# Do the fire alarm sounders really need to be this damn loud? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 26, 2011, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639 "2011-09-26T07:39:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/1 "2011-09-26T07:39:54Z")
Monday morning test of the fire alarms has just completed - the sounders are so damn loud and shrill that they make your eyes hurt. Is this really necessary? Before anyone tells me that their intended purpose is to make me leave the building, let me point out that even in a genuine emergency situation, we’re supposed to stay put if the alarm sound is intermittent - only evacuating if it’s constant. Last time this happened (burnt toast in the staff canteen), those of us at the other end of the building had to sit with our fingers in our ears for twenty minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/2 "2011-09-26T16:12:22Z")
I think they do need to be loud… but I sure wish they’d start OFF softer and increase in volume over 20-30 seconds or something. I never fail to jump and yelp when they test the damn alarms here. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/3 "2011-09-26T16:16:15Z")
I was going to say that they’re intended to wake people like me up… but it sounds like you’re at work or school. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/4 "2011-09-26T16:17:09Z")
Most codes require “sight and sound impaired” systems to be installed. Those damned handicapped people are always getting special treatment. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/5 "2011-09-26T16:42:51Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I was going to say that they’re intended to wake people like me up… but it sounds like you’re at work or school. 🙂 Well yeah, your point being? ;). ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/6 "2011-09-26T17:32:28Z")
Yes, they do. A structure fire is loud and dark, hence the shrill alarm and the flashing lights. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/7 "2011-09-26T21:48:22Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Before anyone tells me that their intended purpose is to make me leave the building, let me point out that even in a genuine emergency situation, we’re supposed to stay put if the alarm sound is intermittent - only evacuating if it’s constant. :dubious::eek: Does whoever set that policy know how fast fire can spread? Next time just get up and leave. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/8 "2011-09-26T23:07:43Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Monday morning test of the fire alarms has just completed - the sounders are so damn loud and shrill that they make your eyes hurt. Is this really necessary? > > **Before anyone tells me that their intended purpose is to make me leave the building, let me point out that even in a genuine emergency situation, we’re supposed to stay put if the alarm sound is intermittent - only evacuating if it’s constant.** > Last time this happened (burnt toast in the staff canteen), those of us at the other end of the building had to sit with our fingers in our ears for twenty minutes. That sounds like a dumb idea. In high rises some cities do a 5 or 3 floor relocation. Some cities do a 3 floor evacuation. But to stay on a alarm floor is not a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/9 "2011-09-26T23:22:50Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > That sounds like a dumb idea. > In high rises some cities do a 5 or 3 floor relocation. Some cities do a 3 floor evacuation. But to stay on a alarm floor is not a good idea. To clarify, it’s a 5-storey building that is quite sprawling with multiple wings. If a fire is detected in a wing, all floors of that wing will be evacuated (and the adjoining wing depending on the proximity of the fire). In the rest of the building, the intermittent alarm sounds - as a ‘stand by to evacuate’ signal. Although each wing has its own stairwell, there are also shared stairwells between wings - phasing the evacuation in this way is probably quite well thought-out and sound, as it moderates the exit stampede, amongst other things. It’s just that the sounders are ear-damagingly loud. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/10 "2011-09-26T23:29:01Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Monday morning test of the fire alarms has just completed - the sounders are so damn loud and shrill that they make your eyes hurt. Is this really necessary? > > . No they do not need to be that loud. There is a minimum DB level that they have to be, but it is not ear shattering. Amp levels can be adjusted and many speakers have up to 4 taps to adjust the volume. It can be time consuming. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/11 "2011-09-26T23:32:26Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > To clarify, it’s a 5-storey building that is quite sprawling with multiple wings. If a fire is detected in a wing, all floors of that wing will be evacuated (and the adjoining wing depending on the proximity of the fire). In the rest of the building, the intermittent alarm sounds - as a ‘stand by to evacuate’ signal. Although each wing has its own stairwell, there are also shared stairwells between wings - phasing the evacuation in this way is probably quite well thought-out and sound, as it moderates the exit stampede, amongst other things. > > It’s just that the sounders are ear-damagingly loud. OK that makes a little more since. But it sounds like a little better zoning would be a better idea. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/12 "2011-09-27T00:06:42Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > OK that makes a little more since. But it sounds like a little better zoning would be a better idea. Perhaps, although I think part of the intent of the standby signal is to prevent people from moving toward the fire - so it probably does need to sound in all zones. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/13 "2011-09-27T00:28:14Z")
