An interesting question - Why does the Fire Service Inspect Fire Alarms?

By Nick Markowitz Jr.
Fire Investigator

I was working on a fire alarm install with one of the Electrical Contractors I frequently work with when the Fire Marshal showed up did his inspection passed the system and left. All in all he was there about 20 minutes. The crew of electricians who helped with all the piping and wiring then asked me a very interesting question. Why do Fire Marshals, code enforcement officers inspect the fire systems since they do not seem to have the level of knowledge that myself and other alarm installers have?

They wanted to know because typically electrical inspections are done by third party agencies and the inspectors are former or still working as electricians. They thoroughly know the code and how it is to be applied and they are always attending classes and seminars to maintain there inspector's cards. We have a rough in inspection we do where the electrical inspector comes and checks to see correct wire is being used proper box fill, wire size and fittings etc. Then there is a final inspection where the inspector checks to make sure all devices have been wired and terminated properly and power has been applied and thoroughly tested.

We saw none of this with the fire inspection. The fire marshal came in pulled some stations etc then left. He never checked battery sizes proper dialer set up etc. We could have completely wired this system wrong and he never would have caught it. Why do fire alarms not have to meet the same standards our electrical work has to meet? Why are not former installers doing the inspection? After all people's lives are dependent on these systems operating properly.

My only answer to them was that it is because it is in the fire codes that AHJ is charged with and does the inspections. But they are right to ask the question. In the old days when fire alarms ran on 120 volts with no battery back up and bells were wired in series you had electricians who installed them and electrical inspectors who had to pass the systems because it involved high voltage. Once the low voltage systems came out it was anyone and everyone putting them in with various levels of very little to excellent knowledge. Which often brings up the comment that only qualified Electricians like myself should be putting in fire alarms as they have the proper training involved to accurately follow the NFPA and NEC codes. And they do have a point. The vast majority of butchered fire alarm systems I have seen installed were done by burglar alarm installers not electricians. In fact in many states electrical contractors are trying to make it law that persons installing fire alarms must be licensed or qualified electricians. So where do you stand on the issue of these two questions?

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