Grade 12- EIM Quarter 2, Lesson 4: Fire Alarm System Wiring Installation Guide
Name____________________________________________ Date _________________________ Score _______________
🎯 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. know the electrical code related to fire alarm system;
2. learn the connection of fire alarm system;
3. draw a diagram of wiring installation of fire alarm system.
Instructions: Draw a line across each word you find on the grid vertically, horizontally, backward or diagonally. The following
words are indicators for fire alarm panel.
Wiring Installation Guidelines
All fire alarm system installation wiring should be installed in compliance with Article 760 of NFPA 70 (National
Electrical Code), NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm Code and Signaling Code NFPA 72) covers minimum performance, location,
mounting, testing, and maintenance requirements of automatic fire detectors. Many NFPA application specific standards are
available and should be considered in addition to NFPA 72, when applicable. In addition, NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code NFPA)
specifies the requirements for smoke detection in both new and existing buildings depending on the type of occupancy. The
manufacturer’s instructions, and the requirements plays an important role in the wiring installations which is also based on Fire
alarm code. The primary rule of installation wiring is to Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions. This rule cannot be
overemphasized. The requirement for electrical supervision of the installation wires and their connections to initiating devices
makes fire alarm system installation wiring very different than general wiring. A manufacturer’s installation wiring drawing routes
wires and shows connections in a certain manner to accommodate supervision requirements. Any variance from the
manufacturer’s drawings might cause a portion of a circuit to be unsupervised and, if an open or short circuit fault occurred, it
could prevent the circuit from being able to perform its intended function without giving the required trouble indication.
Operations Instruction
Wiring Diagram of the Central Control Unit
Typical Wiring Technique
The diagram A shows the correct wiring method of initiating devices for conventional fire panel. While diagram B
and C illustrate the incorrect wiring method.
Figure B (incorrect wiring method). This wiring method is referred to as T-tapping. This common installation
error is often made in riser wiring, as well as single floor wiring. T-tapping is allowed with most intelligent fire alarm
systems. Refer to manufacturer’s recommendations.
Figure C (incorrect wiring method). This wiring method illustrate the interchanging of polarity from positive to
negative or from negative to positive.
In addition to typical wiring method, the required termination at the smoke detector may involve either screw
terminals or wire pigtails. Regardless of the method, removal of the smoke detector or a single installation wire must
open the initiating circuit and send a trouble signal to the control panel. Below is the illustration of proper and improper
termination of screw.
Screw Termination