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Official website for the City of Aurora, Illinois. Mayor Tom Weisner

Fire Alarm Installation Policy

1. Permit Required

A permit to install, modify, or upgrade any fire alarm system, or components thereof, other than in single-family detached homes, is required as defined by City of Aurora Ordinance 17-128 and will be issued by the City of Aurora Fire Prevention Bureau. This permit is separate from any other permit required by the Building Department for any new construction, remodel, repair or alteration of any building.

Permit Cost

$38 charged for the first $1,000 and $17 per $1,000 or portion thereafter plus 10% of total cost of permit. (Fees for 2004 schedule changes annually).

2. Component Requirements

Components of a required Fire Alarm System and/or for receiving station monitoring shall be UL listed and/or FM approved for the use intended and shall comply with IFC/2000 International Fire Code, Chapter 9, Section 907, NFPA Standard 70 National Electrical Code, Article 760, 1999 Edition, and NFPA Standard 72 National Fire Alarm Code.

Phone line(s) to be routed separately within premises from telephone company Demarc to phone block in alarm panel, wiring must comply with NFPA Standard 70 National Electrical Code, Article 760, 1999 Edition.

City disconnect, if present, shall be disabled.

3. Plan Review Submittal

  • Plans shall be submitted with the permit application and drawn to a reasonable scale and showing dimensions with location(s) of devices.
  • Drawing shall contain pertinent information with building and contractor identification.
  • An Aurora Fire Prevention Fire Alarm Plan Review Sheet must be completed and approved by this office prior to the permit being released for installation.
  • Submittal of manufacturer's specification sheets.
  • Contractor shall submit three (3) copies of plans.
  • All system devices shall be compatible.

4. System Acceptance Requirements

An acceptance test of completed system shall be conducted in the presence of the Fire Prevention Bureau. The Installer's Certification of Completion form shall be presented two (2) business days prior to the required final acceptance test.

All pre-testing and programming shall be completed prior to the installer's Certificate of Compliance acceptance test being submitted. All zone identification shall be placed in permanent markings before acceptance test. A zone map, when required by the Fire Prevention Bureau, shall be provided using the building footprint to show device locations throughout the structure, maps shall be located adjacent to the fire alarm control panel and annunciators. Upon encountering any problems with the installation or programming that would have been discovered by pre-test, the inspector will leave the site and another test must be scheduled. Forty-eight (48) hours notice for scheduling of testing is required.

A completed Fire Alarm User Registration Form shall be completed by the fire alarm user and become a requirement for the Certificate of Acceptance, and shall be on file in this office prior to any acceptance tests.

Upon acceptance of the fire alarm system by this office, a Certificate of Acceptance form will be forwarded to the registered fire alarm user. A Certificate of Acceptance sticker will be affixed to the fire alarm panel by the Fire Prevention Bureau.

The Certificate of Acceptance of the fire alarm system is mandatory, as fines for false fire alarms are significantly higher for a system found not to have a Certificate of Acceptance issued by this office.

5. Building Requirements

Lock Box Installation

Location and number of boxes will be determined by the Fire Prevention Bureau. See the Lock Box Installation section for more information.