---
tags:
  - authorship/other
  - destiny/uncertain
  - topic/construction/electrical
  - type/media/reference
  - exclude-from-word-count
title: "NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (2019)"
---
# NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (2019)

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## Chapter 1 Administration

### 1.1 Scope.

### 1.2 Purpose.

### 1.3 Application.

### 1.4 Retroactivity.

### 1.5 Equivalency.

### 1.6 Units and Formulas.

### 1.7 Code Adoption Requirements.

## Chapter 2 Referenced Publications

### 2.1 General.

### 2.2 NFPA Publications.

### 2.3 Other Publications.

### 2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections.

## Chapter 3 Definitions

### 3.1 General.

### 3.2 NFPA Official Definitions.

### 3.3 General Definitions.

## Chapter 7 Documentation

### 7.1 Application. (SIG-FUN)

### 7.2 Minimum Required Documentation. (SIG-FUN)

### 7.3 Design (Layout) Documentation.

### 7.4 Shop Drawings (Installation Documentation). (SIG-FUN)

### 7.5 Completion Documentation.

### 7.6 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance Documentation. (SIG-TMS)

### 7.7 Records, Record Retention, and Record Maintenance.

### 7.8 Forms.

## Chapter 10 Fundamentals

### 10.1 Application.

### 10.2 Purpose.

### 10.3 Equipment.

### 10.4 Design and Installation.

### 10.5 Personnel Qualifications.

### 10.6 Power Supplies.

### 10.7 Signal Priority.

### 10.8 Detection and Signaling of Conditions.

### 10.9 Responses.

### 10.10 Distinctive Signals.

### 10.11 Alarm Signals.

### 10.12 Fire Alarm Notification Appliance Deactivation.

### 10.13 Carbon Monoxide (CO) Notification Appliance Deactivation.

### 10.14 Supervisory Signals.

### 10.15 Trouble Signals.

### 10.16 Emergency Control Function Status Indicators.

### 10.17 Notification Appliance Circuits and Control Circuits.

### 10.18 Annunciation and Annunciation Zoning.

### 10.19 Monitoring Integrity of In-Building Fire Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications Systems.

### 10.20 Documentation and Notification.

### 10.21 Impairments.

### 10.22 Unwanted Alarms.

## Chapter 12 Circuits and Pathways

### 12.1 Application.

### 12.2 General.

### 12.3 Pathway Class Designations.

### 12.4 Pathway Survivability.

### 12.5 Shared Pathway Designations.

### 12.6 Monitoring Integrity and Circuit Performance of Installation Conductors and Other Signaling Channels.

### 12.7 Nomenclature.

## Chapter 14 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance

### 14.1 Application.

### 14.2 General.

### 14.3 Inspection.

### 14.4 Testing.

### 14.5 Maintenance.

### 14.6 Records.

## Chapter 17 Initiating Devices

### 17.1 Application.

### 17.2 Purpose.

### 17.3 Performance-Based Design.

### 17.4 General Requirements.

### 17.5 Requirements for Smoke and Heat Detectors.

### 17.6 Heat-Sensing Fire Detectors.

### 17.7 Smoke-Sensing Fire Detectors.

### 17.8 Radiant Energy–Sensing Fire Detectors.

### 17.9 Combination, Multi-Criteria, and Multi-Sensor Detectors.

### 17.10 Gas Detection.

### 17.11 Other Fire Detectors.

### 17.12 Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

### 17.13 Sprinkler Waterflow Alarm-Initiating Devices.

### 17.14 Detection of Operation of Other Automatic Extinguishing Systems.

### 17.15 Manually Actuated Alarm-Initiating Devices.

### 17.16 Fire Extinguisher Electronic Monitoring Device.

### 17.17 Supervisory Signal–Initiating Devices.

## Chapter 18 Notification Appliances

### 18.1 Application.

### 18.2 Purpose.

### 18.3 General.

### 18.4 Audible Characteristics.

### 18.5 Visible- Visual Characteristics -- Public Mode.

### 18.6 Visible- Visual Characteristics -- Private Mode.

### 18.7 Supplementary Visible- Visual Signaling Method.

### 18.8 Textual Audible Appliances.

### 18.9 Textual and Graphical Visible- Visual Appliances.

### 18.10 Tactile Appliances.

### 18.11 Standard Emergency Service Interface.

