Academic Catalog

APEL 127: FIRE ALARM LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS ADV/LIGHTING CONTROLS SYSTEMS ADV/RACEWAY & CONDUCTOR SIZING/FILL

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Units: 5
Hours: 48 lecture, 45 laboratory per quarter (93 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: Per California Code of Regulations, this course is limited to students admitted to the Electrical Apprenticeship Program.
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in APRT 127.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: None
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • A student will be able to elaborate on construction and electrical safety regulations.
  • A student will be able to pass the OSHA 30 hour certification exam.
  • A successful student will be able to install an electrical motor drive.

Description

This course focuses on advanced lighting controls, advanced fire alarm life safety emergency control functions, raceway and conductor sizing, and conductor fill, per the National Electrical Code.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Discuss, install, and test various components associated with fire alarm emergency control functions.
  2. Discuss, install, and test various components associated with interior and exterior lighting controls.
  3. Describe raceway sizing and fill requirements, per the NEC.
  4. Discuss and practice large conduit bending safety applications and fabrication techniques.

Course Content

  1. Fire alarm emergency control functions
    1. Elevator recall
    2. Shunt trip
    3. Door release
    4. Fire smoke dampers
    5. Fan shutdown
    6. EVAC notification
  2. Lighting controls advanced
    1. Lighting control panels (exterior lighting)
    2. Plug load controllers
    3. UL 924 emergency lighting control units
  3. Raceway sizing and fill
    1. NEC article 310.16
    2. NEC article 310.15(C)(1)
    3. Chapter 9 Table 1, 4, and 5

Lab Content

  1. Students will wire and trim various devices associated with fire alarm emergency control functions.
  2. Students will wire a lighting control panel and UL 924 emergency control device associated with emergency lighting control.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Laboratory with electrical tools and equipment.
2. When taught as a virtual section, on-going access to computer with software and hardware capable of running video conferencing applications (e.g., Zoom).

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Results of written quizzes and average of four exams
Results of hands-on projects and homework
Results of class participation

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Lab assignments
Group discussion
Class demonstrations

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

. National Electric Code 2023. 2023.

Electrical Training Alliance. Fire Alarm Systems Based on the 2022 NFPA 72 and the 2023 NEC. 2023.

Electrical Training Alliance. Syllabus for the Fourth Year Core Curriculum. 2025.

ETASV drawings via Procore.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

Computer mediated learning LMS courses.

Discipline(s)

Electricity