NFPA 70 2020; National Electrical Code
The purpose of the NEC is the safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity
NFPA 72 2022; National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code
NFPA 72 2022 covers the application, installation, location, performance, inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems, supervising station alarm systems, public emergency alarm reporting systems, fire warning equipment and emergency communications systems (ECS), and their components.
NEC Covers
The NEC covers the installation of electrical conductors, equipment, and raceways; signaling and communications conductors, equipment, and raceways; and optical fiber cables and raceways for public and private premises, including buildings, structures, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and floating buildings.
NEC Article
Article 760 covers Fire Alarm Systems. General wiring practices, Conduit and raceways
NFPA 72 2022 - Chapters
Chapter 1 (Administration) – Defines the scope, purpose, and administration of NFPA 72 2022.
Chapter 2 (Referenced Publications) – Lists all referenced NFPA and ANSI specifications and codes.
Chapter 3 (Definitions) – Has a brief explanation of almost every fire alarm term.
Chapter 7 (Documentation) – Provides requirements for owner’s documents, record of completion and inspection and testing documentation.
Chapter 10 (Fundamentals) – This large chapter includes power supplies, installation, equipment, and documentation.
Chapter 11 (Cybersecurity) – New chapter added to address the growing use of networks, internet connectivity, and physical security requirements of fire alarm systems.
Chapter 12 (Circuits and Pathways) – Covers the capabilities of circuits as well as the requirements of circuit survivability and supervision.
Chapter 14 (Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance) – Covers the requirements for the inspection, testing, and maintenance of all devices and systems.
Chapter 17 (Initiating Devices) – Contains all of the requirements for signaling devices, such as smoke and heat detectors.
Chapter 18 (Notification Appliances) – Covers the requirements for alarm bells, sirens, lights, and any device that indicates an alarm.
Chapter 21 (Emergency Control Function Interfaces) – Covers requirements for emergency control interfaces to fire alarm systems and emergency communication systems.
Chapter 23 (Protected Premises Alarm and Signaling Systems) – Covers system performance and integrity requirements.
Chapter 24 (Emergency Communications Systems (ECS)) – Covers requirements for performance, reliability, and quality of installation for emergency communications systems.
Chapter 26 (Supervising Station Alarm Systems) – Covers the requirements between a continuously attended supervising station and the protected premises.
Chapter 27 (Public Emergency Alarm Reporting Systems) – Covers the requirements for municipal fire alarm systems.
Chapter 29 (Single- and Multiple-Station Alarms and Household Signaling Systems) – Covers requirements for dwellings, hotels, daycare, and nursing facilities.
The UL Standards referenced in NFPA 72 2022 are found in Chapter 2.
UL 217 - Smoke Alarms, 8th Edition
UL 268 - Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems, 7th Edition
UL 827 - Central-Station Alarm Services, 2014, revised 2019
UL 864 - Control Units and Accessories for Fire Alarm Systems, 2014, revised 2018
UL 985 - Household Fire Warning System Units, 2015, revised 2018
UL 1730 - Smoke Detector Monitors and Accessories for Individual Living Units of Multifamily Residences and Hotel/Motel Rooms, 2006, revised 2017
UL 1971 - Signaling Devices for the Hearing Impaired, 2002, revised 2018
UL 2572 - Mass Notification Systems, 2016, revised 2018
