A fire alarm is only effective if its warning reaches the people who need it.
That is why fire-alarm notification is not simply a question of whether a horn or speaker is installed. The 2024 International Building Code addresses both audible and visible notification, while accessibility provisions help ensure that alarm information is not limited to one method of communication.
The audible side
2024 IBC Section 907.5.2.1 addresses audible alarm notification appliances. The alarm sound must be distinctive and reserved for fire-alarm notification. The system also has to be evaluated in the context of the building’s occupancy, layout, and required fire-protection features.
The visible side
Section 907.5.2.3 addresses visible alarms and points to Sections 907.5.2.3.1 through 907.5.2.3.3 for the locations and situations where visible notification is required. Those provisions include requirements connected to certain sleeping units, dwelling units, and other occupancy-specific conditions.
The accessibility connection — two documents, not one
The 2024 IBC’s accessibility chapter references ICC A117.1 for technical accessibility requirements. The edition currently adopted by the 2024 IBC is ICC A117.1-2017. Section 1103.2.2 addresses employee work areas and specifically identifies Section 907.5.2.3.1 among the provisions that still apply. The practical lesson is important: an area’s designation as an employee work area does not automatically eliminate every visible-alarm requirement.
Separately, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design — the U.S. Department of Justice’s federal accessibility rule — also require permanently installed audible and visible alarms where fire-alarm systems are provided, with compliance tied to the applicable NFPA 72 provisions. These are distinct documents: A117.1 is the technical standard referenced by the IBC, the ADA Standards are the federal floor. Both may apply to the same project.
Looking ahead, ICC has announced that A117.1-2026 will be released in Fall 2026 and will be referenced in the 2027 International Codes. Inspectors and project teams should be aware of this upcoming change, but for now the 2017 edition remains the adopted reference under the 2024 IBC.
What inspectors and project teams should verify
- What code edition and local amendments has the jurisdiction adopted?
- What is the occupancy classification, and are there sleeping units or dwelling units involved?
- Does the project involve new construction, an alteration, or an upgrade/replacement of an existing system?
- Are audible and visible notification appliances provided and located as required for the scope of work?
- Has the fire-alarm design been coordinated with accessibility requirements (IBC Chapter 11, ICC A117.1, ADA Standards) and the applicable NFPA 72 edition?
The code question is not simply, “Can someone hear the alarm?” It is, “Can the required occupants receive the warning in the required manner?” That answer depends on the adopted code, occupancy, project scope, and system design.
This is an educational overview, not a substitute for the adopted code, a licensed design professional, or the authority having jurisdiction.
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John Calloway, Senior Digital Advisor, Live Oak Code Consultants LLC
Rooted in Code. Built on Integrity.
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