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Guidelines For Fire Alarm Plan Review/Permitting Procedures

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There are two areas of fire alarm work that require permit activity: additions, alterations, or modifications to existing fire alarm systems and the installation of new fire alarm systems.

A fire alarm system means any mechanical or electrical device which is designed to be used for the detection of fire or smoke in a building, structure, or facility or for alerting others of a fire or smoke condition within a building, structure or facility, or both and which emits an alarm within the premises or transmits a signal to a U. L. Certified Central Station.

Fire alarm permits are required by Section 11-48(4) of the City of Tampa Fire Prevention Code (Ordinance No. 89-234) and are not transferable.

The permit and inspection procedures are as follows:

1. Two sets of plans shall be submitted to the Construction Services Center, 1400 N. Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33607.  Fire alarm plans may be submitted in conjunction with the building/electrical plans or separately as a supplement to the project.

2. A fire alarm permit may be issued to the State of Florida certified and City of Tampa licensed unlimited electrical contractor or fire alarm, contractor.

3. If possible, floor plans depicting fire alarm components should be separate from other trades, in that they reflect only fire alarm-related elements.

4. For each building, state the OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION which corresponds to the appropriate Chapter of NFPA 101, Life Safety Code. Also indicate the SUB-CLASS, if any.

5. If the building contains MIXED OCCUPANCIES (per NFPA 101), drawings shall indicate with a line, properly labeled, the separation between each different occupancy classification/sub-class within the same building. If the line of separation is a wall, and this wall is to be a firewall or smoke barrier, note the wall's "rating."