What are pull station clearence requirements
Some new fire codes (2011) require alarm monitoring of fire extinguishers, if an alarm system is already required in the occupancy.
As long as the fire alarm cable is shielded (as it is required to be) there will not be any interference, so yes
No! You can't hang or obstruct a fire alarm pull station at any time. To do so would mean you are breaking Health & Safety Regulations (and would probably invalidate your insurance, should there be a fire).
A fire alarm went off
Only if your building is required to have an interconnected fire alarm system. Your local and state fire codes and building codes will determine what kind of alarm system is required, if any. Many single or two-family dwellings are allowed to have individual smoke alarms that are not connected to an alarm panel, but they only give local audible/visual alarm. An alarm panel allows the system to call automatically for help, when necessary. When you have one connected in a building it will supply power to the smoke detectors and the rest of the fire alarm system and may indicate where the fire has been detected. This information can be relayed to the dispatchers, allowing the fire officer/brigade to find the source of the alarm quickly and attend to the cause.
When required by a specification. Usually found in old governemt specifications.
A monitored alarm system communicates to a central station in the event of an alarm. The operator then dispatches whatever authorities the alarm signals have indicated, e.g. Police, Fire, Ambulance.
First you locate the source of the alarm, undo the condition (e.g., valve closed, inadequate pressure, etc), then reset the alarm condition on the sprinkler control panel and reset the alarm on the fire alarm control panel (assuming they're connected, as required by many fire codes).
The power load of a fire alarm will depend upon how many components are connected. A single smoke alarm may be a very small load on the AC power. However, a more sophisticated alarm panel with multiple sensors and annunciators (horns, strobes) and fire-alarm release systems (panic hardware release, fire doors, extinguisher systems) may require a lot of power. As a general rule, any alarm and function required by the fire code is also required to have a backup power source, whether from a battery or a motor-generator set.
You have lost all fire protection in that building if the over all "general alarm" has been disabled. You will need to contact a fire alarm contractor to assist in bringing the system back up, and to meet code requirements. If you are not responsible for making these decisions, then call your local fire station and determine with them the fire marshal responsible for your area and file a complaint.
Fire Alarm
48" from floor to the middle of the pull station