918.1 General. An approved alerting system shall be provided in buildings and structures as required in Chapter 4 and this section, unless other requirements are provided by another section of this code.
EXCEPTION: | Approved alerting systems in existing buildings, structures or occupancies. |
918.2 Power source. Alerting systems shall be provided with power supplies in accordance with Section 4.4.1 of NFPA 72 and circuit disconnecting means identified as "EMERGENCY ALERTING SYSTEM."
EXCEPTION: | Systems which do not require electrical power to operate. |
918.3 Duration of operation. The alerting system shall be capable of operating under nonalarm condition (quiescent load) for a minimum of 24 hours and then shall be capable of operating during an emergency condition for a period of 15 minutes at maximum connected load.
918.4 Combination system. Alerting system components and equipment shall be allowed to be used for other purposes.
918.4.1 System priority. The alerting system use shall take precedence over any other use.
918.4.2 Fire alarm system. Fire alarm systems sharing components and equipment with alerting systems must be in accordance with Section 6.8.4 of NFPA 72.
918.4.2.1 Signal priority. Recorded or live alert signals generated by an alerting system that shares components with a fire alarm system shall, when actuated, take priority over fire alarm messages and signals.
918.4.2.2 Temporary deactivation. Should the fire alarm system be in the alarm mode when such an alerting system is actuated, it shall temporarily cause deactivation of all fire alarm-initiated audible messages or signals during the time period required to transmit the alert signal.
918.4.2.3 Supervisory signal. Deactivation of fire alarm audible and visual notification signals shall cause a supervisory signal for each notification zone affected in the fire alarm system.
918.5 Audibility. Audible characteristics of the alert signal shall be in accordance with Section 7.4.1 of NFPA 72 throughout the area served by the alerting system.
EXCEPTION: | Areas served by approved visual or textual notification, where the visible notification appliances are not also used as a fire alarm signal, are not required to be provided with audibility complying with Section 916.6. |
918.6 Visibility. Visible and textual notification appliances shall be permitted in addition to alert signal audibility.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27.031 and
19.27.074. WSR 20-01-162, § 51-54A-0918, filed 12/18/19, effective 7/1/20.]