## Chapter 21 Emergency Control Function Interfaces

### 21.1 Application.

### 21.2 General.

### 21.3 Elevator Phase I Emergency Recall Operation.

### 21.4 Elevator Power Shutdown.

### 21.5 Fire Service Access Elevators.

### 21.6 Occupant Evacuation Elevators. (OEE).

### 21.7 Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) Systems.

### 21.8 High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) Fans.

### 21.9 Door and Shutter Release.

### 21.10 Electrically Locked Doors.

### 21.11 Exit Marking Audible Notification Systems.

## Chapter 23 Protected Premises Alarm and Signaling Systems

### 23.1 Application.

### 23.2 General.

### 23.3 System Features.

### 23.4 System Performance and Integrity.

### 23.5 Performance of Initiating Device Circuits (IDCs).

### 23.6 Performance of Signaling Line Circuits (SLCs).

### 23.7 Performance of Notification Appliance Circuits (NACs).

### 23.8 System Requirements.

### 23.9 In-Building Fire Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications.

### 23.10 Fire Alarm Systems Using Tone.

### 23.11 Suppression System Actuation.

### 23.12 Off-Premises Signals.

### 23.13 Guard's Tour Supervisory Service.

### 23.14 Suppressed (Exception Reporting) Signal System.

### 23.15 Protected Premises Emergency Control Functions.

### 23.16 Special Requirements for Low-Power Radio (Wireless) Systems.

## Chapter 24 Emergency Communications Systems (ECS)

### 24.1 Application.

### 24.2 Purpose.

### 24.3 General.

### 24.4 In-Building Fire Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications Systems (EVACS).

### 24.5 In-Building Mass Notification Systems.

### 24.6 Wide-Area Mass Notification Systems.

### 24.7 Distributed Recipient Mass Notification Systems (DRMNS).

### 24.8 Two-Way, In-Building Wired Emergency Services Communications Systems.

### 24.9 Two-Way Radio Communications Enhancement Systems.

### 24.10 Area of Refuge (Area of Rescue Assistance) Emergency Communications Systems, Stairway Communications Systems, Elevator Landing Communications Systems, and Occupant Evacuation Elevator Lobby Communications Systems.

### 24.11 Information, Command, and Control.

### 24.12 Performance-Based Design of Mass Notification Systems.

### 24.13 Documentation for Emergency Communications Systems.

## Chapter 26 Supervising Station Alarm Systems

### 26.1 Application.

### 26.2 General.

### 26.3 Central Station Service Alarm Systems.

### 26.4 Proprietary Supervising Station Alarm Systems.

### 26.5 Remote Supervising Station Alarm Systems.

### 26.6 Communications Methods for Supervising Station Alarm Systems.

## Chapter 27 Public Emergency Alarm Reporting Systems

### 27.1 Application.

### 27.2 General Fundamentals.

### 27.3 Management and Maintenance.

### 27.4 Communications Methods.

### 27.5 Alarm Processing Equipment.

### 27.6 Alarm Boxes.

### 27.7 Public Cable Plant.

### 27.8 Emergency Communications Systems (ECS).

## Chapter 29 Single- and Multiple-Station Alarms and Household Signaling Systems

### 29.1 Application.

### 29.2 Purpose.

### 29.3 Basic Requirements.

### 29.4 Remote Annunciation.

### 29.5 Notification.

### 29.6 Assumptions.

### 29.7 Carbon Monoxide Detection.

### 29.8 Detection and Notification.

### 29.9 Power Supplies.

### 29.10 Equipment Performance.

### 29.11 Installation.

### 29.12 Optional Functions.

### 29.13 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance.

### 29.14 Markings and Instructions.

## Annex

### Annex A Explanatory Material

### Annex B Engineering Guide for Automatic Fire Detector Spacing

### Annex C System Performance and Design Guide

### Annex D Speech Intelligibility

### Annex E Sample Ordinance Adopting NFPA 72

### Annex F Wiring Diagrams and Guide for Testing Fire Alarm Circuits

### Annex G Guidelines for Emergency Communication Strategies for Buildings and Campuses

### Annex H Carbon Monoxide

### Annex I Informational References
