NFPA 72 Changes: Initiating Devices & Notification Appliances 

This article is a continuation of changes that have occurred within NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, 2022 edition. As I have indicated in my prior articles, most jurisdictions will not be adopting this edition until 2023.

That stated, a number of AHJs will be making local amendments to this standard before adoption, so it is a good idea to become familiar with the document now as opposed to when it becomes effective in the area that you practice.  

Chapter 17 – Initiating Devices:  

There was no changes to spacing requirements in this edition of NFPA 72. In fact there were very few changes within this chapter for this edition. The only change that I will comment on is in the section of this chapter that covers carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.

This is a statement that advises the user of the standard that CO detectors that may be installed within a duct system shall not be used as an exchange for open air CO detectors.   

There is additional annex material that states that there has yet to be any research on CO detectors that are installed with a duct system to determine what their activation threshold may be. Until this work is funded and completed, this statement will remain within 72. 

Chapter 18 – Notification Appliances: 

As with NFPA 72 Chapter 17, there has been no changes to the spacing of appliances. There are several additions to this chapter related to the use of notification appliances within a protected premises.

The first is an allowance that if a notification appliance has already been installed at the time that the system was only being used as a fire alarm system, that the same appliance may now be used if the system is being used for more than just for fire detection and alerting.  

Previous editions stated that the word “FIRE” was required to be on an appliance that was connected to a system that was to be used for fire detection only. If the system was to be used for other alerting, such as CO detection, a different appliance was required to be installed that had no wording on it.

The standard now allows for a field modification to be executed so as to modify the existing appliance. This may be accomplished in one of two methods: 

  1. In accordance with the manufacturer’s published instructions. 
  2. Installation of a permanent sign which would be adjacent or below the appliance, stating that it is now a multipurpose appliance and will provide signaling for fire and other conditions.  

There are new annex guidelines related to the use of 520Hz sounders. This is to provide assistance on where a sleeping area may be within a dwelling, or other occupancies. These now include: 

  1. Common spaces within a dwelling unit, such as the living room that may have a couch or other types of sleeping furniture. 
  2. An area within a dwelling unit that may have a “Murphy” bed 
  3. Doctor or staff sleeping rooms within a medical facility 
  4. Nap rooms that may be found within any occupancy  

There is also a statement that all notification appliances that transmit sound should be listed for low frequency use. This may be the first move to require all notification audible appliances to be listed for 520Hz. Stay tuned for the 2025 edition.  

In next month’s column, I will be covering the changes that have been made to Chapters 23 and 24.   

You will still have time to submit public inputs for NFPA 72 until June 1.  

The post NFPA 72 Changes: Initiating Devices & Notification Appliances  appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.



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