CHAPTER 5
INDIVIDUAL BUILDING MNS FOR RENOVATION PROJECTS
5-1 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 building. This chapter provides the design criteria for renovation projects,
including the installation of MNS in existing buildings. This chapter should be used for
new Marine Corps projects unless combination systems (see Chapter 4) are specifically
approved by the AHJ. This chapter should also be used when an Army or Air Force
installation approves the use of a separate MNS and separate building fire alarm
system in a new construction project.
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.
5-2 REQUIREMENTS FOR SYSTEM DESIGNERS. The individual building MNS
shall be designed under the supervision of a registered professional engineer with a
minimum of 4 years of current work experience in fire protection, electrical, and
communication-electronics engineering areas specific to individual building MNS.
Alternately, the individual building MNS may be designed by an engineering
technologist verified by NICET as certified at Level IV in low voltage electroniccommunications
systems or at Level IV in fire alarm systems, plus this engineering
technologist shall possess a minimum of 4 years current work experience specific to
individual building MNS communications-electronics. Alternately, the individual building
MNS may be designed by an engineering technologist that possesses a minimum of
10 years of documented current work experience specific to individual building MNS
communications-electronics. The individual’s name, signature, and professional
engineer number or NICET certification number (when applicable) shall be included on
all final design documents.
5-3 USE OF NEW CONSTRUCTION CRITERIA
5-3.1 FACP Replacement: No Existing MNS in Building. When replacing a
FACP in a building without an existing MNS, provide a combination mass notification
and fire alarm system meeting the requirements for new construction projects (see
Chapter 4).
5-3.2 FACP Replacement: Existing MNS in Building
5-3.2.1 When replacing a FACP in a building with an existing separate MNS, removal
of both systems and installation of a combination system meeting new construction
criteria is recommended but not required. Consider the age and condition of the MNS
and the life-cycle costs of keeping the existing MNS when determining whether to install
a new combined system or remain with separate systems.
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5-3.3 MNS Installation Projects
5-3.3.1 When installing a MNS in a building with an existing separate FACP, removal
of both systems and installation of a combination system meeting new construction
criteria is recommended but not required. Consider the age and condition of the FACP
and the life-cycle costs of keeping the existing FACP when determining whether to
install a new combined system or remain with separate systems.
Separate systems are required for Marine Corps projects unless a combination
system is specifically permitted by the AHJ.
5-4 SYSTEM OVERVIEW
5-4.1 Subsystems. An individual building MNS for renovation projects includes
several subsystems: ACU; LOC; notification appliance network; interface with facility
FACP; interface with facility PA system; and interface with the wide area MNS on the
DOD installation. System design and wiring must meet NFPA 72 requirements for MNS
and fire alarm systems.
Individual building MNS for Marine Corps projects shall serve as a subsystem of the
wide area MNS.
5-4.2 ACU. 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, initiate visual strobe and
alphanumeric message notification appliances, and temporarily silence fire alarm
system visual and audible notification appliances.
Marine Corps MNS designs are not required to use an ACU.
5-4.3 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, temporarily silencing
fire alarm system visual and audible 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.
Marine Corps MNS designs are not required to use a LOC.
5-4.4 Notification Appliance Network. A notification appliance network consists of
a set of audio speakers, strobes, and text signs (when required by the AHJ) located to
alert occupants and provide intelligible voice and written instructions. When required,
text signs are installed over the door to each egress stairwell and over (or adjacent to)
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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.
Text signs are not authorized in Marine Corps MNS designs unless specifically
permitted by the AHJ.
5-4.4.1 Audio Appliance Network. Speakers are provided at all locations in the
building and are provided 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.
5-4.4.1.1 Intelligibility is defined in NFPA 72. Commercially available test
instrumentation shall be used to verify intelligibility.
5-4.4.1.2 Effective voice communication within buildings occurs by using a system
design of many speakers, each with low audio intensity.
5-4.4.2 Visual Appliance Network. Strobes are provided at all locations inside the
building to meet 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
1 visual /1/ notification appliance. Separate MNS and FACP systems may use either
one strobe (clear) or two strobes (clear for fire and amber for MNS) as specified by the
AHJ. Text signs may be required by the AHJ 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.
5-4.4.2.1 Army and Air Force installations shall use existing clear/white strobes for fire
and install amber strobes for MNS. New amber strobes will be marked with word
“ALERT.” Installation of text signs is optional and at the discretion of the DOD
installation.
1 5-4.4.2.2 Navy installations shall use clear/white strobes marked with the word
“ALERT.” 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 doors
from a single room (e.g., mechanical or electrical rooms) do not require a text sign. /1/
1 5-4.4.2.3 /1/ Marine Corps installations shall contact the AHJ for guidance on visual
notification appliances.
5-4.5 Interfaces with Facility FACP. The MNS shall provide the capability (either
internally as a design feature, or with an approved or listed external controller) to
temporarily deactivate the facility’s fire alarm system audible and visual notification
appliances. This is intended to allow the MNS to provide intelligible voice commands
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inside an individual building during simultaneous fire and terrorist events. System
features are provided to compensate for the increased risk from fire in these cases.
Marine Corps MNS designs may interface with the facility FACP. Contact the AHJ
for guidance.
5-4.6 Interfaces with Facility PA System. The use of the speakers and other
components in the existing PA system may be appropriate in smaller size buildings in
which the installation of a new speaker system is not cost effective and the existing PA
system is new or relatively new, in excellent condition, and of relatively simple design. If
this implementation approach is taken, an ACU must be interfaced with the existing PA
system. The existing PA system must be tested to demonstrate acceptable intelligibility
of the voice messages, and additional speakers must be added as required. These
features must be provided in or added to the PA system:
• Emergency messages must have priority over non-emergency messages.
• All individual or zone speaker volume controls must default to the emergency
sound level when used for an MNS message.
• Provide a supervisory signal when the PA system has been placed in the
“OFF” condition.
• When monitoring of circuit integrity is provided by the PA system, continue
monitoring even if local speaker volume controls are placed in the “OFF”
position.
• Provide the required visual notification appliance network (i.e., strobes and
text signs).
Marine Corps MNS designs are not required to provide an interface with the facility
PA system.
Note: The term “public address system” (or “PA system”) is used in this UFC to mean
both PA and intercommunication systems.
5-4.7 Interfaces with the Wide Area MNS. If a wide area MNS is provided on the
DOD installation, the individual building MNS communicates with the