BCAB #1023 - Addressable Fire Alarm System, Sentence 3.2.4.4.(2)

September 27, 1988

BCAB #1023

Re: Addressable Fire Alarm System, Sentence 3.2.4.4.(2)

With reference to your letter of July 20, 1988, regarding acceptance of a component in a fire alarm system.

The system is a 2-stage as required by the Code, and installation must be in conformance with CAN4-S524, "Standard for the Installation of Fire Alarm Systems"; this standard does not address any time delay. Sentence 3.2.4.4.(2) in the Code, while requiring activation of a signal, also provides no guidance on delay.

This issue is dealt with in a new standard, ULC S527, "Standard for Control Units for Fire Alarm Systems" intended for S524 systems, and the Edwards 8500 system is listed by ULC for conformance with the new standard, which allows up to a 30 second delay for signal initiation.

While we appreciate that staff allocations within the hospital may not be ideal, we are unable to regard these as justification for rejecting the device, so on the basis of the information provided consider it to be acceptable.

J.C. Currie, Chair