“Pathway Survivability” - New York Fire Alarm Association

Fire Alarm Association 

“Pathway Survivability” 

September 14, 2011 

Terrace On The Park 

Flushing Meadow, Queens, NY

12.4 PATHWAY SURVIVABILITY 

All pathways shall comply with NFPA 

70, National Electrical Code.

TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT 

Bulletin 

The purpose of this bulletin is to address questions relating to 

the required rating of cables that are used in Protected Premises 

Fire Alarm Systems (any fire alarm system located at the 

protected premises) in accordance with 2010 Edition of NFPA 

72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, where the 

survivability of Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications is 

required. 

No. 101 

April 7, 2011

Chapter 3 Definitions 

3.3.174 Path (Pathways). Any circuit, conductor, optic 

fiber, radio carrier, or other means connecting two or 

more locations. 

3.3.175 Pathway Survivability. The ability of any 

conductor, optic fiber, radio carrier, or other means for 

transmitting system information to remain operational 

during fire conditions.

Chapter 3 Definitions 

EVACUATION SIGNALING ZONE 

3.3.300.1 An evacuation signaling zone is 

defined by NFPA 72 as a discrete area of a 

building, bounded by smoke or fire barriers, 

from which occupants are intended to relocate 

or evacuate.

LEVELS OF SURVIVABILITY 

The requirement for survivability is covered in Section 24.3.5.4 of NFPA 72. 

The level of survivability required is dependent on the type of fire alarm system 

being installed. 

A higher level of survivability applies to systems used for relocation or partial 

evacuation of occupants. 

NFPA 72 section 24.3.5.4.1 states for systems employing relocation or partial 

evacuation, a Level 2 or Level 3 pathway survivability shall be required. 

Section 24.3.5.4.2 states that for systems that do not employ relocation or partial 

evacuation, a Level 0, Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 pathway survivability shall 

be required. 

Lower levels apply to systems that do not employ relocation or partial 

evacuation.


Section 12.4 defines levels of survivability; Levels 0 – 3. 

Section 24.4.1.8 covers the requirements for relocation and 

partial evacuation including both audible and visual notification 

appliance circuits. 

The level of survivability is dependent on whether the appliance 

circuits are for systems within an Evacuation Signaling Zone 

(ESZ) or for systems outside of the ESZ.


Section 24.4.1.8.4.3 requires that circuits have 

a pathway survivability of level 2 or 3 until 

they enter the Evacuation Signaling Zone 

(ESZ) that they serve.

All Wiring Shall Be In Accordance With NEC 

Wiring within the ESZ may have a survivability level 

0, 1, 2 or 3 except that attack by fire within the ESZ 

shall not impair the control and operation of 

notification appliances outside the ESZ. 

NFPA 72 Section 12.2.4 specifies that all wiring shall 

be in accordance with NFPA 70 National Electrical 

Code and specifically Article 770 and 760.

ATTACK BY FIRE WITHIN THE ESZ 

Where attack by fire within the ESZ will impair the 

control and operation of notification appliances outside 

the ESZ, Section 24.4.1.8.4.1 and Annex Note 

A24.4.1.8.4.1 specifies methods for survivability of the 

system within the ESZ, including pathway survivability 

levels 2 or 3, and that it is subject to AHJ evaluation.

WIRING IS OUTSIDE OF ESZ 

In the case where the wiring is outside of ESZ, 

all circuits necessary for the operation of 

notification appliances shall be protected until 

they enter the evacuation signaling zone (ESZ) 

that they serve at a pathway survivability level 2 

or 3.

PATHWAY SURVIVABILITY LEVEL 0 

12.4.1 Level 0 pathways shall not be 

required to have any provisions for 

pathway survivability.


12.4.2 Pathway survivability Level 1 shall consist 

of pathways in buildings that are fully protected by 

an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 

NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler 

Systems, with any interconnecting conductors, 

cables, or other physical pathways installed in 

metal raceways.


