Accessible transient lodging fire alarm systems must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This article will discuss the scoping and technical requirements for ADA compliant transient lodging fire alarm systems in public accommodations and at State or local government facilities. 2010 ADA Standard 215 covers scoping requirements for fire alarms in transient lodging and Standard 702 covers technical requirements for fire alarms in transient lodging. The photo on the right is representative of a fire alarm in transient lodging.

SCOPING REQUIREMENTS

In new construction fire alarm systems are required to have audible and visual signals. Local building codes cover the requirements for fire alarm systems in new construction.

In existing facilities, visible alarms are not required except where an existing fire alarm system is upgraded or replaced, or a new fire alarm system is installed. Unlike audible alarms, visible alarms must be located within the space they serve so that the signal is visible. Locations within transient lodging facilities that require alarm installations typically include public and common use areas, employee work areas, and guest rooms. See the Standards below.

2010 ADA Standard 215.2, [Fire Alarm Systems] Public and Common Use Areas, states, “Alarms in public use areas and common use areas shall comply with [Standard] 702.” This Standard would apply to employee work areas that are not used solely for work, such as an employee break room.

2010 ADA Standard 215.3, [Fire Alarm Systems] Employee Work Areas, states, “Where employee work areas have audible alarm coverage, the wiring system shall be designed so that visible alarms complying with [Standard] 702 can be integrated into the alarm system.” This applies to spaces that are dedicated solely to employee work.

2010 ADA Standard 215.4, [Fire Alarm Systems] Transient Lodging, states, “Guest rooms required to comply with [Standard] 224.4 shall provide alarms complying with [Standard] 702.” In other words, fire alarms are required in transient lodging guest rooms with communication features. Communication features are applicable for individuals with hearing and vision limitations.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

2010 ADA Standard 702.1, [Fire Alarm Systems] General, states, “Fire alarm systems shall have permanently installed audible and visible alarms complying with NFPA 72 (1999 or 2002 edition) (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1), except that the maximum allowable sound level of audible notification appliances complying with section 4-3.2.1 of NFPA 72 (1999 edition) shall have a sound level no more than 110 dB at the minimum hearing distance from the audible appliance. In addition, alarms in guest rooms required to provide communication features shall comply with sections 4-3 and 4-4 of NFPA 72 (1999 edition) or sections 7.4 and 7.5 of NFPA 72 (2002 edition).” Newer editions of NFPA 72 can be used if the ADA Standard for Equivalent Facilitation is applied. NFPA 72 can be considered an installation standard.

NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, provides the safety provisions to meet society's changing fire detection, signaling, and emergency communications demands. Sections 7.4 and 7.5 of NFPA 72 (2002 edition), covers the audible and visual characteristics of these installations, respectively. Audible signals can be horn, chimes, bells or speakers. Visual signals can be a light or text.

Note that portable and battery operated fire/smoke alarm devices are not considered fixed alarm devices and therefore are not compliant with the Standards for alarm installations.

The location of a fire alarm appliance is covered in these codes. Fire alarm appliances can be located on walls or ceilings. Dual purpose alarms with audible and visual warnings mounted on a wall should be between 80 inches and 96 inches above the finished floor. Single purpose alarms mounted on a wall with an audible warning only should be mounted at least 90 inches above the finished floor and at least 6 inches below the ceiling. Most rooms will only require one fire alarm appliance. Some rooms may require two or more fire alarm appliances depending on the size of the room and the light intensity output. No visual notification fire alarm appliance should be mounted more than 30 feet above the finished floor. Note that the features of an alarm, audio and visual, can be split to different locations.

NFPA 7.5.4.4 specifically covers fire alarm appliances in sleeping areas. For sleeping areas with a linear dimension greater than 16 feet, the visual notification device shall be located within 16 feet of the pillow. Since most beds can have more than one pillow, this rule should be measured to the center of the bed on the end where the pillows are placed.

Fire alarm appliances with visual notification mounted in corridors must be mounted within 15 feet of the ends of the corridors and spaced no greater than every 100 feet of the corridors [NFPA 7.5.4.2.5].

The exception for these installation requirements is that fire alarm systems in medical care facilities shall be permitted to be provided in accordance with industry practice.

Fire alarm actuators (pulls) must comply with ADA Standards 205 and 309 for Operable Parts. These pulls must be operable with one hand, must not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist, must require a maximum force of 5 pounds to actuate, and must be installed no higher than 48 inches above the finished floor. The graphic on the left is representative of a fire alarm actuator.

Wall mounted fire extinguishers must comply with ADA Standard 307 for protruding objects. 2010 ADA Standard 307.2, Protrusion Limits, states, “Objects with leading edges more than 27 inches (685 mm) and not more than 80 inches (2030 mm) above the finish floor or ground shall protrude 4 inches (100 mm) maximum horizontally into the circulation path.” The graphic on the right is representative of a wall mounted fire extinguisher. So if the bottom of the fire extinguisher, or the enclosure, is more than 27 inches above the finished floor, the installation cannot project more than 4 inches into the circulation path.

SUMMARY

Transient lodging facilities required to comply with Standard 224.4 should provide fire alarms complying with Standard 702. Standard 702 refers to NFPA 72. In transient lodging facilities, fire alarms should be located in required spaces such as the lobby, public corridors, restaurants, other food vending areas, ballrooms, meeting rooms, public and employee restrooms, all retail spaces, guest laundry, exercise room, business center, and guest sleeping rooms. For most guest sleeping rooms, the visual fire alarm appliance should be located within 16 feet of the pillow and at least 80 inches above the finished floor. Corridors should have smoke alarms mounted within 15 feet of the end of the corridor(s) and at least every 100 feet along the corridors.

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If you observe a hotel, motel or inn that is not ADA compliant and you would like to know how to proceed, please see the link at What To Do When A Building Is Not ADA Compliant or Accessible.

ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for building owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.

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