Initiating Devices

NFPA 72 Chapter 17
 17.1 Application
 17.2 Purpose
 17.3 Performance-Based Design
 17.4 General Requirements
 17.5 Requirements of Smoke & Heat
Detectors
 17.6 Heat-Sensing Fire Detectors
17.7 Smoke Detecting Fire Detectors
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17.7 Smoke-Sensing Fire Detectors

17.7 SMOKE-SENSING FIRE DETECTORS

17.7.1 General.
17.7.1.1 The smoke detection design documentation
shall state the required performance objective
of the system.
17.7.1.2 Designs not in accordance with 5.7.1.3 shall
be deemed prescriptive designs and shall be
designed in accordance with the prescriptive
requirements of this chapter.
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17.7.1.3 Performance-based designs shall be
executed in accordance with Section 17.3.
17.7.1.4 The prescriptive requirements in this
section shall be applied only where detectors
are installed in ordinary indoor locations.
17.7.1.7 Be careful to avoid nuisance alarms
17.7.1.8 >32º F, <100º F, <93% humidity, <300 ft/min.
17.7.1.9 Carefully consider the ambient conditions
17.7.1.10 STRATIFICATION
– Consider stratification. See Annex B
17.7.1.11 Do not install detectors until after cleanup
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17.7.2 SENSITIVITY
17.7.2.1 Detectors to be marked w/ nominal %/ft
obscuration
17.7.2.2 Detectors w/ adjustment --> range  .6%/ft

17.7.3 LOCATION AND SPACING

17.7.3.1 GENERAL
175.7.3.1.1 & 2 Detector location shall be
determined by ceiling shape and surface,
height, contents configuration, burning
characteristics, ventilation, and ambient
environment.
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17.7.3.1.3 Detectors may be moved closer to hazard
17.7.3.2 SPOT-TYPE SMOKE DETECTORS
• 17.7.3.2.1* Spot-type smoke detectors shall be located
on the ceiling or, if on a sidewall, between the ceiling and
12 in. (300 mm) down from the ceiling to the top of the
detector.
• 17.7.3.2.2* To minimize dust contamination, smoke
detectors, where installed under raised floors, shall be
mounted only in an orientation for which they have been
listed.
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17.7.3.7 PROJECTED BEAM-TYPE SMOKE
DETECTORS
– Install with beam parallel to ceiling (exception)

17.7.3.2.3 SMOOTH CEILING SPACING

• 17.7.3.2.3.1* In the absence of specific performance-
based design criteria, smooth ceiling smoke detector
spacing shall be a nominal 30 ft (9.1 m).
• 17.7.3.2.3.5* For smooth ceilings, all points on the
ceiling shall have a detector within a distance equal
to 0.7 times the selected spacing.
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17.7.3.2.4 SOLID JOIST AND BEAM CONSTRUCTION

…shall be in accordance with 17.7.3.2.4.1 through
17.7.3.2.4.6
17.7.3.2.4.2 For Level Ceilings
• For ceilings with beam depths of less than 10 percent of
the ceiling height (0.1 H), smooth ceiling spacing shall
be permitted. …located on ceilings or on the bottom of
beams.
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17.7.3.2.4 SOLID JOIST AND BEAM CONSTRUCTION
…shall be in accordance with 17.7.3.2.4.1 through
17.7.3.2.4.6
17.7.3.2.4.2 (2)…with beam depths equal to or >10% of
the ceiling height (0.1 H), the following shall apply:
– (a) Where beam spacing is equal to or greater than
40 percent of the ceiling height (0.4 H), spot-type
detectors shall be located on the ceiling in each
beam pocket.
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17.7.3.2.4 SOLID JOIST AND BEAM CONSTRUCTION
…shall be in accordance with 17.7.3.2.4.1 through
17.7.3.2.4.6
17.7.3.2.4.2 (2) …
• (b) Where beam spacing is less than 40 percent of the
ceiling height (0.4 H), the following shall be permitted
for spot detectors:
– i. Smooth ceiling spacing in the direction parallel to the beams
and at one-half smooth ceiling spacing in the direction
perpendicular to the beams
– ii. Location of detectors either on the ceiling or on the bottom of
the beams
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17.7.3.2.4.3 Sloped Ceilings Parallel to the
slope
17.7.3.2.4.4 Sloped Ceilings Perpendicular
to the slope
17.7.3.2.4.5 Sloped Ceilings with beam
pockets formed by intersecting beams
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17.7.3.3 PEAKED
Detectors within 3’ of the peak

17.7.3.4 SHED
Detectors within 3’ of the peak

17.7.3.5 RAISED FLOORS & SUSPENDED CEILINGS

These spaces to be treated separate rooms
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17.7.3.5.1 For raised floors, the following shall apply:
– (1) Detectors installed beneath raised floors shall be spaced in
accordance with 17.7.3.1, 17.7.3.1.3, and 17.7.3.2.2.
– (2) Where the area beneath the raised floor is also used for
environmental air, detector spacing shall also conform to 17.7.4.1
and 17.7.4.2.

17.7.3.5.2 For suspended ceilings, the following shall apply:

– (1) Detector spacing above suspended ceilings shall conform to the
requirements of 17.7.3 for the ceiling configuration.
– (2) Where detectors are installed in ceilings used for environmental
air, detector spacing shall also conform to 17.7.4.1 and 17.7.4.2.
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17.7.4 HEATING, VENTILATION, and AIR-
CONDITIONING (HVAC)
17.7.4.1 Detectors shall not be located near airflow
17.7.4.2 …in plenums shall comply with 17.7.4.2.1 and
17.7.4.2.2
17.7.4.2.1 …shall be listed for the anticipated environment
17.7.4.2.2 Duct detectors shall not substitute open-area
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17.7.5* Smoke Detectors for Control of Smoke Spread
• 17.7.5.1* Classifications. Smoke detectors installed and used to
prevent smoke spread by initiating control of fans, dampers, doors, and
other equipment shall be classified in the following manner:
• (1) Area detectors that are installed in the related smoke compartments
• (2) Detectors that are installed in the air duct systems
• (3) Video image smoke detection that is installed in related smoke
compartments

17.7.6 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

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17.7 Smoke-Sensing Fire Detectors

17.7.6.1 SPOT-TYPE DETECTORS

17.7.6.1.1 Smokes with heat detector -->
use Table 17.6.2.1
17.7.6.1.2* Seal all holes in the back of
detectors
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17.7.6.2* High-Rack Storage. The location and
spacing of smoke detectors for high-rack storage shall
address the commodity, quantity, and configuration of
the rack storage.
17.7.6.3 High Air Movement Areas.
– 17.7.6.3.3.1 Spot-type smoke detector spacing shall be
in accordance with Table 17.7.6.3.3.1 and Figure
17.7.6.3.3.1.
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17.7.6.3 High Air Movement Areas.
– 17.7.6.3.4 HVAC Mechanical Rooms. Where HVAC mechanical
rooms are used as an air plenum for return air, the spacing of
smoke detectors shall not be required to be reduced based on the
number of air changes.

17.7.7 Video Image Smoke Detection

– 17.7.7.2 Video image smoke detection systems shall comply with
all of the applicable requirements of Chapters 1, 10, 14, 17, and 23
of this Code.