#20 – Install an Alarm Bell,
Back Box, and Bell Guard
in 6 Easy Steps
July 7, 2013
Alarm bells can be installed with only a
few tools, but careful wiring, placement,
and testing are required
All kinds of issues can lead to the activation of a fire alarm bell—rising
smoke, ambient heat, or water flow through a fire sprinkler system—but
all bells ring to encourage safe and early evacuation by a building’s
occupants, and proper placement is key. In this article, QRFS shows you
how to safely install an alarm bell, along with a protective bell back box
and bell guard, in six easy steps.
Fire safety codes and local laws may require protection against weather
and impact. Browse QRFS’s selection of:
Air-tight fire bell back boxes made to protect indoor and
outdoor bells against wear
12″, corrosion-resistant bell guards to defend 6″, 8″, and 10″
alarm bells against nesting birds, vandalism, and light impact
A full line of fire bells and accessories
Mount your alarm bell in six steps
Alarm bells are available in a range of brands, sizes, noise levels, and
voltages. Given that variety, these instructions may be slightly different
for your bell. In this guide, we show how this process specifically works
with one of our own 8-inch, 120-volt AC fire alarm bells. The device we’re
using features a mechanism with a simple 4-wire design sized for
standard 2-gang electrical openings.
As with other electrical work, improper installation can damage
equipment or harm the installer. Only qualified electricians should
install a fire alarm bell.
If you’re ready to start mounting, you’ll need three things: a fire alarm
bell, a Phillips-head screwdriver, and an adjustable wrench. If you’re
installing outdoors or in locations where vandalism and impact are likely,
we also recommend you add a fire bell back box and bell
guard. They’re easy to attach—and most take a one-size-fits-all
approach to protecting the electronics against damage and wear.
Step 1: Find the right height
Choose a mounting height for your bell based on your manufacturer’s
guidelines and ceiling height. Various installation guides recommend a
mounting height of at least 8 feet (or 2.4 meters) from the floor and as
close to the ceiling as possible. The National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) requires notification appliances (including devices like these) to
be mounted at a height prescribed by the manufacturer.
From the 2022 edition of NFPA 72
3.3 General Definitions.
3.3.189 Notification Appliance. A fire alarm system component such as a bell,
horn, loudspeaker, visual notification appliance, or text display that provides
audible, tactile, or visual outputs, or any combination thereof. (SIG-NAS)
18.3.5 Mounting.
[Link] Appliances shall be mounted in accordance with the manufacturer’s
published instructions.
Step 2: Remove the gong
Next, remove the red bowl, or gong, surrounding the inner parts. Most
models have a short hex bolt or Phillips screw on the front of the bell
near the gong’s center. Loosen the bolt and gently remove the gong.
Removing the bolt
allows the fire alarm bell mechanism to be exposed.
Step 3: Wire the alarm bell
Next, shut off the power supply to the bell’s power source. Circuit
breaker switches should be secured with appropriate lock-out/tag-out
devices to stop other people from accidentally reenergizing the wires
you’ll be working with.
Then, connect the wires in the bell to the wires in the wall. These
instructions will vary with the type of current used by the bell: alternating
current (AC) fire alarm bells have different wiring schemes than direct
current (DC) bells. This handy wiring guide is a suitable starting point for
many 4-wire AC and DC models.
A
C and DC fire alarm bells can both connect to fire alarm systems and
other devices with only four wires. Image source: Brecco
Step 4: Mount the bell to the outlet box or back box
Mount your bell to a standard square outlet box or, even better, a fire
alarm bell back box. Unlike standard outlet boxes, back boxes protect
your alarm bell’s wiring from dirt, dust, and debris. Wind and rain can
quickly short the bell’s wiring if it isn’t properly protected, which makes
back boxes especially critical if you’re mounting yours outside.
To install with a back box, simply fasten the included bolts in the holes
that align the bell’s housing unit with the back box. The back box’s
gasket will form an air- and water-tight seal.
Back box installation
with a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 5: Reattach the gong (and bell guard)
Reinstall the gong. There are two holes on the gong itself — make sure
they align with the positioning pins on the bell’s housing unit and re-
tighten the bolt you removed in Step 2.
Align the positioning
pins to ensure proper installation.
This is a good time to install your wire guard if you have one.
Step 6: Test the bell
Finally, test the bell to ensure that it is correctly wired and sufficiently
loud. Each bell installed must be audible in all areas designated by the
authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
While it’s beyond the scope of this article, every bell installed as part of
an NFPA 72 fire alarm system must meet specific audibility requirements
that depend on the average ambient noise levels of the room.
Wondering where to mount one for your sprinkler system — or whether
you even need one? Check out this blog: “Where Does an External
Sprinkler Alarm Bell Need to Be Mounted in Relation to a Fire
Department Connection?”
Fire alarm bells at QRFS
QRFS carries a complete line of 120-volt and 24-volt alarm bells in 6-
inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch sizes. Each bell is UL-listed and covered in thick
fire-engine-red enamel to prevent corrosion and resist weathering.
Wi
th a 10-inch gong, these fire alarm bells are large enough for use in
commercial and residential applications