12.4.3 Pathway survivability Level 2 shall consist of one or 

more of the following: 

(1) 2-hour fire-rated circuit integrity (CI) cable 

(2) 2-hour fire-rated cable system [electrical circuit 

protective system(s)] 

(3) 2-hour fire-rated enclosure or protected area 

(4) 2-hour performance alternatives approved by the 

authority having jurisdiction


12.4.4 Pathway survivability Level 3 shall consist of pathways in 

buildings that are fully protected by an automatic sprinkler 

system in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation 

of Sprinkler Systems, and one or more of the following: 

(1) 2-hour fire rated circuit integrity (CI) cable 

(2) 2-hour fire rated cable system (electrical circuit protective 

system(s)) 

(3) 2-hour fire rated enclosure or protected area 

(4) 2-hour performance alternatives approved by the authority 

having jurisdiction

Wiring Options based on Survivability Requirements 

Note: Parenthetical references are to NFPA 72-2010

760.176 & 760.179 

(F) Fire Alarm Circuit Integrity (CI) Cable or Electrical Circuit Protective 

System. Cables used for survivability of critical circuits shall be listed as circuit 

integrity (CI) cable. Cables specified in 760.176(C), (D), and (E), and used for 

circuit integrity shall have the additional classification using the suffix “-CI.” 

Cables that are part of a listed electrical circuit protective system shall be 

considered to meet the requirements of survivability. 

FPN No. 1: Fire alarm circuit integrity (CI) cable and electrical circuit protective 

systems may be used for fire alarm circuits to comply with the survivability 

requirements of NFPA 72®-2007, National Fire Alarm Code®, 6.9.4.3 and 

6.9.4.6, that the circuit maintain its electrical function during fire conditions for a 

defined period of time. 

FPN No. 2: One method of defining circuit integrity (CI) cable is by establishing 

a minimum 2-hour fire resistance rating for the cable when tested in accordance 

with UL 2196-1995, Standard for Tests of Fire Resistive Cables.

Survivability 

Not Required 

Survivability 

Not Required 

FLOW CHART on the NFPA 72 Requirement for Survivability 

NO 

NO 

Wiring for Emergency 

Voice/Alarm Communication 

YES 

System used for 

Relocation or 

Partial Evacuation 

YES 

Appliance circuits are for 

systems located within 

the Evacuation Signaling Zone 

YES 

Damage to wiring within the Evacuation 

Signaling Zone will impair communication 

in any other Evacuation Signaling Zone 

NO 

Survivability not required. Wiring is 

specified in NFPA 72 section 1.2.4 as 

being in accordance with NFPA 70, 

National Electrical Code Articles 760 

and 770 

NO 

YES 

Survivability 

Required 

Survivability 

Required 

Survivability required. Wiring method 

is specified in NFPA 72 section 

24.4.1.8.4.3 (minimum level 2) and 

A24.4.1.8.4.1


Survivability 

Not Required 

NO 







and 770


Survivability 

Not Required 

NO 



YES 


Relocation or 






and 770




YES 


Relocation or 


YES 




YES 


Signaling Zone will impair Communication 


NO 





and 770




YES 


Relocation or 


YES 




NO 

Survivability 

Required 




A24.4.1.8.4.1




YES 


Relocation or 


YES 




YES 


Signaling Zone will impair Communication 


YES 

Survivability 

Required 

Survivability required. Wiring 

method is specified in NFPA 72 

section 24.4.1.8.4.3 (minimum level 2) 

and A24.4.1.8.4.1


Survivability 

Not Required 

Survivability 

Not Required 

NO 

NO 



YES 


Relocation or 


YES 




YES 


Signaling Zone will impair communication 


NO 





and 770 

NO 

YES 

Survivability 

Required 

Survivability 

Required 




A24.4.1.8.4.1

Fire Alarm Association 

http://www.nema.org/ 

Gil Moniz 

23 Circuit Street 

New Bedford, MA 02740 

508-996-3225 

gilmoniz@nema.org

“Pathway Survivability” - New York Fire Alarm Association

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