LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU
POLICY FOR SEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS
Policy: Attached are the guidelines for the Sequence of Operations for Life Safety Systems in High-Rise Buildings. This basic design guideline may vary depending on building requirements. LADBS has been instructed that all systems must be verified by LAFD prior to approval and/or installation.
Procedure for Sequence of Operations:
1.0 Basic Guidelines for Sequence of Operations for Life Safety Systems in High Rise Buildings
1.1 Follow the guidelines specific to the requirements for the High-Rise Building in question.
1.2 For any additional questions, contact Unit Commanders.
BASIC GUIDELINES FOR SEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS FOR LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS
The following is a basic design guideline. Systems may vary depending on building requirements. All systems should be verified by LAFD prior to approval and/or installation.
| Manual Pull | Elevator Lobby Smoke/Heat Detectors | Smoke/Heat/Aspirating Smoke Detectors | Duct Smoke Detectors | Elevator Shaft Smoke/Heat Detector | Sprinkler Water Flow | Sprinkler Valve Tamper | Special Extinguishing Systems | SprinklerPre-Action | Building Power Failure | Residential Unit System smoke/duct/carbon monoxide Alarms | |
| Annunciate At Fire Control Room | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Annunciate at 24HR Attended Remote Location | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Activate Audible and Visual Alarm Signals (a, b, c, d, e, l) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Shut Down All Air Handling (f, m) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Close All Smoke/Fire Dampers (f,m) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Release All Motorized and Electro-Magnetically Held Doors (f) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Activate Smoke Control/Smoke Evacuation and Stairwell Pressurization System (k) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Recall All Elevators (g, h, j) | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Release All Stair Door Locks in Building | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Release doors locked in path of egress | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Footnotes
a. New high rise buildings and high rise change of use buildings shall activate the audible/visual notification devices on the alarm level/smoke control zone and the floor levels/zones immediately above and below the alarm smoke/control zone level.
b. Fire alarm replacement projects in existing high rise buildings shall be programmed to meet new high rise fire alarm notification requirements.
c. High rise tenant improvement projects shall follow the existing fire alarm notification programming for the building.
d. High rise building levels atmospherically open to each other (garage levels, floors connected via tenant convenience stairs) without fire rated separation shall be considered single levels for purposes of the fire alarm notification/voice evacuation operation and balance of sequence of operations programming.
e. Low rise buildings are typically programmed as general alarm buildings.
f. To match fire alarm notification programming.
g. New high rise buildings and high rise change of use buildings shall recall all elevators serving the floor level when any elevator lobby recall device has been activated on the floor.
h. New high rise buildings and high rise change of use buildings shall comply with 2023 LAFC section 4705.1.6 and 2023 LABC section 3003.
i. Heat shunt function and elevator cab flashing light shall be activated when required by code.
j. Control circuits to shut down elevator power (heat shunt function) shall be monitored for the presence of operating voltage as supervisory signals
k. Modern smoke control systems (905/909 systems) for residential corridors are typically activated only by area smoke detector coverage.
l. Audio/visual shunt when required shall occur upon fire alarm and/or voice evacuation operation
m. Residential unit system smoke/duct detectors typically perform sequence of operation functions and notification within the individual residential unit only. Carbon monoxide detection devices provide notification only.
(Rev 6/26)