The NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) is a standard published by the National Fire Protection Association every 3 years for installation of fire alarm systems and emergency communication systems in the United States.
Purpose The NFPA 72 "covers the application, installation, location, performance, inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems, supervising station alarm systems, public emergency alarm reporting systems, fire warning equipment and emergency communications systems (ECS), and their components." Federal, state, and local municipalities across the United States have adopted the NFPA 72 as a standard in the enforcement of fire code regulation. Municipalities often adopt revisions of the code after years of review and amendments, making many local fire codes specific to their governing authorities. To get involved in creation or engagement in code origins, visit www.nfpa.org
Structure NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code®, 2025 Edition (Current)
About NFPA 72 Origin and Development Committee Lists Chapter 1 Administration Chapter 2 Referenced Publications Chapter 3 Definitions Chapter 4 Reserved Chapter 5 Reserved Chapter 6 Reserved Chapter 7 Documentation Chapter 8 Reserved Chapter 9 Reserved Chapter 10 Fundamentals Chapter 11 Cybersecurity Chapter 12 Circuits and Pathways Chapter 13 Reserved Chapter 14 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance Chapter 15 Reserved Chapter 16 Reserved Chapter 17 Initiating Devices Chapter 18 Notification Appliances Chapter 19 Reserved Chapter 20 Reserved Chapter 21 Emergency Control Function Interfaces Chapter 22 Reserved Chapter 23 Protected Premises Alarm and Signaling Systems Chapter 24 Emergency Communications Systems (ECSs) Chapter 25 Reserved Chapter 26 Supervising Station Alarm Systems Chapter 27 Public Emergency Alarm Reporting Systems Chapter 28 Reserved Chapter 29 Single- and Multiple-Station Alarms and Household Signaling Systems Annex A Explanatory Material Annex B Engineering Guide for Automatic Fire Detector Spacing Annex C System Performance and Design Guide Annex D Speech Intelligibility Annex E Sample Ordinance Adopting NFPA 72 Annex F Wiring Diagrams and Guide for Testing Fire Alarm Circuits Annex G Guidelines for Emergency Communication Strategies for Buildings and Campuses Annex H Carbon Monoxide Annex I Color-Coded Tagging Program Annex J Informational References The NFPA 72 2022 (Previous) is sectioned as follows:
Chapter 1 Administration Chapter 2 Referenced Publications Chapter 3 Definitions Chapter 4 Reserved Chapter 5 Reserved Chapter 6 Reserved Chapter 7 Document Chapter 8 Reserved Chapter 9 Reserved Chapter 10 Fundamentals Chapter 11 Reserved Chapter 12 Circuits and Pathways Chapter 13 Reserved Chapter 14 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance Chapter 15 Reserved Chapter 16 Reserved Chapter 17 Initiating Devices Chapter 18 Notification Appliances Chapter 19 Reserved Chapter 20 Reserved Chapter 21 Emergency Control Function Interfaces Chapter 22 Reserved Chapter 23 Protected Premises Alarm and Signaling Systems Chapter 24 Emergency Communications Systems (ECS) Chapter 25 Reserved Chapter 26 Supervising Station Alarm Systems Chapter 27 Public Emergency Alarm Reporting Systems Chapter 28 Reserved Chapter 29 Single- and Multiple-Station Alarms and Household Signaling Systems Annex A Explanatory Material Annex B Engineering Guide for Automatic Fire Detector Spacing Annex C System Performance and Design Guide Annex D Speech Intelligibility Annex E Sample Ordinance Adopting NFPA 72 Annex F Wiring Diagrams and Guide for Testing Fire Alarm Circuits Annex G Guidelines for Emergency Communication Strategies for Buildings and Campuses Annex H Carbon Monoxide Annex I Informational References Index A previous version of NFPA 72 (2016) was sectioned as follows:
1. Administration 2. References and Publications 3. Definitions 4. Reserved 5. Reserved 6. Reserved 7. Documentation 8. Reserved 9. Reserved 10. Fundamentals 11. Reserved 12. Circuits and Pathways 13. Reserved 14. Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance 15. Reserved 16. Reserved 17. Initiating Devices 18. Notification Appliances 19. Reserved 20. Reserved 21. Emergency Control Interfaces 22. Reserved 23. Protected Premises Fire Alarm Systems 24. Emergency Communications Systems (ECS) 25. Reserved 26. Supervision Station Alarm Systems 27. Public Emergency Alarm Reporting Systems 28. Reserved 29. Single and Multiple-Station Alarms and Household Fire Alarm Systems Annex A Annex B Annex C Annex D Annex E Annex F Annex G Informational References Index
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