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Originally Posted by kazoo
Several codes apply to this situation, NFPA 72, ADA, Life Safety 101, and perhaps a state/local standard.
Per NFPA 72: 2.8.1 The operable part of each manual fire alarm box shall be not less than 3 1/2 ft (1.1 m) and not more than 4 1/2 ft (1.37 m) above floor level.
Any type of vandal/tamper/weather cover must be UL listed for that purpose. Homemade solutions aren't UL listed unless the installed has gone to the trouble of having a UL field evaluation performed.
Any cover designed to be broken must meet ADA standards with respect to the amount of force required for that breakage, just as the manual fire alarm box cannot require more than a certain amount of energy, measured in foot/pounds to operate it, and cannot require gripping or twisting motions of the hand. The hinged covers with sounders may not require more than 5 foot pounds to operate under ADA.
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Does this criteria need to be met in this situation? In my case: the fire alarm is installed in the apartment where no one but my family or the manager (in an emergency) are the only ones who have access to it; there are no disabled people living in the apartment; and the cover is only temporary until we move or the kids are old enough to know not to touch it.