Oklahoma!
Hello Oklahoma!
We are proud to announce that we are now licensed in the State of Oklahoma for Fire Protection Consulting. As a graduate from Oklahoma State, this only makes sense. Go Pokes! Let us know how we can help with your alarm, sprinkler or fire protection needs.
Minnesota!
Now Serving Minnesota
We are proud to announce that we are now licensed in the State of Minnesota for Fire Consulting. We are operating as FE&C, LLC. Let us know how we can help with your alarm, sprinkler or fire protection needs. Contact Tim Swenson directly at timswenson or (612) 385-2274.
Fire Alarm Monitoring for FARS – Fire Fighter Air Replenishment System
Don’t miss these fire alarm monitoring points.
The FARS systems are not widely required, but when they are, the fire alarm needs to monitor some points. FARS may be required in high-rise buildings, large area buildings such as a warehouse or manufacturing facility, tunnels, subways, and maritime.
What to monitor:
1) Panel Doors
2) Gases on the Air Monitoring Panel
3) Air Pressure on the System
1) Panel Doors
2) Gases on the Air Monitoring Panel
3) Air Pressure on the System
1) The doors for each panel will have a tamper switch. The Panels are:
- Emergency Air Refill Panels located every third floor or every other floor, in large area buildings maybe no more than 200 ft apart
- EMAC - External Mobile Air Connection Panel (responding fire department air truck)
- Air Monitor Panels at the air storage system
EMAC - External Mobile Air Connection Panel
Air Monitoring Panel
Emergency Air Refill Panel
2) The air storage system will have two or more air monitoring panels. Since the air monitoring panels have limited relays, the gases may be grouped such as:
3) One other point to monitor is for Low Air Pressure
The FARS requirement comes from the International Fire Code in Appendix L.
- O2, CO2, and N2
- CO, H20, and hydrocarbons
3) One other point to monitor is for Low Air Pressure
The FARS requirement comes from the International Fire Code in Appendix L.
International Fire Code - IFC
FARS information is located in Appendix L of the 2015 and 2018 editions of the IFC. Note that Appendix L has to be adopted by the jurisdiction.
This states, "L104.15 Air monitoring system. An approved air monitoring system shall be provided. The system shall automatically monitor air quality, moisture and pressure on a continual basis. The air monitoring system shall be equipped with not less than two content analyzers capable of detecting carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, moisture and hydrocarbons.
L104.15.1 Alarm conditions. The air monitoring system shall transmit a supervisory signal when any of the following levels are detected:
1. Carbon monoxide exceeds 5 ppm.
2. Carbon dioxide exceeds 1,000 ppm.
3. An oxygen level below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent.
4. A nitrogen level below 75 percent or above 81 percent.
5. Hydrocarbon (condensed) content exceeds 5 milligrams per cubic meter of air.
6. The moisture concentration exceeds 24 ppm by volume.
7. The pressure falls below 90 percent of the maintenance pressure specified in Section L104.3.
L104.15.2 Alarm supervision, monitoring and notification. The air monitoring system shall be electrically supervised and monitored by an approved supervising station, or where approved, shall initiate audible and visual supervisory signals at a constantly attended location."
More information on FARS can be obtained at Rescueair.com
This states, "L104.15 Air monitoring system. An approved air monitoring system shall be provided. The system shall automatically monitor air quality, moisture and pressure on a continual basis. The air monitoring system shall be equipped with not less than two content analyzers capable of detecting carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, moisture and hydrocarbons.
L104.15.1 Alarm conditions. The air monitoring system shall transmit a supervisory signal when any of the following levels are detected:
1. Carbon monoxide exceeds 5 ppm.
2. Carbon dioxide exceeds 1,000 ppm.
3. An oxygen level below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent.
4. A nitrogen level below 75 percent or above 81 percent.
5. Hydrocarbon (condensed) content exceeds 5 milligrams per cubic meter of air.
6. The moisture concentration exceeds 24 ppm by volume.
7. The pressure falls below 90 percent of the maintenance pressure specified in Section L104.3.
L104.15.2 Alarm supervision, monitoring and notification. The air monitoring system shall be electrically supervised and monitored by an approved supervising station, or where approved, shall initiate audible and visual supervisory signals at a constantly attended location."
More information on FARS can be obtained at Rescueair.com