Fort_Carson_Mass_Notification_Requirement.docx

Fort Carson Mass Notification Requirements Background: Mass notification provides real-time information and instructions to people in a building, area, site, or installation using intelligible voice communications along with visible signals, text, and graphics, and possibly including tactile or other communication methods. The purpose of mass notification is to protect life by indicating the existence of an emergency situation and instructing people of the necessary and appropriate response and action.

Purpose: This is an information sheet only. It is to aide in the design, installation, inspection and final acceptance of the Mass Notification System (MNS). The requirements of all applicable Codes, Standards and Unified Facilities Criteria still apply and take priority over anything stated in this information sheet.

Review/Installation Process:

1. Waivers and Exemptions: This is the requester’s responsibility to accomplish in accordance with UFC 4-021-01. This cannot be accomplished at a local level.

2. The building MNS shall be designed in accordance with the most current UFC 4-021-01.

3. A combined system is required on Fort Carson.

4. The Fort Carson Fire & Emergency Services Fire Prevention Office is required to review all project drawings prior to installation.

5. All review comments made by the Fire Prevention Office must be answered, changes implemented and drawings updated prior to installation.

6. Any field changes required in the field during installation must be communicated to the appropriate Fire Inspector prior to the changes taking place.

Mass Notification Components:

Autonomous Control Unit (ACU): The ACU is used to monitor and control the MNS notification appliance network.

1. The ACU shall form a combined system with the FACP. These control panels may be co-located in the same enclosure or may be physically separated.

2. Actions taken at the ACU will take priority over actions taken at any other location.

3. The ACU shall be integrated with the building fire alarm control panel.

4. The ACU panel will be designed in a locked cabinet. This is typically installed in the same enclosure with the fire alarm system.

5. Removal of glass panels so occupants can utilize MNS functions is not acceptable.

6. For facilities where just one LOC is required. It may become necessary to install the LOC next to the ACU and FACP.

7. Integration with a public address system is typically not allowed on Fort Carson. This must be addressed and decided upon during the design phase.

8. Activation of the fire alarm system during a MNS event will immediately cancel out the MNS until MNS is reactivated.

9. MNS will override fire alarm audible messages and visual signals for no longer than one minute. At the end of one minute the fire alarm must reactivate.

10. Fire and MNS notification appliance network devices will not stay activated in conjunction with each other. When one is on the other is completely off.

11. Be a listed combination system with the fire alarm system as described in NFPA 72 and meeting UL Standard 864 and the specific requirements of UFC 4-021-01.

12. Have the ability to interrupt public announcements and silence building background music while delivering voice messages.

13. Be able to switch between MNS and fire alarm notification functions without generating trouble alarms in either system.

14. Have the capacity for multiple pre-recorded messages (at least eight). If not known, contact project representative for the required messages.

15. The system shall deliver messages quickly.

16. The termination of a message shall be automatic when the equipment can accommodate it. Messages will play no less then 3 minutes and no more then 10 minutes before automatically shutting off.

17. Provide a supervisory signal if the MNS is used to override fire alarm. The supervisory signal shall be annunciated at the FACP, any remote fire alarm annunciators and be transmitted to the fire department. This supervisory signal shall be separate from other fire alarm system supervisory signals.

18. Provide a complete set of self-diagnostics for the controller and appliance network.

19. Have a local diagnostic information display.

20. Provide a local system event log file.

21. All programming codes or passwords shall be provided to the DOD installation no later than the date of final system acceptance.

Power Supply Features. The power supply shall:

1. Be capable of accepting 120/240 VAC, 50/60 Hz.

2. Be appropriate for a MNS/FACP system that meets at least the minimum NFPA 72 requirements.

3. A standby source of power shall provide a minimum of 60 minutes of mass notification at the maximum connected load.

4. Conform to applicable sections of NFPA 72.

5. Only use Commercial Off-the-Shelf Equipment in accordance with UFC 4-021-01

Local Operator Console (LOC): A LOC is a unit designed to allow emergency response forces and building occupants to operate the individual building MNS, including initiating delivery of pre-recorded voice messages, providing live voice messages and instructions, initiating visual strobe and alphanumeric message notification appliances, overriding external voice announcements, and terminating mass notification functions. Not all functions that could be performed at the ACU are necessarily available at a LOC.

1. Provide a single switch or operating mechanism capable of shutting down all HVAC equipment in the facility in accordance with the requirements of UFC 4-010-01.

