1.1 This Standard covers requirements for control units, fire alarm systems and control unit accessories
for use in accordance with the Standard for the Installation of Fire Alarm Systems, CAN/ULC-S524, in
accordance with Rule 32-004(1) of C22.1, Safety Standard for Electrical Installations, Canadian Electrical
Code, Part I; and the National Building Code of Canada.
1.2 This Standard also covers smoke control features when incorporated as a part of the control
equipment, releasing device service and stand alone power supplies.
1.3 Where a fire alarm system is shared by other systems for other than fire alarm operation, the non-fire
functions shall not interfere with the required operation of the fire alarm system.
1.4 This Standard does not cover replacement parts for fire alarm systems that consist of products or
subassemblies of complete products manufactured in accordance with previous editions of ULC-S527.
Replacement parts that do not comply with the current edition of this Standard shall be manufactured in
accordance with the edition of this Standard that they were previously in compliance with and shall be
marked “For Replacement Only – Complies with ULC-S527-xx” (where xx represents the edition of the
Standard that they were previously in compliance with).
1.5 If a fire alarm system incorporates the features and functions of a proprietary fire alarm system or fire
signal receiving centre, then the requirements of CAN/ULC-S559, Equipment for Fire Signal Receiving
Centres and Systems, shall also apply.
1.6 Transponders of distributed type systems are classified as control units and the requirements of this
Standard shall apply.
1.7 These requirements apply to control units and control unit accessories for ordinary (non hazardous)
indoor and outdoor locations.
1.8 These requirements do not apply to field devices unless the device is used as a component of a
control unit or control unit accessory.
1.9 Test, service, and other software and programming methods, including software compare program,
intended for use with the control unit shall be evaluated with the control units.
1.10 Changes or additions to the products covered by this Standard shall be tested according to the
relevant sections of this Standard. Examples of changes and additions may be:
A Firmware;
B Change or additional features to system operation (e.g. voice alarm);
C Electrical/electronic or mechanical components; and
D Other software temporarily or permanently installed in a control unit, such as for test or
maintenance.
NOTE: The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) may require that these changes be reviewed to verify conformance by
a nationally recognized certification laboratory.
1.11 The term ?product? as used in this Standard refers to all items of equipment covered by the Scope.
APRIL 2011 CAN/ULC-S527-11 1
1.12 Unless otherwise indicated, all voltage and current values stated in this Standard are
root-mean-square (rms).
1.13 The requirements of this Standard apply uniformly to all equipment regardless of whether used as
a component of a control unit or separately enclosed and referred to as a control unit accessory.