EST UL ULC Strobe Application Guide

Strobe out the border at to see more of the Control F to by key word Systems Technology OF CONTENTS FOREWARD APPLICATION NOTES Strobe Codes and Standards Comparison Table Strobe Current Characteristics Photosensitive Epilepsy Single Strobe vs Multiple Strobes NFPA 72 Strobe Requirements Summary Visible Signal Characteristics Public Mode Visible Signal Characteristics Private Mode Combination Audible Visible Signals APPLICATION GUIDES Strobe Location Corridors Strobe Location Sleeping Areas Strobe Location Non Sleeping Areas COMPLIANCE STRATEGIES Recommended Strobe Installation APPENDIX A U S Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board 2 Visual Alarms APPENDIX B UL 1971 Technical Notes APPENDIX C EST Strobe Performance Specifications 40 APPENDIX D EST Strobe Product Selection Table Application Guide Systems Technology FOREWARD to 10 percent of our population suffers from a significant hearing loss Awareness of these hearing other disabilities is improving Employers and owners of commercial and public enterprises are recognizing our large population of disabled persons Systems Technology was the first fire alarm systems manufacturer to introduce a full line of strobe signals that meet or exceed the needs of most hearing impaired persons In truest sense of Life Safety our fire alarm systems are striving to serve the needs of all not just the of most Effective application of strobe signals goes a long way toward reaching this goal strobe signals have long been a part of most fire alarm systems as mainly optional devices local and international authorities are increasingly identifying them as essential equipment Legisla such as the U S Americans with Disabilities Act which became effective in January 1992 has explicit legal requirements for high quality strobes Supplementary strobe research has and qualified some very specific performance standards as seen in the recent UL 1971 for Signaling Devices for the Hearing Impaired is now clearly a major concern Authorities including the National Fire Protection have recognized that the minimal standards of the past are no longer effective or accept This is reflected in the 1993 edition of ANSI NFPA 72 where Chapter 6 makes reference to UL listed visible notification appliances Edwards Systems Technology encourages all owners and specifiers to carefully consider their long term needs by incorporating our UL 1971 strobes into their fire alarm systems Required already in many jurisdictions they meet or exceed regulations in effect across the United States and Canada strobe Application Guide will help you to successfully apply EST strobes to your new construc and renovation projects This handbook provides a concise summary of basic guidelines normally when recommending strobe signals for fire alarm applications following standards codes and guides are referenced in this document and should be used to information contained herein 72 National Fire Alarm Code 1971 Standard for Signaling Devices for the Hearing Impaired 1638 Visual Signaling Appliances Private Mode Emergency and General Utility Signaling A117.1 1992 Standard for Accessible and Useable Buildings and Facilities AG Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines Visual Signal Appliances for Fire Alarm Systems 464 Audible Signal Appliances Audible Signal Appliances for Fire Alarm Systems Application Guide Systems Technology U S Government Bulletin from December 1992 has been reproduced in Appendix A of this guide provide supplemental ADA information that may be of interest See Section 2.5 in this guide for a of NFPA 72 strobe requirements is EST intention to keep product information current and accurate We cannot cover specific appli or anticipate all requirements All specifications are subject to change without notice Application Guide Systems Technology APPLICATION NOTES STROBE CODES and STANDARDS COMPARISON TABLE 72 117.1 1971 1638 ULC S526 Intensity Intensity Rooms Intensity Rooms Distance Observer Frequency Hz mounting mounting cd cd Private Mode cd cd wall mount cd ceiling mount 100 ft room 20 ft 15 cd sleeping room 16 ft 110 cd 1 3 to 3 to 3 24 below ceiling 80 to 96 above floor ft Lower of either a 80 above floor or 6 below 1 3 to 3 1 to 3 20 n a STROBE CURRENT CHARACTERISTICS strobes are specifically designed and approved for use with EST manufactured fire alarm systems both regulated and non regulated power supplies They are compatibility tested and listed for use our panels by both UL and ULC inherently put more demand on fire alarm system signal circuits than typical signaling appli Wrong assumptions relative to average current peak current and inrush current are often made should be aware of the different current draw characteristics of strobe products We offer the information CURRENT Inrush current is caused by the initial charging of the energy storage in the strobe Inrush current is short in duration and is a factor to consider when using power with high speed electronic fold back circuits or fast acting fuses CURRENT Peak current is the maximum current the strobe will draw while operating The current value MUST be used to determine wire size and system power supply capacity Failure use peak current when calculating circuit requirements may result in abnormal operation such as flash rate and or output CURRENT Average current is the mathematical average of the peak current pulses is the current you would read with a typical ammeter Average current is used when determining battery backup power supply requirements Application Guide PHOTOSENSITIVE EPILEPSY Systems Technology photosensitivity affect from flashing light concerns are legitimate EST fire alarm strobes white light flashes at a frequency of 1 Hz to minimize risk to the general public EST closely ongoing research into the effects of multiple unsychronized strobes and we commit to any design changes that these studies warrant August of 1993 representatives from the following groups convened to review the existing per requirements for visual signaling appliances as they impact people with photo epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago Association of the Deaf Electrical Manufacturers Association A117.1 Committee Chapter 6 Committee Laboratories Inc summary of the issues pertinent to photosensitive epilepsy follows show 6 percent of people with epilepsy react to flashing light photosensitive response opinions suggest the actual percentage is probably significantly higher factors identified as contributing