NFPA 72 clearly sets out the sound level required in buildings based on their use: > [@](#): > > _originally posted by the National Fire Protection Association NFPA 72, 2002:_ > **7.4.2.1** To ensure that audible public mode signals are clearly heard, unless otherwisepermitted by **7.4.2.2** through **7.4.2.5** , they shall have a sound level at least 15 dB above the average ambient sound level or 5dB above the maximum sound level having a duration of at least 60 seconds, whichever is greater, measured 1.5 m (5ft) above the floor in the occupiable area, using the A-weighted scale (dBA) This was tested by the local Fire Marshal before the Certificate of Occupancy was issued for the building. Older fire alarms often have audible devices with sound levels that are not adjustable or variable in volume or pitch. Most of the newer system have speakers that can be adjusted and are fed from amplifiers with recorded voice instruction. Our last acceptance was a 14 story medical facility. The Fire Marshal walked through the place with a dB meter and we adjusted volume levels for about a week. This was complicated by the different codes for public and private modes taking the sleeping areas into account. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/14 "2011-09-27T03:47:35Z")
> [@NFPA](#): > > …they shall have a sound level at least 15 dB above the average ambient sound level… In my office, I could probably stand up and start speaking “Hey, there’s a fire. Get out now, please” and achieve that 15 dB over ambient. I think whoever installed the system used sounders for a factory production floor. Of course, no matter how loud and flashy the alarm is, people still willfully ignore it and carry on with their meetings and conference calls. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/15 "2011-09-27T12:17:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Of course, no matter how loud and flashy the alarm is, people still willfully ignore it and carry on with their meetings and conference calls. This is true. When my kids were in school there was a rash of false alarms caused by students tripping the manual pull stations. The kids were told to wait for instructions when the fire alarm sounded. I told my kids that they were to leave the building if the fire alarm sounded. They said that they would be in trouble if they did. I told them to have their teachers call my cell phone, and then leave the building. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/16 "2011-09-27T12:44:50Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > It’s just that the sounders are ear-damagingly loud. And the damn thing is in my office, not out in the hall! ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/17 "2011-09-28T02:34:39Z")
They really do need to be that loud. They hurt my ears as they do yours, but I was reminded at how important this was a few months ago. I was in the mechanical testing lab, running the diamond saw. This thing is LOUD. Even more so when it’s cutting UPR, vinyl ester or epoxy. The thing screams, even with your sound-deadening safety ear-phones on. I was cutting, hearing-protection on, and I could still hear the crazy-loud alarm. This is a good and life-saving thing. I heard and got out immediately. Turns out it was only a drill, but if there was a fire - and since our lab is chock-full of stuff that burns faster, hotter and more violently than gasoline - it’s critically important to have an alarm that you can hear even through protection quickly and immediately so you can GTFO right away. …just do as I do. When you pass one of those screaming sirens, put a finger in the ear facing it. Proceed calmly but quickly to the exit, get out, get to the designated meeting area and verify that everyone is there. ---
**Author:** ![BOB7732](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ec9cab/32.png) [@BOB7732](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BOB7732)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/18 "2016-05-28T12:42:13Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I was going to say that they’re intended to wake people like me up… but it sounds like you’re at work or school. 🙂 Where I live most people get up & put earphones on then go back to bed, they do not care & think it is going to be fake, since I been here [2002] we had 2 real fires. Also the lights flashing make it hard to see. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/19 "2016-05-28T15:37:14Z")
Things like that are not designed for just you - a person awake at work who has good hearing… Rather they are designed for EVERYONE in EVERY situation. That includes a hard of hearing elderly person who has removed his hearing aid and is sound asleep in a rest home with his door closed. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2016, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639/20 "2016-05-29T02:57:57Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Monday morning test of the fire alarms has just completed - the sounders are so damn loud and shrill that they make your eyes hurt. Is this really necessary? There is no legitimate reason for sound levels so high they make your ears bleed. If it was a job related noise then workers would be required to wear hearing protection. Go figure. At a previous job we had them so frequently I kept ear plugs at my desk. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-fire-alarm-sounders-really-need-to-be-this-damn-loud/597639.md?page=2)