Product guide

page
15
LIMITATIONS
Carbon monoxide detectors
also have important
limitations. They are set to
a higher sensitivity than the
maximum allowed by the
domestic CO alarm
standard and will respond
to CO from faulty gas
appliances or vehicle
exhausts. These detectors
should not be used in place
of carbon monoxide alarms
complying with BS7860 or
UL2034.
OPERATING
MODES
The Discovery CO detector
has five operating modes,
each having a set
combination of sensitivity
and response delay, which
the user can select for any
given application. See table
on page 16.
DRIFT
COMPENSATION
In view of the inherent
stability of CO cells, there is
no need for Discovery CO
detectors to compensate for
drift. Discovery CO
detectors are set to report a
drift value of 16.
CELL TEST
The Discovery carbon
monoxide fire detector has
a remote test feature, which
is used to verify that the
electro-chemical cell is fitted
and that it is active. A test
must be carried out at least
once a year but preferably
more frequently to ensure
that the cell has not dried
out. (Note that the cell will
not be affected by the test,
even if the remote test is
carried out once a day.)
If the test indicates a sensor
failure, ie, the detector returns
a pre-set analogue value of 25,
the detector should be sent to
Apollo’s Service Department
for cell replacement and
detector recalibration.
PRECAUTIONS
WHEN
INVESTIGATING
ALARMS
It is important to remember
that CO is a colourless,
odourless gas, which is not
directly detectable by
human senses. If a CO fire
detector is in an alarm
condition, it is possible that
a dangerous level of CO
exists around the detector.
Extreme care must be taken
when investigating alarms
from CO fire detectors even
if no combustion products
can be seen or smelled.
Because of this danger, it is
imperative that CO fire
detectors are correctly
identified at the control
panel so that personnel
investigating alarms may take
the relevant precautions.
MAINTENANCE
AND SERVICE
The electrochemical cell
used in the Discovery CO
fire detector has a more
limited life than would
normally be expected from
a smoke detector. In a
typical environment, the life
of the cell is seven years.
High temperature or low
relative humidity can,
however, reduce the life
significantly. The limits
given in the section
‘technical data’ overleaf
should be carefully
observed.
It is essential that systems
using CO fire detectors be
correctly maintained and
that the maintenance
schedule include functional
testing of the CO fire
detectors.
CO fire detectors will not
respond to the aerosol
testers commonly used for
the in-situ testing of smoke
detectors. Apollo
recommends that CO fire
detectors be tested using a
“hand warmer”, burning
compressed charcoal fuel
rods. These hand warmers
are available in camping
and outdoor shops. The
charcoal rod should be
ignited at one end
according to the
instructions. To achieve a
reliable test, the complete
hand warmer should be
placed inside a hood which
fits over the detector,
allowing CO to build up
around the detector. The
Apollo (No Climb) detector
tester can be used for this
purpose.
If there is any doubt over
the sensitivity of a
Discovery CO fire detector
it should be returned to
Apollo for servicing and
calibration.
HEALTH AND
SAFETY
GUIDELINES
This product contains a
sealed electro-chemical cell
and in normal usage
represents no chemical
hazard in the sense of
COSHH and the Health and
Safety at Work Act 1974.
Chemical hazard can,
however, arise if the
following notes on storage,
handling and disposal are
not observed.
For maximum life, the
product should be stored
before installation in clean
dry conditions between 0°C
and 20°C. It should not be
exposed to temperatures
outside the range –40°C to
+60°C or to organic
vapours.
The electrochemical cell
contained in this product is
fitted into sockets on the
printed circuit board; to
avoid damage to the cell do
not remove it.
The electrochemical cell
contains sulphuric acid in a
relatively concentrated
state. In the event of
leakage (which may be
caused by mechanical
damage or use outside the
operating specification for
the cell) the cell should be
removed from the detector
using protective gloves.
Avoid contact with any
liquid. If skin or eye
contact with the electrolyte
occurs, wash immediately
with plenty of water and