The Code Committee Insider: Fire Alarms, CO Detection & What’s Coming Next | Autocall

If you work in fire alarm installation, inspection or service, episode 93 of the Fire Protection Podcast belongs on your playlist. Host Drew Slocum sits down with Dr. Rodger Reiswig, industry liaison for Johnson Controls and a veteran of nearly four decades in the field, for a wide-ranging conversation on the codes and standards that shape your day-to-day work.

Dr. Reiswig breaks down the 2010 NFPA 72 scope change that reduced what inspectors are required to test, the growing adoption of NFPA 3 and 4 integrated testing, how US code adoption compares to other parts of the world and where remote inspection technology stands today. If you're brushing up on NFPA 72 or trying to stay ahead of where the industry is heading, this one’s for you. Watch the video below or visit the Fire Protection Podcast.

“Now it says you check the smoke, check the functionality, verify the relay turned on and off. That's the end of your job. It's somebody else's job to verify after that relay.”

– Dr. Rodger Reiswig, Vice President, Industry Relations, Fire Detection, Johnson Controls

Answers on the codes that could affect your work

Under what circumstances could a device be installed that can’t be tested?
During construction, it's easy to place a smoke detector at the top of a 10-story atrium while scaffolding is still in place. Once the building is complete, that device may be completely unreachable. NFPA 72 is clear: if a device can't be serviced after installation, it shouldn't be installed. That means choosing an alternative, like beam detectors or video image detection that can actually be maintained.

Does NFPA 4 integrated testing apply to projects?
If two or more building systems are integrated, both NFPA 101 and the IBC now require an NFPA 4 integrated test. Many engineers and AHJs don't yet know it's there. For contractors, an informed AHJ can require your team on-site for the full duration of testing, which can stretch to two weeks on a large job. That needs to be in the bid before the contract is signed.

How do technicians test a CO detector without flooding the space with carbon monoxide?
CO detectors use time-based alarm algorithms that can take up to 20 minutes to trigger at typical field concentrations. UL allows a test mode that temporarily disables those algorithms, so the device responds immediately to a small CO dose. Once done, the technician restores normal operation. Methods vary by manufacturer, so always follow the published instructions for the specific device.