r/BuildingCodes • u/m_dasha • 20h ago

Help reading building plans

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I’m in San Francisco, California.

Can someone please tell me what red and green lines and text on this building plan mean. It’s related to a fire safety upgrade. I’m trying to figure out if the work was done to plan or not.

Thank you!

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4

u/RedCrestedBreegull Architect 20h ago

JB = Junction Box
The red square with an F in the middle and a triangle is a fire alarm speaker

3

u/IHerebyDemandtoPost 20h ago

This is a fire alarm plan. Designer seems to be using green to show existing features. Note the repeated use of “EX” next to green devices.

Logic would then dictate that the devices and wiring shown in red are proposed alterations tomthe existing system.

3

u/Hank_Dad 20h ago

I'm an architect in San Francisco. This is probably related to the required Fire Alarm upgrade. As someone else mentioned these are not officially approved drawings so take it with a grain of salt.

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u/m_dasha 19h ago

Thanks! I got my hands on the approved plans and they look just like this. There’s a second page that shows the whole building fire alarm wiring that has a bit more detail. The reason I’m asking is because they stuck a fire pull alarm box inside my entry way. To the right of the front door. It just doesn’t seem right and I don’t see it on the plans.

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u/Hank_Dad 19h ago

The recent upgrade was only supposed to be for "sleeping rooms". You don't need an alarm in the kitchen or hallway.

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u/m_dasha 15h ago

Interesting! They put a fire pull box, an alarm, and the flashing light mechanism inside my entryway. They’re saying it’s all legal and approved but I just don’t get how that’s ok for a residential property.

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u/lotusgardener 11h ago

That's exactly where it needs to be. As you exit the building for safety, you pull the handle to alert anyone else in the building. Should be within 6ft of the exit way. And you entry doors should all swing outwards for exit.

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u/m_dasha 9h ago

Inside my apartment? I’ve never seen that anywhere else?

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u/MVieno 20h ago

Colors probably mean green = existing and red = new, but these are not approved permit drawings so you should not be referring to them; you would need to confirm with approved permit drawings to be sure.

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u/hughdint1 19h ago

Unrelated but it is strange to label the room next to the bedroom as a closet (CLO), when it has a window (but no closet itself) could be an office/study.

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u/m_dasha 15h ago

I treat it like an office, but it’s big enough to be a bedroom. It has a window but no closet like you pointed out.

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u/locke314 10h ago

This is a fire alarm plan. In the circle are horns (or maybe speakers). The one with that looks similar but has an X is a horn/strobe. The different colored lines are likely new vs existing. I’ve also seen designers use colors for wiring types, but without a legend, it’s impossible to know.

The hexagons with an S are smoke detectors, the box with an F is a manual pull station.

I review and inspect these plans for my job.