Manual fire alarm boxes
Compiled text through Sep 15, 2021
Register checked through Jul 29, 2026
No later Register activity identified in this check.
Dates and status
- Compiling agency
- Executive Department
- Text status
- Source receipt
- Compiled text through
- Sep 15, 2021
- Register checked through
- July 29, 2026/Vol. XLVIII, Issue 30 (2026-07-29)
- Activity status
- No later Register activity identified in this check.
- Source snapshot
- Jun 6, 2026
(a)New fire alarm systems shall be provided with manually operated fire alarm boxes, each arranged to transmit an alarm signal to sounding devices, and located as follows:
(1)There shall be at least one box on each floor. Attics and basements that are used at any time for sleeping quarters, recreation purposes, dining facilities, offices, or where a person is on duty, shall be considered as a floor.
(2)Boxes shall be located so as to be readily accessible and in the natural path of escape from fire. Where practicable such boxes shall be located near a required means of egress.
(3)Boxes shall be located so that the horizontal distance from any point on a floor not divided into rooms, or from any door leading to a room or suite to the nearest fire alarm box shall not exceed 100 feet, except that for fireproof buildings the maximum distance may be increased to 150 feet.
(4)Boxes shall be located in a public hall or passageway so as to be accessible on every floor without passing through a fire door.
(b)New and existing fire alarm boxes shall be in a position and ready at all times to operate when actuated.
(c)New fire alarm boxes shall be used only for fire protection purposes or other emergency.
(d)New coded systems shall be provided with pull-lever type boxes capable of transmitting at least four rounds of the coded signal. Mechanism shall be designed so that when once started there can be no interference with the proper transmission of signals.
(e)New non-coded systems shall be provided with boxes the manual operation of which will cause an alarm to sound continuously on all sounding devices. It shall be impossible to interfere with the signal except by the resetting of the box mechanism or by a time-limit device.
(f)New boxes shall be installed with handles approximately five feet above the floor.