disconnect of an alarm transmitter shall be made only by the alarm user; upon an alarm user placing a disconnect switch into the off position and disconnecting the alarm transmitter, the alarm user shall provide 24-hour fire watch for the premises served by the alarm system, which fire watch shall include regular and repeated inspections and patrols, the frequency and nature of which shall be documented in writing by the alarm user and maintained as a permanent record by the alarm user.
(E) Installation and Design.
(1) All systems shall be installed in a workmanlike manner and in accordance with the specifications and standards approved by this Department.
(2) Devices shall be so located and mounted that accidental operation will not be caused by vibration or jarring.
(3) All systems shall test free of grounds except parts of circuits or equipment which are intentionally and permanently grounded to provide ground, fault detection, emergency ground signaling, or circuit grounding. All systems shall be so designed that they do not depend upon the effectiveness of any ground connection or normal operation.
(4) A system shall be so designed and installed so that it shall be capable of performing its intended function at 85 percent and at 110 percent of the rated voltage.
(F) Monthly Tests.
(1) The system shall be tested at least once each month as provided within § 91.11(E) herein to verify the reliability of the system.
(2) A different component of the system (detector, pull box, etc.) shall be used each month as a means of activating the system.
(3) The City’s Central Dispatch, the Fire Department, and the Police Department shall be notified at least one (1) hour prior to the test.
(G) Approval.
(1) Applications for permission to install and connect auxiliary systems shall be made to the City Building Inspector and to the Fire Department. The Fire Department shall, when necessary, obtain the advice, inspection, or other assistance of the Building Inspector, Electrical Inspector, or other appropriate department.
(2) Final Action of any such application shall be made by the Chief of the Fire Department or his duly authorized representative.
(Prior Code, Art. 9, § 9.11)