Feng shui experts will tell you that the placement of décor in any area can greatly affect the feel and environment of the space. As for blocking manual fire alarm pull stations for curb appeal, well you can take that up with the fire marshal. I’m sure they’ll agree that the area looks more inviting, but it doesn’t meet the code requirements. The following are the key fire alarm pull station requirements from NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code.
Fire Alarm Pull Station Requirements
Fire alarm pull stations locations are always in the path of egress or near an exit. They’re also mounted between 3 ½ ft.-4 ½ ft. from ground level. These fire alarm pull station requirements ensure that they’re convenient to access when exiting the building and are easily accessible to everyone. In the event of a fire, someone can sound the alarm right away. When the manual fire alarm pull station is activated it initiates the fire alarm that notifies the building’s occupants to exit the building. In many cases, the fire department receives a notification immediately and will report to the building to assess the situation.
In order to protect the safety of the building’s occupants and property avoid blocking any fire alarm pull stations. The code requirements also state that they must be in plain sight and unobstructed. Some common manual pull station obstructions include:
- indoor plants
- furniture
- umbrella stands
- lamps
Check your building to make sure all your fire alarm boxes are easily accessible and unobstructed.
Categorized in: Education, Fire Alarms, General