Where Should Fire Alarm Pull Stations Be Located?
While they generally go unnoticed until a moment of need, fire alarm pull stations are an integral part of a business or large residential building’s commercial fire system.
What is a fire alarm pull station?
As opposed to a smoke detector or sensor, human intervention activates a manual pull station and is the catalyst for setting off a fire alarm. These stations are utilized when someone identifies fire or smoke in a building, and the alarm has yet to go off.
A manual pull station is essential to any fire safety system because it provides a hands-on way for occupants to trigger an alarm if the smoke or heat detectors malfunction. This requirement is also part of NFPA 101, which is one of many NFPA codes and commercial fire safety standards regulated by local authorities having jurisdiction.
What’s the difference between single- and dual-action?
There are two common types of pull stations, which include single action and dual action. A single-action pull station is the simple version, where all one needs to do is pull down on the lever. A dual-action pull station means that someone needs to take two actions to sound the alarm. In some cases, that means opening a box or breaking glass around the handle before someone can access it.
While a single-action pull station is more straightforward, there’s an introduced risk that a child or someone playing a practical joke can easily access the equipment. A dual-action system is more likely to prevent an accidental activation.
Where should I install pull stations?
The location of your fire alarm pull stations will depend on the design and occupancy of your building. While most buildings require at least one pull station, many buildings will need multiple across different floors and areas to meet standards set in NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.
Generally, fire alarm pull stations must be located within 200 ft of each other and 60 inches from exits. If your building has long hallways and a lot of exits, you are likely going to need a lot of fire alarm pull stations. A fire alarm pull station also needs to be placed between 42 and 48 inches from the floor with no surrounding obstructions, keeping it accessible to anyone.
How do I get started?
Business and building owners can get started with fire alarm pull station installations as they arrange their overall fire system installation. Working with the team of expert service technicians at FSS Technologies allows you to leave the details and the legal requirements of your building’s fire alarm system to us.
If you have any questions or want to set up a consultation, contact us today!
Explore Our Other Blogs
Best Small Business Security Systems
While no two small businesses are the same, they share commonalities when it comes to what they want in a security system. Most small business owners want to do three things: Protect their people, property, and assets from fire Protect their people, property, and assets from theft See what is happening in their business even…
Do You Know How Your Alarm System Communicates?
What is alarm monitoring? One of the most sought-after features for residential and commercial security systems is 24/7 alarm monitoring. Monitored security systems are connected to a central monitoring facility with staff who review tripped alarms, verify emergencies, and contact relevant emergency services. Monitors generally reach at least two phone numbers connected to a residence…
Alarm Monitoring Services: How They Work
An ear-piercing siren and flashing strobe lights create an immediate sense of emergency and indicate an alarm of some sort has been triggered. Now that the alarm has been triggered and the warning sirens have sounded, what happens next? If you have a monitored security system, it won’t just be the neighbors or passerby alerted…
7 Tips For Small Business Security
We hope it never happens to you, but workplace crime is something that all business owners should be prepared to encounter. With one-third of our life spent at work, it is an important place to secure and monitor for your safety, and that of your employees. Luckily, there are many simple, proactive steps you can…
Security Camera Resolutions Explained
Different Security Camera Resolutions and Which is Right for You Welcome to the 2020s—it’s finally time to pull the trigger and get a home security camera. Now what? There are a baffling number of cameras and resolutions available on the consumer market, but the math behind figuring out what you want in a security camera…
5 Common Fire Safety Violations
For business owners, maintaining a commercial fire safety system is crucial for day-to-day protection. Ensuring your system and its components are in order is especially important when your business’ fire inspection occurs each year. Even if you do everything you can to prepare for your next fire inspection, you may only realize you missed something…
Where Should Window and Motion Sensors be Placed?
Motion and window sensors are basic parts of a security system in both residential and business applications. The expert security team at FSS Technologies has helped thousands of business and property owners stay safe with these tools. Sensors A motion sensor allows a system to detect movement, using waves or light to determine if someone or…
Types of Fire Suppression Systems
What is a Fire Suppression System? The goal of a fire suppression system, also known as a fixed extinguishing system, is simple, reduce the risk of a fire and extinguish it by using a substance. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a fire suppression system has detection tools that can sense the early…
Home Security Solutions for People with Disabilities
According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five American adults live with a disability. The most common disabilities are hearing or vision impairments, mobility issues like arthritis or a diminished ability to live independently, speech and language challenges, and cognitive conditions including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Recently we talked about…
The Only SimpliSafe Review You Need to Read
What is SimpliSafe? SimpliSafe is one of several do-it-yourself home security systems on the market. The challenge with any DIY home security system, in our opinion, comes down to the customer experience. SimpliSafe’s customer support offers minimal assistance to ensure you adequately install and troubleshoot your system. While they do provide an 800-telephone number, the…