Fire Alarm Manual Pull Station Height Codes
Fire Alarm Manual Pull Station Height Code Ontario

The operable part of the manual stations shall be installed not less than 3 ½ ft. (42') and not more than 4 ft. (46”) to center above finished floor. All pull stations shall be installed at the same height throughout the facility. Fire alarm visual (strobe) and audible (horn or speaker) signals shall be on separate circuits if the.
With some exceptions, the 1991 Standards set the maximum height for controls that can be reached by a side reach at 54 inches above the floor or ground; the 2010 Standards, at section 308.3, lower the maximum height (whether by side or forward approach) to 48 inches.

Fire Alarm Manual Pull Station Height Codes

Aug 29, 2017 Are you talking about the activator, The manual fire pull? According to Section 5.13.4 of NFPA 72, mounting height must be between 3½ and 4½ feet from floor to handle. Section 4.2.5 of the ADA states, “If the clear floor space only allows forward approach to an object, the maximum high forward reach allowed shall be 48 inches.

6 Common Fire Code Violations You Can Spot and Quickly Fix

The most common fire code violations are some of the easiest to identify and remedy. So why do they occur so frequently? The main reason these violations are taking place is simply that people aren’t aware of the fire code requirements. But claiming ignorance won’t prevent a code officer from giving you a hefty fire code violation fine. So here are the 6 common fire code violations you need to look for in your facility and how you can quickly remedy the problem.

1. Fire Extinguishers: Expired Tags and Obstruction

Whether it’s in your facility or somewhere else, if you start noticing fire extinguishers, you’ll see some with expired fire extinguisher inspection tags. In order to ensure all your extinguishers stay up to date on their inspections, you can hire a fire protection company or assign one of your staff members to perform the monthly fire extinguisher inspection. Most jurisdictions will allow any competent person to perform the monthly inspection since the code is very easy to understand and the inspection is simple. Another problem is that the fire extinguisher should be in plain sight and have nothing blocking it. This can be easily fixed by moving the obstruction out of the way.

Fire Alarm Manual Pull Station Height Code Ontario

2. Painted Fire Sprinkler Heads

Only manufacturers can paint fire sprinkler heads. Unfortunately, when painters make their way through a building they’ll forget to cover a few fire sprinkler heads. If a sprayer was used to paint the ceilings then the paint will be splattered on the head. You can identify the issue by performing a simple visual inspection at ground level. But if the ceilings are high you may have to get a closer look. Any fire sprinkler heads that are painted will need to be replaced by a professional fire protection contractor. Here are some tips on how to prevent other common fire sprinkler deficiencies.

3. Fire Alarm Trouble Signals

Unless the fire alarm is beeping or generating false alarms most people won’t know there’s a problem. That’s why it’s important to check your fire alarm panel on a regular basis. The panel will have certain items lite up which will indicate the fire alarm panel signals meaning and the issue. When there’s a problem don’t wait, call a fire alarm company right away.

4. Fire Pumps Not Regularly Tested

Out of sight out of mind. Fire pumps are located on the bottom floor of the building so they’re often forgotten about. A layer of dust on a pump is a good indicator that no one is performing the fire pump monthly churn test. But this neglect can lead to hefty fire pump repair costs that you’ll never forget. Fortunately, in-house personnel can perform this monthly test or you can hire a fire protection company to come to your site monthly. Many fire protection companies offer training and can show your staff how to perform the fire pump churn test. If you decide to have this test done in-house double check with the authority having jurisdiction on their requirements for personnel performing the test.

5. Obstructed Exits

There should be no items impeding the pathway to any exit. The biggest problem isn’t with exits that are used on an everyday basis but with emergency exits. Since they’re used infrequently items will end up stacked up in front of them. In the worst cases, emergency exit doors are chained and locked. In the event of an emergency if people can’t get out you’ll find yourself with a lot more to deal with than a fine. So if you know this is occurring in your building clear the pathway to the emergency exit door and unlock it. Let facility personnel know nothing should impede the exit path.

6. Blocked Fire Alarm Pull Stations

This probably occurs as often if not more so than fire extinguisher obstruction. The most common fire alarm pull station obstruction items are plants, furniture, and displays. If someone can’t clearly spot the fire alarm pull station then there’s a problem and you need to remove the obstruction.

Now that you’re aware of these common fire code violations take a walk around and survey your facility. You have all the information you need to solve the problems. Make it part of your routine to look for these violations on a monthly basis and you won’t have to worry about receiving fines for fire code violations.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join Kinetix’s monthly newsletter and receive expert advice, tips, and the latest industry news to make overseeing fire & life safety easier.

Thank you for your interest in Kinetix Fire!

Categorized in: Education, Fire Alarms, Fire Pumps, Fire Sprinklers, Fire Suppression, General

What is the maximum height for a fire alarm pull station in Vancouver?

CAN/ULC-S524-06 is the Standard for Installation of Fire Alarm Systems and Section 5.2 is entitled “Manual Stations”. Provincial Building Codes and the Vancouver Building ByLaw (VBBL) both reference this Standard so, in Vancouver (as well as the rest of Canada): Sentence 5.2.1 reads: “Manual stations shall be installed not less than 1200 mm and not more than 1400 mm above the finished floor level measured to the centre of the manual station.” What if you’re replacing an existing manual station that’s not installed to the current standard? In many buildings more than thirty years old, some manual stations are of the old style disk type which aren’t even ULC Listed. In many instances, these units are often found on equally archaic three-wire unsupervised twelve volt fire alarm systems. None of these installations could be termed “deficient” as they probably met the Code requirements of the day. Replacing a defective manual station (as with any other similar fire alarm device) is a mainte