Step

1
1A
1B
2
2A
2B
3
3A
3B

List all of the items included in the fire alarm system which will rely on *this* battery-set for secondary power.
Using the manufacturer's provided data sheets, indicate the standby or quiessent current requirement for each device in the fire alarm system.
Using the manufacturer's provided data sheets, indicate the alarm current requirement for each device in the fire alarm system.
Use NFPA 72-2002 4.4.1.5.3.1 to determine the standby time requirement, in hours, for this particular fire alarm system based upon its type.
Use NFPA 72-2002 4.4.1.5.3.1 to determine the alarm time requirement, in hours, for this particular fire alarm system based upon its type.
Add the standby and alarm battery-set sizes together.
Add an optional factor of safety (20% or more) to determine the final battery-set size.

NOTES a. Convert electrical current units into amps. 1000ma = 1A

b. Convert time units into hours. 5 minutes = .083 hour
c. To add a 20% safety factor, multiply the required battery-set size by 1.2 (120%).
NOTICE

The materials herein are provided as is and without any express or implied warranty of any kind including warranties of merchantability,
noninfringement of intellectual property, or fitness for any particular purpose. In no event shall Automatic Fire Alarm Association (AFAA) be liable
for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of profits, business interruption, loss of information) arising out of the
use of or inability to use the materials, even if AFAA has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Because some jurisdictions prohibit the
exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you. AFAA further does not warrant
the accuracy or completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these materials. AFAA may make changes to
these materials, or to the products described therein, at any time without notice. AFAA makes no commitment to update the Materials.

Fire Alarm System Secondary Power Supply Battery-set Calculation Worksheet

STEP 1A

STEP 1

ITEM

FACU
SD
HD
RLY
RLY
HS
DH
ANN
MS
WF
TS

DESCRIPTION

Fire Alarm Control Unit

Smoke Detector
Heat Detector (mech)
Relay (failsafe)
Relay (not failsafe)
Horn-Strobe
Door Holder
Annunciator
Manual Station
Waterflow Switch
Tamper Switch

STANDBY
CURRENT
PER UNIT
(AMPS)
0.1000
0.0010
0.0000
0.0500
0.0000
0.0000
0.0650
0.1000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

STEP 1B
QTY

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

TOTAL
STANDBY
CURRENT
PER ITEM

1
30
5
0
4
18
4
1
8
6
6

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
TOTAL SYSTEM
STANDBY CURRENT (AMPS)

ALARM
CURRENT
PER UNIT
0.2000
0.0500
0.0000
0.0000
0.0500
0.0750
0.0000
0.2000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

QTY

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
TOTAL SYSTEM
ALARM CURRENT (AMPS)

STEP 2A

STEP

Prepared for:

REQUIRED
STANDBY
TIME (HRS)
NFPA 72-2002
4.4.1.5.3.1
24

STEP 2B

TOTAL
SYSTEM
STANDBY
CURRENT
(AMPS)
X

REQUIRED
STANDBY
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)
=

REQUIRED
ALARM TIME
(HOURS)
NFPA 72-2002
4.4.1.5.3.1
0.0830

TOTAL
SYSTEM
ALARM
CURRENT
(AMPS)
X

STEP 3A

STEP

Prepared by:

REQUIRED
STANDBY
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)

=
STEP 3B

REQUIRED
ALARM
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)
+

1
15
0
3
3
10
0
1
5
4
4

TOTAL
TOTAL
CAPACITY
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS) (AMP-HOURS)
=

SAFETY
FACTOR
(OPTIONAL)

20%

Fire Alarm System Secondary Power Supply Battery-set Calculation Worksheet

TOTAL
ALARM
CURRENT
PER ITEM

REQUIRED
ALARM
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)

ADJUSTED
BATTERY
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)

ITEM

FACU
SD
RLY
RLY
HS
DH
ANN
#REF!
MS
WF
TS
0
0

DESCRIPTION

Fire Alarm Control Unit

Smoke Detector
Heat Detector
Relay (failsafe)
Relay (not failsafe)
Horn-Strobe
Door Holder
Annunciator
Manual Station
Waterflow Switch
Tamper Switch

Prepared By:

