Illinois Administrative Code
Title 83 - PUBLIC UTILITIES
Part 785 - JOINT RULES OF THE ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION, THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, AND THE ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
Section 785.55 - Technical Requirements
Universal Citation: 83 IL Admin Code ยง 785.55
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 12, March 22, 2024
a) Power and Communications Systems
1) All direct current (DC)
power supply service feeds shall be fused at a level not to exceed the rated
capacity of the smallest conductor used in the feed, or 200% of the maximal
operational consumption of the feed, whichever is smaller.
2) The use of equalizing center design, the
practice of tapping smaller power cables to larger power cables, is only permitted
when fused at the tap, or fused in accordance with subsection
785.55(a)(1)
above.
3) Main power supply systems,
both AC and DC, shall be designed to enable a practical, safe disconnection of all
interior feed circuits using a master or zoned master switches or fuses. Multiple
locations for zoned master switches or fuses may be utilized, but no more than three
locations per floor shall be permitted except that existing telecommunications
switch facilities with multiple power supply systems exceeding three locations per
floor shall develop and utilize a coded layout plan for effective zoned
disconnections subject to individual approval by the Office of the State Fire
Marshal. Details of such disconnect plan shall be made a part of the pre-emergency
plan.
4) Carriers should consider the
incorporation of surge protective devices for use on AC service to mitigate the
potential impact of equipment damage due to transient or overvoltage
surges.
5) Armored cable, rigid or
flexible metal conduit, or any other cable with an exterior metallic or conductive
external surface shall not be placed in cable trays containing AC, DC or
communications cables.
6) Wherever
possible, existing AC and DC power cables should be physically separated from
communications cables. New construction shall have AC and DC power cables physically
separated from communications cables.
7)
Use of cables employing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) insulation for any new or expansion
of facilities shall be allowed only if the cable has an oxygen index rating of 28 or
higher, unless monitored by a system designed to sense chloride emissions.
8) Removal of old cable shall be monitored by each
telephone company or telecommunications carrier to guard against damage to remaining
cable.
b) Detection Systems
1) Design and installation shall comply with fire
protection standards as published in the NFPA's Code 72 and 72E.
2) Types of fire detectors include heat, smoke,
flame, laser, photo-electric, aspiration, ionization and fire-gas types. Detection
systems shall utilize a minimum of two (2) types of devices monitoring each alarm
zone within a facility for buildings exceeding 1,600 square feet. Buildings of less
than 1,600 square feet will require one (1) single detector-type capability. Single
detector-type systems shall not utilize heat only sensors.
3) Each facility with multiple alarm zones within
a building exceeding 1,600 square feet shall have a local interior zone annunciator
panel immediately inside of an entrance door as designated in the pre-plan. The
facility may also have remote monitoring by a company operated central station. Upon
receipt of fire signal at such remote station, the station operator shall
immediately notify the appropriate Fire Department.
4) Each carrier should develop a facility
inspection program utilizing thermographic infrared scanning technology or
equivalent as an aid to identify abnormal heat buildup.
c) Ventilation
1) All facilities shall provide ventilation access
for removal of smoke and toxic gases from the facility as follows:
A) Single level telephone facilities consisting of
no more than 1,600 square feet shall provide no less than two separate physical
openings of sixteen (16) square feet each or greater on separate sides of the
facility unless the local fire agency agrees to accept a single opening.
B) All facilities exceeding 1,600 square feet
(including multi-story buildings) shall provide at least two (2) vent access
openings per floor. The minimum size of each opening shall be sixteen (16) square
feet for each 10,000 square feet of floor area, except that multiple vent openings
per floor shall not be required where mechanical smoke evacuation systems are
present and are acceptable to the local fire agency.
d) Suppression
1) Automatic discharge systems containing water,
dry chemical, foam or other suppression agents shall not be required in rooms
housing switching, toll, main distribution frame, power, auxiliary power and AC
switchboard equipment.
2) Suppression
systems utilizing sprinklers or Halon shall be provided in cable vault areas and
other areas not excluded by subsection
785.55(d)(1)
above, except that no suppression systems are required for telecommunications
buildings less than 1,600 square feet.
e) Inspections
1) The Agencies shall be permitted to inspect all
facility locations for compliance.
2)
Each carrier shall permit the fire department or fire protection district to conduct
an annual inspection of each telecommunications facility. The local fire department
shall have the option of inspecting more than once a year if it so requests. Fire
departments with full-time staff shall be allowed to conduct an inspection for each
of the three shifts, if requested.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Illinois may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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