Standard for Control Units for Fire Alarm Systems

1 Scope

1.1 This Standard covers control units, fire alarm systems and control unit accessories for use in accordance with the Standard for the Installation of Fire Alarm Systems, CAN/ULC-S524, in accordance with CSA-C22.1, Safety Standard for Electrical Installations, Canadian Electrical Code, Part I; and the National Building Code of Canada.

1.2 This Standard also covers smoke control features, releasing device service and standalone power supplies.

1.3 Where a fire alarm system is shared by other systems for other than fire alarm operation, the non-fire functions shall not interfere with the required operation of the fire alarm system.

1.4 This Standard does not cover replacement parts for fire alarm systems that consist of products or subassemblies of complete products manufactured in accordance with previous editions of ULC-S527. Replacement parts that do not comply with the current edition of this Standard shall be manufactured in accordance with the edition of this Standard that they were previously in compliance with and shall be marked “For Replacement Only – Complies with ULC-S527-xx” (where xx represents the edition of the Standard that they were previously in compliance with).

1.5 If a fire alarm system incorporates the features and functions of a proprietary fire alarm system or fire signal receiving centre, then the requirements of CAN/ULC-S559, Equipment for Fire Signal Receiving Centres and Systems, shall apply.

1.6 Transponders of distributed type systems are classified as control units and the requirements of this Standard shall apply.

1.7 These requirements apply to control units and control unit accessories for ordinary (non-hazardous) indoor and outdoor locations.

1.8 These requirements do not apply to field devices unless the device is used as a component of a control unit or control unit accessory.

1.9 Test, service, and other software and programming methods, including software compare program, intended for use with the control unit shall be evaluated with the control units.

1.10 Changes or additions to the products covered by this Standard shall be tested according to the relevant sections of this Standard. Examples of changes and additions may be:

          a) Firmware;

          b) Change or additional features to system operation (e.g. voice alarm);

          c) Electrical/electronic or mechanical components; and

          d) Other software temporarily or permanently installed in a control unit, such as for test or maintenance.

NOTE: The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) may require that these changes be reviewed to verify conformance by a nationally recognized certification laboratory.

1.11 The term "product" as used in this Standard refers to all items of equipment covered by the Scope.

1.12 Unless otherwise indicated, all voltage and current values stated in this Standard are root-mean-square (rms).

1.13 The requirements of this Standard apply uniformly to all equipment regardless of whether used as a component of a control unit or separately enclosed and referred to as a control unit accessory