0
0

STANDBY
CURRENT
PER UNIT
(AMPS)
0.1000
0.0010
0.0000
0.0500
0.0000
0.0000
0.0650
0.1000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

QTY

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

1
=
20
=
6
=
0
=
15
=
18
=
4
=
1
=
8
=
6
=
6
=
0
=
0
=
TOTAL SYSTEM
STANDBY CURRENT (AMPS)

REQUIRED
STANDBY
TIME (HRS)
NFPA 72-2002
4.4.1.5.3.1

TOTAL
SYSTEM
STANDBY
CURRENT
(AMPS)

24 X
Prepared by:

TOTAL
STANDBY
CURRENT
PER ITEM

REQUIRED
STANDBY
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)

QTY

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

1
=
20
=
6
=
1
=
15
=
10
=
0
=
1
=
5
=
4
=
4
=
0
=
0
=
TOTAL SYSTEM
ALARM CURRENT (AMPS)

REQUIRED
REQUIRED
STANDBY
ALARM TIME
CAPACITY
(HOURS)
(AMP-HOURS) NFPA 72-2002
4.4.1.5.3.1
=

REQUIRED
ALARM
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)
+

ALARM
CURRENT
PER UNIT
(AMPS)
0.2000
0.0500
0.0000
0.0000
0.0500
0.0750
0.0000
0.2000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

TOTAL
SYSTEM
ALARM
CURRENT
(AMPS)

0.083 X
TOTAL
TOTAL
CAPACITY
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS) (AMP-HOURS)

=
SAFETY
FACTOR
(%)

20%

TOTAL
ALARM
CURRENT
PER ITEM

REQUIRED
ALARM
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)

ADJUSTED
BATTERY
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)

Fire Alarm System Secondary Battery-set Calculation Worksheet

ITEM

FACU
SD
HD
RLY
RLY
HS
DH
ANN
MS
WF
TS
0
0

DESCRIPTION

Fire Alarm Control Unit

Smoke Detector
Heat Detector
Relay (failsafe)
Relay (not failsafe)
Horn-Strobe
Door Holder
Annunciator
Manual Station
Waterflow Switch
Tamper Switch
0

Prepared for:

STANDBY
CURRENT
PER UNIT
(AMPS)
0.1000
0.0010
0.0000
0.0500
0.0000
0.0000
0.0650
0.1000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

1
=
20
=
6
=
0
=
15
=
18
=
4
=
1
=
8
=
6
=
6
=
0
=
0
=
TOTAL SYSTEM
STANDBY CURRENT (AMPS)

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

REQUIRED
STANDBY
TIME (HRS)
NFPA 72-2002
4.4.1.5.3.1
24

Prepared by:

QTY

TOTAL
SYSTEM
STANDBY
CURRENT
(AMPS)
X

REQUIRED
STANDBY
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)
11.52 +

0.4800

0.4800

ALARM
CURRENT
PER UNIT
(AMPS)
0.2000
0.0500
0.0000
0.0000
0.0500
0.0750
0.0000
0.2000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

QTY

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

1
=
20
=
6
=
1
=
15
=
10
=
0
=
1
=
5
=
4
=
4
=
0
=
0
=
TOTAL SYSTEM
ALARM CURRENT (AMPS)

REQUIRED
REQUIRED
STANDBY
ALARM TIME
CAPACITY
(HOURS)
(AMP-HOURS) NFPA 72-2002
4.4.1.5.3.1
=

REQUIRED
ALARM
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)
0.2407

TOTAL
STANDBY
CURRENT
PER ITEM
0.1000
0.0200
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.2600
0.1000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

11.5200

0.083

TOTAL
SYSTEM
ALARM
CURRENT
(AMPS)
X

TOTAL
TOTAL
CAPACITY
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS) (AMP-HOURS)
=

11.7607

11.7607 X

2.9000

2.9000
REQUIRED
ALARM
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)

SAFETY
FACTOR

120%

TOTAL
ALARM
CURRENT
PER ITEM
0.2000
1.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.7500
0.7500
0.0000
0.2000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

0.2407
ADJUSTED
BATTERY
CAPACITY
(AMP-HOURS)

14