Table 4.1 - Visible Alarms in Employee Work Areas
Current Guidelines:   4.1.1(3)  Areas Used Only by Employees as Work Areas.  Areas that are used only as work areas shall be designed and constructed so that individuals with disabilities can approach, enter, and exit the areas.  These guidelines do not require that any areas used only as work areas be constructed to permit maneuvering within the work area or be constructed or equipped (i.e., with racks or shelves) to be accessible.

4.1.3  Accessible Buildings: New Construction.  Accessible buildings and facilities shall meet the following minimum requirements: . . .

(14)  If emergency warning systems are provided, then they shall include both audible alarms and visual alarms complying with 4.28. . . .

Proposed Rule:  203.3  Employee Work Areas.  Employee work areas shall be designed and constructed so that individuals with disabilities can approach enter, and exit the employee work areas.  In addition, visual alarm coverage shall be provided where audible alarm coverage is provided in employee work areas.  This part does not require that employee work areas be constructed to permit maneuvering with the employee work area or be constructed or equipped to be accessible.

215.1  Fire Alarms.  Where fire alarm systems are provided in public use or common use areas, the alarm shall provide a system with both audible and visual signals complying with 702. . . .

Final Revised Guidelines:  203.9  Employee Work Areas.  Spaces and elements within employee work areas shall only be required to comply with 206.2.8, 207.1, and 215.3 and shall be designed and constructed so that individuals with disabilities can approach, enter, and exit the employee work area. . . . 

215.1  General.  Where fire alarm systems provide audible alarm coverage, alarms shall comply with 215. . . .

215.2  Public and Common Use Areas.  Alarms in public and common use areas shall comply with 702.

215.3  Employee Work Areas.  Where employee work areas have audible alarm coverage, the wiring system shall be designed so that visible alarms complying with 702 can be integrated into the alarm system.

Model Codes & Standards
IBC 2000:  No requirement for visible alarms in employee work areas.

IBC 2003:  Section 907.9.1.2 has an equivalent requirement for visible alarms in employee work areas.