Fire Alarm, Data & Building Systems

Mech/Elec

Fire Alarm (CAN/ULC-S524)

Item	Value
Smoke detector spacing	1 per 84 m² (smooth ceiling)
Heat det. — fixed temp	57°C (general) or 93°C (high-heat)
Heat det. — rate-of-rise	Activates at > 8.3°C/min
Pull station height	1050–1200 mm AFF; ≤ 1.5 m from exit
Battery capacity	24-hr standby + 5-min alarm
Circuit survivability	1-hr rated conduit or CI cable
Conduit & box colour	Red; labelled “FIRE ALARM”
FACP power	Dedicated ckt, lockable red-handle bkr

Verification (CAN/ULC-S537)

CFAA-certified technician mandatory
Device-by-device functional test — every initiating & notification device
Cause-and-effect matrix: verify every line
Monitoring station: alarm, trouble, supervisory signals confirmed
Report to fire marshal & building owner before acceptance

Data & Communications Cabling

Cable	Speed / Distance
Cat6	1 Gbps / 100 m
Cat6A	10 Gbps / 100 m
Fibre OM3/OM4	10+ Gbps / ≤ 300 m
Singlemode fibre	Unlimited BW / long distance

Installation Limits

UTP max pull tension	110 N (25 lbf)
Min bend radius — Cat6	4× cable diameter
Min bend radius — Cat6A	6× cable diameter
Data/power parallel sep.	200 mm (8″) min
Data/power crossings	90° only
Wiring standard	T568B consistently
Telecom room min size	3 m × 3 m, climate-controlled

Security Systems

Mag-locks: Release on fire alarm, power loss, & manual REX (OFC)
Card/FOB readers: LV conduit from above door to controller above ceiling
IP cameras: Cat6 PoE — single cable for data + power
NVR storage: 30–90 day retention typical
Door contacts: Recessed magnetic reed — install during rough-in
PIR motion: Corner mount at ceiling height, supervised circuits

Church-Specific

Nursery: card reader + video intercom at door
Office/counting room: separate access group
Schedule-based lock/unlock tied to event calendar via BAS

Cable Tray & Solar PV

Cable Tray

Item	Requirement
Support spacing	1.5–3 m (type/load dependent)
Single-cond. fill (ladder)	40% max cross-section
Data fill (wire basket)	50% max (BICSI)
Power/data separation	Separate trays, 300 mm vertical min
Bonding	Every splice; continuous ground path (OESC)

Solar PV Rough-In

DC conduit labelled “CAUTION — SOLAR PV — ENERGIZED IN DAYLIGHT”
Rapid shutdown: ≤ 30 sec to safe voltage (OESC)
DC disconnect: visible, lockable, between array & inverter
ESA inspection at rough-in and final stages
Roof penetrations: flashed by roofer, conduit by electrician

Church AV Infrastructure

AV power: Dedicated panel, isolated-ground receptacles
Streaming: Min 50 Mbps upload — dedicated circuit, not shared
Camera positions: Min 2 (rear + side); conduit for video, data, control
Hearing loop: Wire in/under floor during construction (IEC 60118-4)
Sound booth: Isolated-ground power, data, conduit to stage & speakers
Oversize conduit 50% beyond current AV design for future capacity

Code References

CAN/ULC-S524: Fire alarm system installation
CAN/ULC-S537: Fire alarm system verification
CFAA: Canadian Fire Alarm Association certification
OESC (CSA C22.1): Ontario Electrical Safety Code
ESA: Electrical Safety Authority — inspections
OFC: Ontario Fire Code — mag-lock release, fire alarm acceptance
BICSI: Data cabling standards — pull tension, bend radius, fill
IEC 60118-4: Hearing loop design standard

Safety — Do Not Forget

Licensed electrician + ESA inspection required for all electrical work.
CFAA certification required for fire alarm install & verification. No exceptions.
Mag-lock release on fire alarm — untested = potentially fatal OFC violation.
Solar PV DC hazard: Panels energized in daylight. Rapid shutdown mandatory.
Data/power separation: Never share conduit. 200 mm parallel min, 90° crossings.
Verify every fire alarm device per CAN/ULC-S537 before acceptance.

Pro Tips

Pull strings in every fire alarm conduit — systems are modified throughout the building’s life.
Install 2 data drops per location — negligible cost now, 10× cost to add later.
Pull station guards in children’s areas — the red handle is irresistible to kindergarteners.
Certify every data cable with Fluke tester before drywall — no uncertified cabling in closeout.
Systems integration matrix: List all systems, map every integration point & responsible contractor.