2. The HVAC switch can be located within a LOC.

3. Provide a LOC to allow emergency response forces and building occupants to access the MNS and originate messages in emergency situations from locations in the building other than from the ACU.

4. Do not place a LOC inside a locked room or area.

5. Be protected in a small, wall-mounted enclosure and also be protected from tampering by use of a finger turn latching device to hold the panel door closed. No other securing method may be used, such as, keys and magnets.

6. Make a LOC available for use by visitors in those facilities open to unescorted visitors or to the public.

7. Install a LOC at those facility entrances/exits that will be used when building access is limited because of elevated terrorism threat levels.

8. Provide a LOC so that occupants do not need to travel more than 200 ft. horizontally or to travel to other floors to access a LOC.

9. Have an easy method (such as individual manual activation push buttons) of activating the MNS pre-recorded messages.

10. Signage shall be provided to allow rapid recognition of the means of initiating the pre-recorded messages.

11. Have signage on the outside of the enclosure similar to “Mass Notification” and “HVAC Emergency Shutdown” (if applicable).

12. Regardless of what LOC button is pressed, another LOC or the ACU, must be able to cancel or override the current functions. The ACU, however, takes over-all priority.

13. Must be designed and installed to meet ADAAG/ABAAG requirements (This would be treated with the same height requirements as a fire alarm pull station).

Audible Appliance Network:

1. Provide appliances capable of satisfying all UFAS and ADAAG/ABAAG requirements.

2. Use speakers suitable for the intended climatic and environmental conditions.

3. Use speakers suitable for installation in commercial/industrial applications with consideration of electrically hazardous (classified) locations.

4. Speakers shall meet the listing requirements of UL Standard 1480.

5. System design shall comply with NFPA 72.

6. Provide speakers at all locations inside a building where the building fire alarm must be audible. MNS and FAS speakers can be shared.

7. Provide speakers mounted on the exterior of the building in areas commonly used by building occupants for a distance up to 16 ft from the building.

8. Use speakers with directional characteristics that transmit minimal backplane noise when mounted on the sides of the building.

9. The speakers shall be located near entrance/exit doors.

10. Install speakers with field-adjustable tap settings that allow for adjustments.

11. Do not use speakers exceeding 15 watts for indoor applications.

12. Wiring methods shall comply with NFPA 72.

13. Ensure that a CIS score greater than 0.8 is provided in each area where building occupants normally could be found. Note:

14. CIS values of 0.75 through 0.84 will be rounded to 0.8.

15. Areas of the building provided with hard wall and ceiling surfaces that are found to cause excessive sound reflections may be permitted to have a CIS score less than the minimum required value if the building occupants in these areas can determine that a voice signal is being broadcast and they must walk no more than 33 ft to find a location with atleast the minimum required CIS value within the same area.

16. Areas of the building where occupants are not expected to be normally present are permitted to have a CIS score less than the minimum required value if personnel can determine that a voice signal is being broadcast and they must walk no more than 50 ft to a location with a CIS score of at least the minimum required value within the same area.

17. For cavernous-type open areas, refer to the UFC.

18. Measurements should be taken near expected head levels

19. There must be no squeal/feed-back when operating the microphones.

20. Exterior speakers will sound both fire and MNS announcements as applicable.

Visual Appliance Network:

1. Provide visual appliances capable of satisfying all UFAS and ADAAG/ABAAG requirements.

2. Use visual appliances suitable for the intended climatic and environmental conditions.

3. Use visual appliances suitable for installation in commercial/industrial applications with consideration of electrically hazardous (classified) locations.

4. MNS strobes are not required outside the building.

5. Wiring methods shall comply with NFPA 72.

6. Provide amber-colored strobes with white housings that are factory marked with the word “ALERT” to alert the hearing impaired.

7. Amber strobes activated in conjunction with the delivery of a pre-recorded voice message shall operate continuously until message termination.

8. Amber strobes activated in conjunction with the delivery of a live voice message shall operate during the message and for not less than 15 seconds after the message ends.

9. MNS strobes will be co-located with fire alarm strobes inside the facility.

10. In corridors or long rooms, where both sets of strobes are mounted horizontally of each other, they will be staggered so that the lenses are at different heights of each other. Height requirements of NFPA 72 still apply with this application.

11. Combined visual and audio devices may be used.