By Brad Keyes / Special to Healthcare Facilities Today

Q: Are you aware of any accrediting organization requiring the hospital to have an addressable fire alarm system installed? If so, what organizations? Please explain the rationale and any supporting code behind this decision. Background: A hospital currently has a fully functional zone fire alarm system installed but heard that accrediting organizations are requiring addressable systems. In my review of NFPA 101 2012, I cannot find anything in chapters 18 or 19 that would differ from the 9.6 reference to NFPA 72 2010.

A: There is no NFPA Life Safety Code requirement for you to have an addressable fire alarm system. There is a requirement that the hospital have a fire alarm system that meets the requirements of 19.3.4 of the 2012 LSC, but that does not include being an addressable system. As far as I know, Joint Commission, HFAP, and DNV do not require an addressable fire alarm system, and CMS does not require an addressable fire alarm system.

Now, a state or local law may exceed the NFPA minimum and require an addressable fire alarm system, but you would have to check with your state and local authorities to find that out.

Brad Keyes, CHSP, is the owner of KEYES Life Safety Compliance, and his expertise is in the management of the Life Safety Program, including the Environment of Care and Emergency Management programs.