Other elements, such as ventilation equipment and storage arrangements, may affect the location and spacing of fire alarm system equipment. For example, a strobe light that is mounted on a box-shaped column may be only visible from the side on which it is mounted.

Or in a large assembly hall, the presence of displays during a trade show may impede the ability of the notification appliances to be seen or heard due to blockages caused by the height or location of the displays. Also, the positioning of portable partitions has to be considered for the placement of both detection devices and notification appliances. It is not a good installation practice, nor is the equipment normally available, to allow the mounting of notification appliances or detection devices on portable partitions.

The design and installation of the system has to consider these circumstances, or it may not meet its intended purpose.

  This detector is blocked by the partition it is mounted against.

NOTE: This is an unformatted excerpt from our online fire protection training library.