Subscriber Discussion

How To Integrate Between Access Control And Fire Alarm ?

KH
Khaled Hedayh
Apr 21, 2018
IPVMU Certified

i want to integration between access control system and fire alarm system according to NFPA standard ?

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Brian Rhodes
Apr 21, 2018
IPVMU Certified

Do you mean integration between the maglock release and the fire alarm?

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Apr 21, 2018

First things first, verify the requirements of the local AHJ.  Those might be more restrictive than the NFPA Standard.

If free egress can be obtained without integration, “panic hardware, standard latch” then none is needed.  The exception would be the requirement for door holders to release for fire/smoke management, but I don’t think that’s your question.

If you are using locks that prevent exiting, they should be “fail safe” meaning a loss of power will allow them to be free egress. 

Most common is a magnetic door lock/holder, but could be an electrified mortise.

In this case you may be able to install a rated power supply for the lock with a fire alarm interface and connect to a notification circuit programmed to operate when in alarm and in silenced mode.

You may be able to place a supervised relay next to the unit for the same function. 

You might be allowed to have battery standby upon power loss, or it may have to unlock in a power loss. 

This all goes back to the AHJ and the manufacturers instructions on the approved lock and power supply.

 

TM
Ty Mullen
Apr 21, 2018
COR Security, Inc.

On a side note, I was told by a manufacturer that some of their "fire relays" that were built into their power supplies were not UL listed for that function. Even though the board was UL approved for something else. So make sure to check with the manufacture and drill down on them instead of getting just the lazy response.

Another thing that I learned is that you really have to get down on paper your scope and the fire contractor scope. I always find gaps. Where someone would say I thought you were going to do that or our company never does that. 

Unlike most access control system configurations, this integration must be approved and inspected by the local AHJ. a lot of customers will try to push past this. But that should be on the fire contractor but...

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