Whats the code requirement for battery backup in a fire alarm system thats tied into a a buildings emergency generator?
Canadian relevent codes/standards are CSA C282, CAN/ULC-S524-01. The answer to this question isn’t as straight forward as it would seem. CAN/ULC-524 accepts a “listed” emergency power generator as long as it can provide the requisite twenty-four (24) hour stand-by (or supervisory) current and then power they system in “full alarm” for the time required as it applies to the building’s height and occupancy class. This means that it would be perfectly acceptable to provide only enough stand-by battery capacity to power the system during the “start-up” and “full power transfer” phases of the generator. That’s the legal code requirement IF certain other criteria are met. These include the fact that the generator must be monitored for “trouble” and “operation” by the fire alarm system and that the equipment must be listed/certified by an acceptable agency and be installed, maintained and tested in accordance with the code requirements and the manufacturers instructions. The forgoing represen
