Potter Fire Alarm Systems - Manual (Page 7)

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Fire Alarm Training • 8700055 • Rev F • 4/10
Manual Station [pull station]: A manually operated device used to initiate an alarm signal.
National Fire Protection Association [NFPA]: Administers the development of and publishes codes, standards, and other
materials concerning all phases of fire safety.
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) – a laboratory that is recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration as meeting the necessary qualifications specified in the Code of Federal Regulations. Common NRTL in the United
States that deal with fire alarm products are FM Approvals, Intertek Testing Services (ETL) and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (ULI)
Non restorable Initiating Device: A device whose sensing element is designed to be destroyed in the process of operation.
Notification Appliance: A fire alarm system component such as a bell, horn, speaker, strobe, etc. that provides an audible or
visible output or both.
Notification Appliance Circuit (NAC): A circuit directly connected to a notification appliance.
Obscuration: A reduction in the atmospheric transparency caused by smoke. Usually expressed in percent per foot.
Particles of Combustion: Substances resulting from the chemical process of a fire.
Photoelectric Smoke Detector: A smoke detector utilizing a light source and a photosensitive sensor so arranged that the rays
from the light do not normally shine on the photosensitive sensor. When smoke enters the light path, some of the light reflects off
the smoke onto the sensor, causing the detector to respond.
Proprietary Fire Alarm System: An installation of fire alarm systems that serve contiguous and noncontiguous properties under
one ownership from a proprietary supervising station located at the protected property.
Rate Of Rise Heat Detector: A device which will respond when the temperature rises at a rate exceeding a predetermined
amount [usually about 15 degrees per minute].
Remote Station Fire Alarm System: A system installed in accordance with NFPA 72 to transmit alarm, trouble and supervisory
from one or more protected premises to a remote location at which appropriate action is taken.
Restorable Initiating Device: A device whose sensing element is not ordinarily destroyed in the process of operation.
Restoration may be manual or automatic.
Shall: In NFPA literature indicates a mandatory requirement.
Should: In NFPA literature indicates a recommendation or that which is requested but not required.
Signaling Line Circuit: A circuit or path between any combination of circuit interfaces, control units, or transmitters over which
multiple system input signals or output signals, or both are carried.
Sloping Ceiling: Ceilings having a slope of more than 1 1/2 in. per foot.
A: Sloping - Peaked Type, Ceilings in which the slope is in two directions from the highest point. Curved or domed ceilings may
be considered peaked.
B: Sloping - Shed Type, Ceilings in which the high point is at one side with the slope extending toward the opposite side.
Smooth Ceiling: A surface uninterrupted by continuous projections such as solid joists, beams or ducts, extending more than 4 in.
below the ceiling surface.
Solid Joist Construction: Ceilings having solid structural or nonstructural members projecting down from the ceiling surface a
distance of more than 4 in. and spaced at intervals 3 ft. or less, center to center.
Spot Type Detector: A device whose detecting element is concentrated at a particular location. Examples include certain smoke
and heat detectors.
Stratification: An effect that occurs when air containing smoke particles or products of combustion is heated by burning material,
rises until it reaches a level where there is no longer a temperature difference between it and the surrounding air.
Story: the portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of a floor or roof next above.
Supervision: The ability to detect a fault condition in the installation wiring which would prevent normal operation of the fire alarm system.
Supervisory Signal: A signal indicating an “off normal” condition on the fire suppression system. Examples include, tamper
indication, low air pressure and low building temperature.
Thermal Lag: The difference between the operating temperature of a thermal detector and the actual air temperature.
Two-Wire Smoke Detector: A smoke detector that initiates an alarm condition on the same pair of wires that supply power to the detector.