As far as I know, there is no absolute sequence for disabling a fire detection and alarm system that is "Compliant" with the NFPA 72 Code. Keep in mind that the NFPA 72 Code shows what's needed for a fire alarm system to be at least adequate, the NFPA 72 doesn't show how to turn it off.
Safely bypassing a fire alarm system in a crowded theatre, during a live performance, requires an understanding of the reason for the existence of having a fire alarm system in the first place.
NFPA Code
The National Fire Protection Association, Inc. (NFPA - a publishing house) publishes guidelines showing the absolute minimum needed to provide a Fire Detection and Alarm System. They don't show the best system, they show the bare minimum needed to have an adequate fire alarm system. Also, they are not a rule making authority.
Yes, many governments say that the NFPA's published guidelines are the law. However, some governments use their own fire protection guidelines, or other published guidelines. The State Fire Marshal of Minnesota, in the United States, for instance, uses the International Fire Code (IFC) in their laws.
Sometimes fire marshals, inspectors, and other government officials, insurance company representatives, building owners or their designated representatives require more than shown in the NFPA 72. (According to the NFPA, they're all Authorities Having Jurisdiction [AHJ], and, under many circumstances, they can require more).
See:
Just Who Is the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)?
Definitions
A fire alarm system (Fire Detection and Alarm System or FDAS) is a substitute for a real person watching, listening, and smelling for fire.
The original idea of sounding the alarm is "A real person looks for fire danger. If the person watching for fire detects a fire, that person runs around shouting "FIRE!" The substitute for that original system is "Automatic Fire Detection Equipment watching for fire." If the automatic fire detection equipment detects a fire, the equipment automatically sounds the fire alarm."
A theatre audience is a very large group of untrained individual people, crammed tightly in an area that has poor evacuation routes.
Yes, I know. The fire marshal has approved the exit routes, and even made sure that there are enough aisles to allow for an orderly exit by the individual audience members. However, even an elementary school can evacuate in less than 3 minutes, whereas even with an orderly emergency egress, a theatre of any real size will take 3 to 10 minutes to evacuate.
With that time difference for fire evacuation in mind, the theatre has very poor exits compared to an elementary school.
A fire alarm system bypass is a turn-off of the fire alarm system. The bypass (turning-off the fire alarm system) may be for part of the fire detection and alarm system, or it may be for all of the system.
Whenever you turn-off the fire alarm system in a crowded theatre, you have to use an alternative means to detect fire and alarm people.
Being Compliant (Oxford Languages) means that you're "inclined to agree with others or obey rules, especially to an excessive degree; acquiescent." - Example: "A compliant labor force".
It's the "especially to an excessive degree" part that is a problem with being compliant. Following rules to an excessive degree means that the reason for the rules can be ignored. With life safety, following the rules is good, but knowing why the rules are there in the first place is paramount.
I have not found the term "Compliant" in the NFPA 72. Instead, they show the bare minimum needed for an acceptable fire detection and alarm system. They don't actually design fire alarm systems, and they don't show much about how to disable a fire alarm system.
Watching for Fire
If the ability to detect fire in a fire alarm system is turned off, someone has to watch for the fire . . . at all times. There is no "we'll check for fire every half an hour". During that half an hour, fires get way out of control.
The watcher has to be able to see the audience at all times, and also see the stage at all times. There is no "peeking through normally closed doors" because most of the time, the view is blocked because the doors are closed.
Anyplace that the watcher can't see, the fire alarm system has to stay active at all times. Places like the front lobby, side halls, balcony lobby, offices, back stage rooms, basement, etc.
That watcher's job has to be dedicated to watching for fire. The watcher has to be dedicated because also watching for cues, or doing paperwork is a distraction. Ever hear about the problems of Texting-While-Driving? No one can do two things well at once. They can concentrate on one, but the other always interferes with top performance.
The watcher can't go to the bathroom while the fire alarm system is bypassed (turned-off). The alternative is that a trained replacement watcher has to step in while the original watcher is absent.
The watcher has to be able to turn on the fire alarm system into full alarm . . . within seconds. Even though the fire alarm system has been bypassed, installing a pull station or manual call point, and programming it to un-bypass the fire alarm system and right away set it into alarm should do.
The pull station or manual call point has to be within arms-reach of the watcher. The watcher can't be running through halls to get to the alarm button.
No password can be required to un-bypass the fire alarm system. The time taken to enter a password, correctly, can be too long.
If there is a microphone that can be used with the fire alarm system (this is a microphone used with a "Voice Evacuation Fire Alarm System"), the watcher has to have access, right there, to the microphone. This microphone assists the watcher in making sure there is an orderly evacuation of the theatre.
There is no "running through the halls to get to the fire alarm microphone" once the fire alarm system has been activated in alarm. The halls will be crowded with theatre goers, trying to evacuate.
The watcher has to call the fire department. The watcher requires a telephone, attached to the theatre's telephone system, so that when the watcher calls the fire department (911), by looking at their screen, the fire department can confirm just who is really calling.
Then again, the phone call about the fire has to automatically take precedence over any other calls from the theatre. If a FAX is being sent, the FAX has to be automatically be hung up on so the fire can immediately be reported.
When the fire alarm system goes into alarm, the house lights have to turn up to full brightness, the stage lights have to turn off, and the stage-house lights have to turn on to full brightness. When there's a fire, people have to see properly in order to evacuate.
The theatre sound system has to turn off when the fire alarm system goes into alarm. The theatre's sound system can't interfere with the evacuation.
Also, the sudden turning on of house lights and turning off of stage lights will get the attention of the band or orchestra, so they'll stop making their own noise.
Questions
How does the theatre put the system into bypass and what does the bypass do?
Exactly how the fire alarm system is set into the bypass condition (fire detection and/or alarms) is entirely resting on the brand and model of the fire alarm system, and on the extra wiring involved in the installation, especially the wiring of the watcher's position.
No matter how the term "Bypass" is sugar coated, bypassing anything in a fire alarm system is turning off part or all of the fire alarm system.
What does the theatre do while the system is in bypass?
When you don't have an automatic fire detection and alarm system fully functioning, you require an alternative - someone to look for a fire, and either shout "FIRE!" or set the fire alarm system into alarm.
How does the theatre get notified of a fire, and how would they respond?
If the fire detection for the fire alarm system is bypassed (turned off), then someone has to be able to detect a possible fire.
If the horns and strobes are bypassed (turned off), then someone has to either shout "FIRE!" or activate the fire alarm system into fire alarm.
The watcher has to call the fire department. There might be problems with the automatic connection because of the bypasses, so the phone call is required. Also, the fire department usually appreciates a live person, especially someone in a crowded theatre, calling to confirm the fire.
How does the system get reset after the performance?
When the fire alarm system is un-bypassed, the fire alarm system is reset.
When you're through, just make sure that the only light showing on the fire alarm panel is the green "Power is on" light. A yellow "Trouble" light indicates that something is wrong, and needs to be fixed.
Douglas Krantz
