CHAPTER 4
INDIVIDUAL BUILDING MNS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
4-1 SCOPE. Individual building MNS are intended to provide real-time information
to personnel within and in the immediate vicinity of buildings on a DOD installation.
These systems are required by UFC 4-010-01 for new construction and renovation of
existing buildings. This chapter provides the design criteria for new construction
projects. It discusses the requirements of the individual building MNS that is installed in
new construction as part of a combined MNS/fire alarm system.
Note: In most cases, the simplest and most economical approach for new construction
will be to install a combined system that performs both as an individual building MNS
and as the building fire alarm/voice evacuation system.
4-2 REQUIREMENTS FOR SYSTEM DESIGNERS. The individual building MNS
shall be designed under the supervision of a registered fire protection engineer, by a
registered professional engineer having at least four years of current experience in the
design of fire protection and detection systems, or by an engineering technologist
qualified at NICET Level IV in fire alarm systems. The individual’s name, signature, and
professional engineer number or NICET certification number shall be included on all
final design documents.
Navy systems shall be designed only by a registered fire protection engineer who
has passed the fire protection engineering written examination administered by the
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveys (NCEES).
4-3 SYSTEM OVERVIEW. A combined system is required by the Navy and is
highly recommended by the Army and Air Force. The combined system design may be
used by the Marine Corps when specifically approved by the AHJ based on the class
and size of the building requiring the MNS. Otherwise, Marine Corps projects will use
the technical criteria of Chapter 5. If an Army or Air Force installation approves use of a
separate MNS and separate building fire alarm system in a new construction project,
use the technical criteria of Chapter 5.
A separate MNS may be installed in Navy projects for a building not provided with a
fire alarm system. See Chapter 5.
Note: See paragraph 6-5 for MNS requirements for special occupancies such as
medical facilities and facilities intended for occupancy by persons not capable of
self-preservation.
4-3.1 Subsystems. An individual building MNS for new construction projects
includes several subsystems: autonomous control unit (ACU); local operating consoles
(LOC); notification appliance network; and interface with the wide area MNS on the
DOD installation. System design and wiring is designed to meet NFPA 72 requirements
for MNS and fire alarm systems.
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4-3.2 ACU
4-3.2.1 Functions. The ACU is used to monitor and control the notification appliance
network. At the ACU, personnel in the building can initiate delivery of pre-recorded voice
messages, provide live voice messages and instructions, and initiate visual strobe and
alphanumeric message notification appliances. Actions taken at the ACU take
precedence over actions taken at any other location, including the LOC, or inputs from
the wide area MNS on the DOD installation.
4-3.2.2 Combined System. For new construction, the ACU shall be integrated with
the building fire alarm control panel (FACP) to form one combined system that performs
both functions. The building PA system for smaller buildings may be integrated with the
combined system so that all three functions—mass notification, fire alarm, and PA—are
provided by one building system. In large buildings, however, combining the PA system
will typically require the design of very complex speaker switching matrices and is not
recommended. Combined systems shall meet the requirements of NFPA 72.
Note: A combined system may include an ACU and FACP supplied from different
manufacturers or placed in separate equipment enclosures; however, the ACU and
FACP must be integrated in their controls and performance to meet the requirements of
NFPA 72 and this UFC.
Note: The Army and Air Force permit the MNS and fire alarm system to be installed as
separate systems if mandated by the DOD installation. The Marine Corps normally
requires the MNS and fire alarm system to be installed as separate systems unless
specifically permitted by the AHJ. See Chapter 5 for technical criteria for this design
approach.
4-3.3 LOC. A LOC is a unit designed to allow emergency response forces and
building occupants to operate the individual building MNS, including initiating delivery of
pre-recorded voice messages, providing live voice messages and instructions, initiating
visual strobe and alphanumeric message notification appliances, overriding external
voice announcements, and terminating mass notification functions. A LOC is usually
contained in a small, wall-mounted enclosure. Not all functions that could be performed
at the ACU are necessarily available at a LOC.
4-3.4 Notification Appliance Network. A notification appliance network consists of
a set of audio speakers, strobes, and text signs (when required) that are located to alert
occupants and provide intelligible voice and visual instructions.
4-3.4.1 Audio Appliance Network. Speakers are provided at all locations in the
building and also around the building at entrances/exits and other outdoor areas (such
as courtyards) commonly used by the building occupants. Important design
considerations for the audio speakers include intelligibility and audio intensity.
