How must fire alarm signal distributions be designed according to NFPA 72?

Fire alarm signal distributions must be designed to reach all areas of the facility reliably to ensure that the system effectively alerts occupants and allows for a safe evacuation during a fire emergency. This is critical because if some areas do not receive the alarm signals, it could lead to undetected fires, delayed evacuations, and increased risk to life and property.

Reliable distribution means that signals are not only audible in all spaces but also visible, meeting the needs of a diverse population that may include individuals with hearing or vision impairments. Proper design considers factors like building layout, occupancy type, room usage, and ambient noise levels, ensuring that the alarm signals are adequate to alert everyone regardless of their location within the facility.

While monitoring by maintenance personnel, minimizing device counts, and isolating signals in specific zones are considerations in fire alarm system design, they do not take precedence over the fundamental requirement that the alarm signals reach all areas effectively to ensure occupant safety.