Requirements for grandfathered fire alarm systems

Fire Alarm General Discussion
1

Hey guys.

So last week, I helped my cousin conduct fire drills at the sororities/fraternities at the University of Maryland, College Park. All was well until we got to our last building, Delta Sigma Phi, which is on the college campus itself. However, we immediately discovered that the fire alarm system was “grandfathered” (meaning it met standards according to the time the building was constructed).

The problem is that it was all a bell system. There were absolutely no strobe plates or strobe lights at all. Apparently, the building was built around the 1950s or 60s when strobes weren’t a requirement yet back then. I told my cousin (who is a fire marshal) and he said they should indeed consider upgrading their system to include strobes, but it is not strictly required since it’s a grandfathered system.

Not only did I find this to be a fire code problem, but I also found this to be an ADA problem (which requires access to “public accommodations”, which includes requirements for strobe lights to alert deaf and hard-of-hearing occupants). How can a grandfathered system like this be permitted not to be updated if it doesn’t meet ADA standards?

Let’s just hypothetically imagine there was a real fire, and there was a deaf person in that building, with no strobes. If the city/school doesn’t get that system up to date, isn’t there some kind of liability under building/fire codes? The whole point of strobes is to alert those with hearing difficulties. But what would HYPOTHETICALLY happen if a deaf person were in a grandfathered dorm/fraternity, a fire broke out, and the alarms sounded, but there are no strobe lights to alert them?

Do you think a grandfathered system like this should be updated? I just think it’s kinda of a big deal if there were someone deaf in that building. I know they weren’t required back then to install strobes, but this seems to be like a major upgrade that should be done. Almost every modern building these days have strobe lights as part of the fire alarm system.

What are your thoughts on this? I would just hate to hear that someone could not be properly alerted if there ever was a real fire in that building. What are your thoughts?

Thanks.

2

Yeah: “grandfathering” is kinda contradictory to keeping systems up-to-date (including when it comes to ADA requirements).

3

if it ain’t broke, don’t replace it with anything new. A lot of those newer systems will only last about a decade before needing replacement.

They could probably add simple red incandescent lights tied into the signal circuit

4

I’m certainly no expert when it comes to codes & the like but I’m pretty sure that red incandescent lights would not meet code when it comes to both visibility/noticeability & color & that any modifications made to the existing system might (keyword: might) not make it eligible for grandfathering anymore.

5

If you’re updating it (which is a good idea all things considered), update the whole system, as simply adding visual signals like red lights wouldn’t be enough to meet modern codes. If preservation is the goal, and it’s a grandfathered system, leave it as is completely. Again though, I suggest a complete upgrade. Don’t toss the old devices, maybe put them up on eBay for enthusiasts to purchase.

6

Yeah: just upgrading the entire system I’d say would be the best option for both the customer & for the community.

7

From the sounds of it if it. The system should be upgraded. If it’s a 50s/60s system, most likely a AC system which was common for that time. So adding strobes might be a little complicated. Honestly I think grandfathering should probably draw the line at DC System with Lights (Which means stuff like the 4050-80s, AV-32s, and those would be still be grandfathered) with smoke detectors but even then not as effective as strobes are and those older systems sometimes lacked visual coverage in certain spots. As cool AC systems are, they all should be replaced. System that often lacked visual signals, systems that probably don’t have smoke detection, some don’t even have panels to run them off (just a pull station and some horns).