Fire Alarm Systems

The Park Forest Fire Department is the authority having jurisdiction for the plan review and acceptance testing of fire alarm systems. This includes new systems and alterations or modifications to existing systems. All required fire alarm systems must be approved by the Fire Department before an occupancy permit is issued.

A fire alarm system must be installed and maintained in the following occupancies:

All occupancies of use Groups R-2, R-3, R-4 and I-1 shall have a minimum of one approved single-station smoke detector in the following locations:

1. On the ceiling or wall outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity

of, bedrooms.

2. In each room used for sleeping purposes.

3. In each story within a dwelling unit, including basements habitable attics.

All multi-family occupancies with more than three (3) stories or with more than eleven (11) units sharing a common corridor or stairway shall be equipped with a hard wired early warning smoke and fire detection system as outlined below:

* Dwelling units shall have a minimum of one approved single-station or multiple-station

smoke detector in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms in occupancies in Use Groups

R-2 and R-3.

* The system shall consist of products of combustion detectors in corridors, each level

landing areas, tops of stairwells, and tenant storage areas.

* Thermal detectors shall be placed in boiler rooms, janitorial closets, mechanical

equipment rooms, workshop areas, and laundry areas.

* A means to reset or silence the common area detection system shall be provided at a

convenient location near the front entrance to the occupancy. If the occupancy is more

than one floor in height, each floor shall be separately zoned.

* Installation of the common area detection system shall be in accordance with NFPA 72.

The owner shall be responsible for the maintenance of these systems in accordance with NFPA 72.

For all other occupancy classifications not specifically mentioned in the preceding articles, the following standards apply

* Smoke detection spacing, annunciation and installation shall be in accord with NFPA 72;

* Required in-duct detection and shall be designed to shut down the HVAC system upon

activation. All in-duct detectors shall be equipped with a remote testing feature and be

separately zoned. A keyed bypass shall be installed to override the HVAC fan shutdown;

* Fire detection systems required to be supervised shall be monitored by the Village’s fire

alarm receiving equipment or a UL 300 Listed Central Station;

* A strobe light shall be installed at the front of each occupancy. This strobe light shall be

visible from the street and connected to the fire detection system so as to provide a visual

identification of the affected occupancy;

* The Code Official may require a remote annunciator panel if the main fire alarm control

panel is not located by the front entrance to the occupancy.

The owner shall be responsible for the maintenance of these systems in accordance with NFPA 72.

All existing buildings covered herein shall comply with the provisions of this ordinance when:

* There is a change in occupancy requiring a fire alarm system.

* Early Warning Fire Detection Systems that are required to be supervised shall be

monitored by a U.L. Listed Central Station or the Village’s fire alarm receiving equipment.

Plan Review Information

Plans for each fire alarm system must be submitted to the Park Forest Building Department. Plans are generally reviewed and written comments provided within 10-14 working days. 

The Plan submitted shall include:

* A set of plans for each fire alarm system

* Manufacturers specification sheets on all devices

* Standby battery calculations

Fire alarm systems must be designed, installed and function in accordance with locally adopted codes and locally adopted amendments to the codes. This information and other general information regarding Fire Protection Systems and Fire Alarm Systems is available from the Park Forest Fire Department. To obtain this information contact the Fire Prevention Bureau at 708-748-5605.

Inspection Information

Before the fire alarm system is accepted, a final inspection shall be completed and the system installer must be present to conduct the performance test of the system.

A contractor’s Certificate of Completion shall be provided to the Fire Department prior to the Fire Department witnessing a performance test of the system (Per NFPA 72).

Inspections may be scheduled by calling 708-748-5605 forty-eight (48) hours in advance. When inspections are scheduled, all appropriate installers must be present.

If an inspection/test fails, the Fire Department will attempt to accommodate the fire alarm systems installer’s request by scheduling a re-test the next business day. Any re-inspection/re-test will result in a fee of $50.00.