N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 760.41: Section 760.41

Section 760.41 – Revise Section 760.41 to read as follows:

760.41 NPLFA Circuit Power Source Requirements. The power source for fire alarm circuits shall comply with (A) through (E).

(A) Primary Power Source. All fire alarm circuits shall be provided with a primary power source not exceeding 600 volts nominal supplied by utility company power or isolated plant. The primary power supply to the fire alarm system shall comply with the following:

(1) Primary Power Supply for the Fire Alarm System(s). Where a fire alarm system is installed as required by the New York City Building Code, primary power supply shall be connected to the primary power source ahead of all building service disconnecting means so that the building service disconnecting means can be opened without de-energizing the fire alarm supply.

(2) Primary Power Supply for Dedicated Function Fire Alarm System. Primary power supply for Dedicated Function Fire Alarm System shall be permitted to be connected to the power supply through the protected area of such system by means of a connection ahead of the disconnecting means for the power supply to the protected area.

(3) Primary Power Supply for Releasing Fire Alarm System(s). Where the building is not equipped with an automatic or manual fire alarm system power riser, primary power supply for Releasing Fire Alarm System shall be permitted to be connected to the power supply through the protected area of such system by means of a connection ahead of the disconnecting means for the power supply to the protected area.

(4) For Nonrequired (Voluntary) Fire Alarm Systems Primary Power Supply. Primary power supply for nonrequired (voluntary) fire alarm system shall be permitted to be connected to the power supply through the protected area of such system by means of a connection ahead of the disconnecting means for the power supply to the protected area.

Informational Note: Dedicated Function Fire Alarm System (required and voluntary) and Releasing Fire Alarm System may also use the connected means defined in paragraph (1) where available.

(B) Secondary Power Source. Where an emergency power system is provided or required to be provided for emergency system loads, the fire alarm circuits shall be connected to the emergency power system. The secondary power supply shall be connected such that all other disconnecting means serving other building emergency loads can be opened without de-energizing the facility fire alarm secondary power supply.

All building fire alarm systems connected to an emergency generator shall be provided with a dedicated transfer switch and be connected ahead of the emergency generator overcurrent protective devices as follows:

(1) 208Y/120 volts systems-by a dedicated fused disconnecting means.

(2) 480Y/277 volts systems-by a dedicated fused disconnecting means on the secondary of the associated transformer.

(C) Battery. Regardless of whether a secondary power source is also provided, each fire alarm system shall be equipped with a storage battery power supply sized to meet the operating power requirements of the system in accordance with (1), (2) or (3) below and shall automatically connect to and operate the fire alarm system upon failure of the primary or secondary power supply or sources.

(1) With Voice Communications Capability. Supervisory operation for 24 hours followed by full load operation for 6 hours for systems with voice communications capability.

Informational Note: A 45-minute period of voice and alarm operation at the maximum connected load shall be considered equivalent to 6 hours of total system operation.

(2) Without Voice Communications Capability. Supervisory operation for 24 hours followed by full load operation for 15 minutes for systems without voice communications capability.

(3) DFS and RFAS. Supervisory operation for 24 hours followed by full load operation for 15 minutes.

(D) Arrangement of Power Sources. 1 source of power shall be connected to the fire alarm system at all times. The primary and secondary power sources shall be arranged and controlled by an automatic transfer switch dedicated to the fire alarm system such that the secondary source will be automatically connected to the fire alarm system should the primary power source fail. The following conditions shall be met where applicable:

(1) Intermediary devices between the fire alarm system power supply and the power source, other than fused disconnect switches, transformers and automatic transfer switches are prohibited. Such disconnect switches, transformers, and automatic transfer switches shall supply only the fire alarm system and other systems specifically permitted by applicable New York City rules and regulations.

(2) The primary and secondary power source shall each be provided with a means of disconnecting from the fire alarm system. Each disconnecting means shall consist of a fused disconnect switch, locked in the ON position. The key shall be kept on premises and made accessible only to authorized personnel. Such disconnect shall be painted red and permanently identified as a fire alarm circuit and labeled as to system/location served.

(3) The fire alarm system fused disconnect switch on the transformer secondary side shall comply with the requirements of the primary and secondary power source fused disconnect switches pursuant to Article 240.

(4) For buildings served at up to 300 volts to ground, the service voltage shall be transformed to 208/120 volts and a fire alarm fused disconnect, provided within a circuit length of 10 feet (3 m), shall be connected at the transformer secondary on the 208/120 volt side.

(5) Approved disconnecting means assembly, such as fusible panel boards with compact branch fused disconnects or fusible switches, with selectively coordinated overcurrent protection device shall be provided where multiple circuits are required to support the fire alarm system and related auxiliaries.

(E) Branch Circuit. An individual branch circuit shall be required for the supply of the power source. The location of the branch circuit overcurrent protective device shall be permanently identified. The circuit disconnecting means shall have red identification, shall be accessible only to qualified personnel, shall not contain any splices, and shall be identified as “FIRE ALARM CIRCUIT”. This branch circuit shall not be supplied through ground-fault circuit interrupter or arc-fault circuit interrupters. Where splicing is necessary, a listed method utilizing irreversible mechanical wire termination shall be permitted. The fire alarm branch-circuit disconnecting means shall be permitted to be secured in the ON position.