User's Manual
Limitations of Smoke Detectors
While the Meridian Smoke Detector has been designed for reliability,
it is important to know that all smoke detectors have limitations.
• Smoke detectors will not work without power. If the batteries are
low, the smoke detector will not function. See “
Battery Installation
”
below for important information on battery use.
• Smoke detectors can only generate an alarm when smoke gets
inside the Smoke Chamber; anything that prevents smoke from
entering the Smoke Chamber may prevent or delay an alarm.
Refer to the Guidelines for Locating Smoke Detectors on this
Instruction Sheet; it is important that smoke detectors be located
on at least every floor of the premises, preferably in every room.
It is also important to avoid obstructions, such as closed doors,
that may prevent smoke from reaching the unit. A smoke detector
will not detect a fire in the walls, in the chimney or on the roof of
a building until smoke enters the Smoke Chamber.
• Smoke detectors have certain obvious limitations: they may not
provide protection for someone smoking in bed, for children
playing with matches, or for sudden and violent explosions. A
smoke detector is a single part of overall fire safety precautions;
the smoke detector should never be seen as a substitute for a
complete fire safety program.
Guidelines for Locating Smoke Detectors
Research has shown that all hostile fires in homes generate smoke
to a greater or lesser extent. Experiments with typical fires in homes
indicate that detectable quantities of smoke precede detectable
levels of heat in most cases. For these reasons, smoke detectors
should be installed outside of each sleeping area and on each
storey of the home.
The following information is for general guidance only and it is
recommended that local fire codes and regulations be consulted
when locating and installing smoke detectors.
It is recommended that additional smoke detectors beyond those
required for minimum protection be installed. Additional areas that
should be protected include: the basement; bedrooms, especially
where smokers sleep; dining rooms; furnace and utility rooms, and
any hallways not protected by the required units.
A smoke detector should be located between the sleeping area
and the rest of the home as in Figure 1. In homes with more than one
sleeping area, a smoke detector should be located outside of each
sleeping area, as in Figure 2. A smoke detector should be located
on each storey of the home, as in Figure 3.
Smoke from a fire generally rises to the ceiling, spreads out across
the ceiling surface, and begins to bank down away from the ceiling.
Because of this airflow behaviour, the smoke may not be able to
enter the corner where the ceiling and wall meet. In most cases, this
“dead” air space measures about 4 in. (10 cm) along the ceiling
from the corner and about 4 in. (10 cm) down the wall as shown in
Figure 4. Units should not be placed in the “dead” air space.
Locations to avoid:
• Do not locate smoke detectors at the top of peaked or gabled
ceilings; the “dead” air in these locations may prevent the unit
from detecting smoke.
• Avoid areas with turbulent airflow, such as near fans, doors or
windows. Rapid airflow around the unit may prevent smoke from
entering the unit.
• Do not locate smoke detectors in high humidity areas, such as in
bathrooms or attics. Also avoid areas where the temperature rises
above 38°C (100°F) or falls below 5°C (41°F).
• Do not locate smoke detectors in poorly ventilated garages
or kitchens; car exhaust or cooking smoke could cause
false alarms.
Smoke detectors should always be installed in accordance with NFPA 72,
the National Fire Alarm Code. Smoke detectors should always be located
in accordance with Paragraph 2.1.1.1 of NFPA 72, Chapter 2.:
“2-2.1.1.1 Smoke detectors shall be installed outside of each separate
sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and on each
additional story of the family living unit, including basements and excluding
crawl spaces and unfinished attics. In new construction, a smoke detector
also shall be installed in each sleeping room.”
Testing Your Smoke Detector
Follow the test procedure described here or contact your
Smoke Detector Dealer or Installer for testing instructions.
It is recommended that your entire alarm system be tested at
least once per week to verify the operation of all system
functions.
Smoke Detector Unit Test
To test the smoke detector, press and hold the Test Button on the
front of the unit. When the button is pressed, the unit’s alarm should
sound. When the button is released, the alarm should be silenced.
If this does not occur, check that the batteries are the correct type,
in good condition and are installed correctly (see the
Battery
Installation
section).
Upon completing the functional testing of the smoke detector,
check the unit’s sensing chamber to ensure proper operation. To
test the sensing chamber, waft a lit cotton wick or punk stick
around the outside of the unit until a generous amount of smoke
enters the sensing chamber, or the unit alarms. If the smoke
detector does not function properly, call your smoke detector
installer or dealer for service.