Print this page Designing to NFPA 720-2015, Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Thomas Mason, PE
Course Outline
This course exactly follows the outline of NFPA 720-2015, Administration, Referenced Publications, Definitions, Fundamentals, Systems, Notification Appliances, Off-Premises Monitoring, Inspection and Household CO Detection Systems.
The course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student will have section references for each of the following:
- How NFPA 720, Carbon Monoxide Alarms coordinates with NFPA 72, Fire Alarms;
- The purpose of carbon monoxide alarms;
- Selection of components, compliant with NFPA and good engineering judgment;
- The significance of UL listing;
- How voice notification intelligibility is interpreted;
- How alarms, trouble signals and supervisory signals must be handled;
- Installer qualifications per NFPA and liabilities to the designer in this emerging field;
- Un-reconciled conflicts between residential and commercial systems;
- Distinctive signals for CO and fire alarms;
- Separate visual notification devices for CO and fire alarms;
- Detector performance limitations and restrictions;
- Zoning;
- 10-year life of household units;
- Definition of household;
- Every 3-year testing of household units;
- Interconnection of household units and building system;
- Carbon monoxide audible signal vs fire alarm audible signal;
- Spacing for detectors;
- Spacing for notification devices; and
- Private Mode.
Intended Audience
This course is directed toward electrical design engineers responsible for plans and specifications for fire alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. It is very meaningful for HVAC designers concerned with carbon monoxide exhaust systems and for Project Managers and Architects supervising facility design.
Benefit to Attendees
The application of carbon monoxide alarm is very similar to that of fire alarms. But not identical. And, fire alarm requirements have been tightened recently. The cross-references between carbon monoxide alarms and fire alarms in this course will be valuable to designers and supervisors.
Course Introduction
The author has received commissions to perform assessments on six large public parking garages with underground components. Close study of NFPA-72, the Fire Alarm Code, indicated that NFPA considers carbon monoxide detection important. But, they specifically exclude any carbon monoxide information and direct the user to NFPA 72. NFPA 72-2015 is the latest version and is summarized section by section in this course. Also included are discussion of special problems in underground parking garages, alsong with solutions.
Course Content
A summary of NFPA 720-2015 is indicated below for download, study and reference. It does not list all of the content of the 91 page Standard. The full Standard is recommended for design decisions regarding Life-Safety, but the Summary should get you started and help you find the part to study. If you feel that extended narrative and graphics are needed, please indicate so in the evaluation form which follows the Quiz.
Designing to NFPA 720-2015, Carbon Monoxide Alarms - Summary
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Course Summary
This course followed the credo, “The Code, Discuss the Code and Apply the Code.” Previous courses by this author invested more of your time in discussions of dealing with enforcement authorities, Contractors and Architects. Please comment when you complete the quiz on your reaction to this format.
Related Links and References
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:
National Fire Protection Association, NFPA.com
Consumer Product Safety Council, http://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Research-and-Statistics/Technical-Reports/Home/Carbon-Monoxide/COAlarmConformanceReportFY%202013ClearedTechReport.pdf
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
