Fire Alarm Information Guide - City of Edmonds Fire Marshal Office 07.10.24City of Edmonds Fire Marshal's Office
FIRE ALARM INFORMATION GUIDE
PURPOSE
This document provides fire alarm designers, installers, plan reviewers, inspectors, and
building owners with important information regarding fire alarm installation requirements
within the city of Edmonds. It is intended to provide consistency between all parties during
plan design, submittal, review, installation, inspection and testing of new and existing fire
sprinkler systems.
SCOPE
The information contained within this document details some of the Edmonds Community
and Development Code (ECDC) amendments to the International Fire Code. It may also
contain some of the provisions found in the International Fire Code, NFPA Standards,
Washington Administrative Code, and the Revised Code of Washington. Nothing in this
document shall prevent the fire code official from modifying these requirements as
necessary, based on circumstances, to provide an acceptable level of protection. This
document is a summary of requirements found in various codes, standards, and laws. It
is not a complete list of permit or code requirements and should not be used as a
substitute for applicable laws and regulations. It is the responsibility of the design and
installation professional to ensure all codes, laws and regulations are followed.
DESIGN AND INSTALLATION
1. Where an existing building or suite provided with a fire alarm system, fire detection
system, or supervised sprinkler system undergoes an alteration, repair, modification,
change of use or occupancy, or where a fire alarm control panel is installed, replaced
or upgraded, all fire alarm initiation and notification devices located within the entire
building shall be required to meet both the currently adopted IFC and NFPA 72
National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code unless otherwise approved by the fire code
official. (ECDC 19.25.035 D)
2. When a building is required to be equipped with a fire alarm system, the system shall
provide protection throughout the structure or as approved by the fire code official.
(ECDC 19.25.035 D)
SOUTH COUNTY FIRE
12425 Meridian Avenue South, Everett, WA 98208 (425) 551-1264 I Prevention@SouthSnoFire.org
SERVING THE CITIES OF • BRIER • EDMONDS • LYNNWOOD • MILL CREEK • MOUNTLAKE TERRACE
3. All construction documents shall be reviewed by a NICET III, an ESA/NTS Certified
Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) Level III Fire in fire alarms, or a licensed professional
engineer (PE) in Washington prior to being submitted for permitting. The reviewing
professional shall submit a stamped, signed, and dated letter; or a verification
method approved by the local authority having jurisdiction indicating the system has
been reviewed and meets or exceeds the design requirements of the state of
Washington and the local jurisdiction (effective July 1, 2018). (2021 IFC 907.11.2)
4. All inspection, testing, maintenance, and programing not defined as "electrical
construction trade" by chapter 19.28 RCW shall be completed by a NICET II or
ESA/NTS Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II Fire in fire alarms (effective
July 1, 2018). (2021 IFC 907.8.4.1)
5. The installation, upgrade, or replacement of an existing fire alarm control panel
(FACP) shall require that all fire alarm system components meet both the currently
adopted IFC and NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. Exception: FACP
replacement of the same make and model as the existing panel. (ECDC 19.25.035 D)
6. Systems and their components shall be listed and approved for the purpose for which
they are installed. All new alarm systems shall be addressable, and each device shall
have its own address and shall annunciate individual addresses to an approved
central station. All new FACPs shall be installed in the fire riser room and have signage
stating "Fire Alarm" or "Fire Alarm Control Panel" affixed to the outside of the door.
Signs shall be red, with two-inch white letters. (ECDC 19.25.35 D)
7. All means of communication between the FACP, and the central station shall be of a
method approved by the fire code official and be provided with a minimum of 24 hours'
standby power. Only components that are serviceable by a fire alarm technician shall
be part of the means of communication located on the protected premises. The fire
code official shall maintain a list of approved communication means. (EDCD
19.25.035 D)
8. Detection shall be provided in all R1 and R2 occupancy buildings with common
hallways and at the top of stairways unless otherwise approved by the fire code official.
(ECDC 19.25.035)
9. FACPs shall be provided with an approved Knox key box for access. (2021 IFC 506.1)
10. Duct smoke detectors shall be connected to the FACP and report as a supervisory
signal. (ECDC 19.25.035 D)
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11.At least one audio/visual notification device shall be installed on the exterior of the
building facing fire department arrival. One visual notification device shall be required
to be located at the exterior entrance to a fire alarm control panel room as approved
by the fire code official. (ECDC 19.25.035)
12.Testing Maintenance. Service providers hired by the building owner are responsible
for electronically submitting completed annual confidence test reports of fire alarm
systems, sprinkler systems, fire pumps, suppression systems, and standpipes to the
appropriate fire prevention offices' online reporting system within 14 days of the
completed inspection. (ECDC 19.25.035 D)
Created 07-10-2024
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