vFire Alarm Application Note• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •About Fire Alarm CodesThere are various fire alarm codes written by industry associations and institutes; forexample, the National Fire Alarm Protection Association writes the National Life SafetyCode, also known as NFPA 101. Other fire alarm codes written by other associations orinstitutes, such as BOCA and ICBO, specify whether or not a given building or structuretype is required to have a fire alarm system and, if so, what fire alarm system functions mustbe supported. Each state and local government jurisdiction adopts in part or in entiretythese codes, which become that jurisdiction’s code.In addition, there are standards that govern the design, installation, and service of fire alarmsystems. For instance, the use and placement of smoke and fire detection devices is specifiedin the National Fire Alarm Code. The most popularly adopted code is the National FireAlarm Code, commonly referred to as NFPA 72.Code EnforcementCodes are enforced by the person who is designated by the state or local government as the“Authority Having Jurisdiction,” also simply referred to as the “AHJ.” The AHJ has thedelegated power to review and interpret the code as it may pertain to a particular structure.The AHJ must interpret codes because structures often are not uniform. Therefore, the AHJwill review, for example, a fire alarm design for the correct number of smoke detectors andtheir placement in relation to the structure’s layout.
