(A) Where required:
(1) An automatic fire alarm system shall be installed in all buildings regardless of the use group or other protection systems specified for such a building by any standard or code incorporated herein by reference. The automatic fire alarm system shall be approved for the particular application and shall be used only for fire detection and signaling.
(2) Total coverage detection shall be installed when a building is not equipped with a fire sprinkler or approved alternative fire suppression system. All devices shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 72, 2019 Edition, Chapter 17. Buildings equipped with a fire sprinkler or approved alternative fire suppression system, partial and selective coverage as outlined in Section 17.5.3.2 shall be provided.
(B) Installation requirements.
(1) Design, installation, testing and maintenance of all fire alarm systems shall be done by qualified and experienced personnel as outlined in NFPA 72, Chapter 10, of the 2019 Edition.
(2) Fire alarm system design for installation or modification, shall require plans and document submittals in accordance with NFPA 72, 2019 Edition and the items listed in this section. NO WORK SHALL BE PERFORMED UNTIL PLANS ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
(3) Installing and servicing contractors of fire alarm systems shall also be subject to the following requirements:
(a) Provide a current copy of a valid Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) private alarm contractor’s license or as per an exemption from obtaining a private alarm contractor’s license if the fire alarm system work is performed by a licensed electrical contractor.
(b) Installers/contractors shall also be registered with the Village of Romeoville as a private alarm contractor - fire alarm installer.
(c) Installers/contractors shall provide a certificate of insurance with the Village of Romeoville listed as additional insured.
(C) All systems shall be powered by the most reliable source obtainable at the building and have a minimum 24-hour power back-up supply. All fire alarm systems shall be of the closed-circuit type and be electrically or mechanically supervised.
(D) All automatic fire alarm systems shall be tested at least one time per year at the cost of owner. All maintenance and testing shall be done by individuals certified and qualified to do so. All annual test and maintenance reports shall be forwarded to the Romeoville Fire Prevention Bureau within 20 days of completion.
(E) A fire alarm system shall not be out of service for a period exceeding 48 hours, if this occurs reference § 91.59.
(F) All automatic fire alarm systems required under this division (F) and installed after its adoption shall be required to automatically transmit the presence of any alarm condition directly to the Romeoville Fire Department Emergency Dispatch Center by means of a radio transmitter as approved by the Fire Prevention Bureau or its designee. The Village of Romeoville shall cause all radio transmitters and related equipment required in connection therewith to be supplied and installed in compliance with such specifications as the village shall from time to time require, as set forth in Appendix A to this chapter. All such radio transmitters and related equipment shall be leased to the owner of the building or structure to be served thereby, upon such fees and charges as the village may from time to time authorize by ordinance, as set forth in Chapter 43 of this Code of Ordinances. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this division (F), the Village of Romeoville, at its sole discretion, may from time to time contract with third parties for the acquisition, leasing and maintenance of the radio transmitters and related equipment required hereunder.
(G) Detecting devices. All automatic fire alarm systems shall include detecting devices. The automatic detecting devices shall be approved smoke detectors and/or heat detectors according to NFPA recommendations and according to the recommendations of the Bureau of Fire Prevention or its authorized designee.
(H) Manual pull stations. Manual pull stations shall be installed at all exits leading to the outside of building. All pull boxes shall be between three and one-half to five feet from the floor.
(I) Alarms, audio and visual devices. Approved audible and visual alarms shall be required. All audible alarms will be of the horn variety and will be accompanied with strobe lights. The operation of any detection device shall cause all audible and visual alarms to operate alarms. An outdoor rated visual device with a clear lens shall be placed outside the exterior door that is labeled “FACP” and provides access to the fire alarm control panel. This device will activate on any general fire alarm
(J) Duct detectors shall be programmed as a supervisory only signal and upon activation will automatically shut down any affected HVAC/MAU/AHU unit until cleared. Any building that has duct detection must also have a fire alarm annunciator located in an office area, maintenance office or other common area that is staffed while the building or space is occupied. Remote test stations for all duct detectors shall be installed adjacent to the fire alarm control panel or other location(s) approved by the Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshal or inspector prior to installation.
(K) Fire alarm zones. Each floor shall be zoned separately. No zone shall exceed 20,000 square feet or 200 feet in any direction. Zoning indicator panels and controls shall be approved and located by the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Annunciators shall lock in until the Fire Department resets the alarm system.
(L) Fire alarm control panel and annunciators. The fire alarm control panel shall be an addressable type and capable to monitor all devices and zones within the building. The fire alarm control panel shall not require the use of codes or keys for operation by Fire Department personnel. Fire alarm annunciators (if installed) shall only provide a means to locally receive audio and visual notification of an alarm and shall not permit the end user to perform any function including acknowledge, silence restore or resetting of the alarm. All functions must be controlled from the fire alarm control panel by Fire Department personnel.
(M) The fire alarm control panel, sprinkler system, and any other fire protection controls for Fire Department use shall be located in the fire command room for the building as described in § 91.52(F).
(N) Zone/device address maps are required to be installed at the fire alarm control panel and/or at a location designated by the Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshal, or Fire Inspector in all existing, new, additions and modifications to fire alarm installations except for one- and two-family residential buildings.
(O) A functionality inspection and acceptance test shall be witnessed by a representative of the Fire Prevention Bureau of any installation, addition or modification to the fire alarm system prior to occupancy and use of the space. The installing contractor shall provide all necessary test equipment.
(P) Residential smoke alarms shall be in compliance with Chapter 24 Section 24.3.4 of NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, 2021 Edition.
(Q) Any exposed vertical wiring shall be installed in ¾” minimum conduit and routed to the roof deck or above the finished ceiling. Any horizontal wiring shall be installed in cable trays, electrical raceway, rings, hooks or straps. Wiring of any type shall not be attached to piping or conduit. Cables shall be installed in neat and orderly fashion with no excessive loops or drops.
(R) Fire alarm systems shall maintain an operational normal status and not exceed the following service time frames:
(1) Fire alarm system out of service – 48 hours to repair and return to normal status (see division (E) of this section).
(2) Fire alarm trouble condition – seven days to repair and return to normal status.
(3) Fire alarm supervisory condition – 14 days to repair and return to normal status.
From time to time a representative of the Fire Prevention Bureau shall specifically be authorized to extend or reduce the time frame to repair at their discretion.
(Ord. 05-0251, passed 3-16-05; Am. Ord. 11-0923, passed 9-21-11; Am. Ord. 11-0935, passed 11-2-11; Am. Ord. 12-1016, passed 11-7-12; Am. Ord. 17-1347, passed 3-1-17; Am. Ord. 22-1811, passed 12-7-22)