Fire Alarm Control Panel Location

It depends on your local fire codes. Since you do not tell us where you are I cannot tell you where to look.

To me it seems like a bad idea to tell the fire department that they have to go to a non-ground floor location for them to determine which region tripped an alarm.

Solar Eagle,

I think you are correct in that fact. I believe the Fire Dept. has final say as to where it should be placed as they must access it in an emergency!

Good Answer!

2 Smiley faces for you!

Ask Old Salt. He would know!

I have worked in many hundreds of jurisdictions in the USA, and dozens of foreign countries. Below would be considered compliant wherever I have worked.

If your system will have a firefighters telephone system, the panel must be mounted on the ground floor, visible when entering from the front door as it's location will be the fire command center during an emergency.

If you do not have a firefighters telephone system, you can mount the panel anywhere in the building, but must provide a remote annunciator near the front door of the building which mimics the display and control functions of the main panel.

I'm wondering where you think it should be placed?

Where can Fire Dept personnel access it without having to search for it?

Typically it is in a room or lock-box outside of the structure. Seeing as this is an educational building, I suggest you do some research and your JOB.

If you're unable to resolve it, hire someone that can!!!!!

I'd locate it on the ground floor, for sure.

I'd also see that there was a "Knox" box located on the outside of the building near the main entrance with a master key inside.

Many fire departments in the USA have computer access to plans of the building.

You are probably not in the USA and may not care about any of this.

Most likely yes. I have never actually seen one on another floor than the one which allows immediate ground access. Its generally by the main door also for ease of access.

Ask the local fire department for site-specific advice.

Are you a consultant, can't you ask another consultant or borrow their fire code standard (or similar)?

You need to contact the local fire marshal and obtain the applicable regulations for the area.

Most areas require initial, periodic, and final inspections as well as proper documentation on all fire system installations.

The local fire department or the courthouse should be able to steer you in the right direction.

This is another case of, "If you have to ask, you should not be involved".

Especially since human lives may be lost due to your incompetence.

Somebody's testy today....

So, it's really an April Fool's joke?

'IF' this isn't an April fool's joke, I can only answer for Australia. The Australian Standard 2220 (i & ii) give the site at close to the front door for access by the firemen. There are usually two (2) panels, located opposite each other. One is the Fire instrument panel (F.I.P.) this handles the alarm system to the proper authorities giving site and location on the site for the alarm. The second system is the Emergency Warning Indicator System (E.W.I.S.) This panel sends the alert and evacuation tones throughout the particular zones, escalating to other zones at set time intervals. This panel also has the Fire Warden System incorporated into it. Each zone has a number of telephones linked direct to the EWIS. The fire wardens talk to someone at the panel, who when told an area has been evacuated, presses a button at that location and an area cleared light will show on the panel.

IMPORTANT.....If you have no knowledge of your situation, leave it to those with the experience to do the installation, it may cost you $Millions in litigation if someone is cooked.