Note: Outside notification more than 5 m (16 ft) from the building should be provided by
the wide area MNS.
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4-3.4.1.1 Intelligibility is defined in NFPA 72. Commercially available test
instrumentation shall be used to verify intelligibility.
4-3.4.1.2 Effective voice communication within buildings occurs by using a system
design of many speakers, each with low audio intensity.
4-3.4.2 Visual Appliance Network. Strobes are provided at all locations inside the
building to meet the accessibility requirements of 1 ABAAG /1/ for persons with
hearing disabilities. Strobes are provided at the same locations in a building that would
be required for a fire alarm system notification appliance. Combined MNS/FACP
systems may use either one strobe (clear) or two strobes (clear for fire and amber for
MNS) as specified by the AHJ.
4-3.4.2.1 Navy installations shall use one clear strobe and also shall provide text signs.
Text signs are required over the door to each egress stairwell and over (or adjacent to)
the substantial means of egress from the level of discharge. Exterior exit doors from a
single room (e.g., mechanical or electrical rooms) do not require a text sign.
4-3.4.2.2 Army and Air Force installations shall use a clear strobe for fire and an amber
strobe for MNS. Use of text signs is optional and at the discretion of the DOD
installation. If provided, text signs shall be located over the door to each egress stairwell
and over (or adjacent to) the substantial means of egress from the level of discharge.
Exterior exit doors from a single room (e.g., mechanical or electrical rooms) do not
require a text sign.
4-3.4.2.3 Marine Corps installations shall contact the AHJ for guidance on visual
notification appliances.
4-3.5 Interfaces with the Wide Area MNS. If a wide area MNS is provided on the
DOD installation, the individual building MNS communicates with the central control
units of the wide area MNS to provide status information, receive commands, activate
pre-recorded messages, and originate live voice messages. If no wide area MNS is
provided on the DOD installation, at a minimum, the individual building MNS shall be
able to receive an audio line-level input.
4-3.6 Logical Block Diagrams. Figures 4-1 and 4-2 show the logical block
diagrams for acceptable configurations of the individual building MNS for new
construction.
Note: These diagrams are intended to show only the functional relationships of the
major components. They are not intended to serve as wiring diagrams. Many essential
design features for an operational system, such as end-of-line resistors, are not shown.
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Figure 4-1. Individual Building Mass Notification System:
Combination Fire Alarm System and MNS (Navy)
BATTERY
BACKUP
COMBINED
FIRE
ALARM
CONTROL
PANEL
&
AUTONOMOUS
CONTROL
UNIT
SPEAKERS
STROBES (WHITE/CLEAR)
DISPLAYS (REQUIRED – NAVY)
LOCAL OPERATING CONSOLE(S) (IF USED)
Conductor Integrity
Monitoring Required
Wide Area MNS
(if existing)
Note
Combined
System –
could use
one or more
enclosures
as listed
UFC 4-021-01
9 April 2008
Change 1, January 2010
25
Figure 4-2. Individual Building Mass Notification System:
Combination Fire Alarm System and MNS (Army and Air Force)
BATTERY
BACKUP
COMBINED
FIRE
ALARM
CONTROL
PANEL
&
AUTONOMOUS
CONTROL
UNIT
Conductor Integrity
Monitoring Required
LOCAL OPERATING CONSOLES
SPEAKERS
STROBES (AMBER)
STROBES (WHITE/CLEAR)
DISPLAYS (OPTIONAL)
Note
Combined
System –
could use
one or more
enclosures
Wide Area MNS as listed
(if existing)
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9 April 2008
Change 1, January 2010
26
4-4 ACU
4-4.1 Locations. The ACU shall form a combined system with the FACP. These
control panels may be co-located in the same enclosure or may be physically
separated. If they are located in the same enclosure, install the enclosure at the location
normally specified by the DOD component AHJ for a stand-alone FACP.
4-4.2 Design Features. The ACU shall:
• Be able to function independently upon failure of the wide area MNS (if
provided on the DOD installation).
• Be a listed combination system with the fire alarm system as described in
NFPA 72 and meeting UL Standard 864 and the specific requirements of this
UFC. The listing evaluation shall be accomplished by UL, Factory Mutual
Research Corporation (FM), or another nationally recognized testing
laboratory (NRTL).
N