NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, 2019 Edition

Update to the new benchmark for fire alarm systems, with requirements that reflect code user needs and concerns in the field today. The 2019 edition of NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code presents the most advanced provisions ever developed for the application, installation, location, performance, and inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm and emergency communications systems -- including Mass Notification Systems (MNS).

This edition features important updates for designers, installers, and AHJs—from added testing requirements for Energy Storage Systems (ESS), to new requirements for HVLS fans and air-sampling smoke detectors.

In a major change to scope, NFPA 72 now addresses carbon monoxide protection.

Material previously in NFPA 720, Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and Warning Equipment is relocated into the 2019 edition of NFPA 72. Critical requirements are incorporated into:

• Chapter 17 for carbon monoxide detectors
• Chapter 14 for installation, testing, and maintenance
• Chapter 29 for carbon monoxide alarms -- with a significant amount of additional information
• New Annex H

Other key changes address occupant evacuation, areas of refuge, and VRLA batteries:

• Major revisions to the requirements for fire service access elevators and occupant evacuation elevators (OEE) coordinate with changes made in ASME A17.1/CSA B44. Annex text is added for clarification.
• Extensively revised requirements for occupant evacuation operation (OEO) coordinate with the new best practices and field research.
• In addition to revised requirements for area of refuge (area of rescue assistance), Chapter 24 now includes requirements for stairway communications systems, elevator landing communications systems, and occupant evacuation elevator lobby communications systems.
• Chapter 14, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance now incorporates valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries.
• New and updated definitions bring NFPA 72 up-to-date with current technologies. For example, the terms strobe, light, and visible are changed to visual notification appliance, recognizing use of LED products that can be used for fire alarm.