Installation Guide

Page 2
RECOMMENDED LOCATION OF ALARMS
• Locatetherstsmokealarmintheimmediateareaofthebedrooms.Trytoprotecttheescape
routeasthebedroomsareusuallyfarthestfromanexit.Ifmorethanonesleepingareaexists,
locate additional smoke alarms in each sleeping area. If a hall is more than 40 feet (12 meters)
long, install a smoke alarm at each end.
• Locate additional smoke alarms to protect any stairway as stairways act like chimneys for smoke
and heat.
SMOKE ALARM LIMITATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
• There are three basic smoke alarm types: Universal Smoke Sensing Technology
®
, Ionization and
Photoelectric
• Universal Smoke Sensing Technology
®
is an ionization alarm containing patented Smart Alarm
Technology.AlarmscontainingUniversalSmokeSensingTechnologyareeffectiveatdetectingfastaming
resandslowsmolderingres.
• Ionizationsmokealarmsaretypicallymoreeffectiveatdetectingfastamingres—reswhichconsume
combustiblematerialsrapidlyandspreadquickly.Sourcesoftheseresmayincludepaperburningina
wastebasket,orkitchengreaseres.
• Photoelectric smoke alarms, on the other hand, are typically more effective at detecting slow smoldering
res—reswhichburnforhoursbeforeburstingintoame.Sourcesoftheseresmayincludecigarettes
burningincouchesorbedding.
• InstallingalarmscontainingUniversalSmokeSensingTechnologyensuresmaximumdetectionofboth
typesofresfromasinglealarm.
• The enclosed alarm is a an Ionization Smoke Alarm.
 SMOKE ALARMS WILL NOT WORK DURING A LOSS OF POWER. SINCE A SMOKE ALARM WILL
NOT WORK WITHOUT POWER, having an alarm(s) that works from two completely different power
sources,suchasanACdirectwirewithbatterybackupsmokealarm,cangiveyouanextrameasureof
protectionincaseofanACpowerfailureoradeadbattery.Batteryoperatedalarmscannotworkifthe
batteriesaremissing,disconnectedordead,ifthewrongtypeofbatteriesareusedorifthebatteriesare
not installed correctly. AC (only) powered alarms cannot work if the AC power is cut off for any reason.
IfyouareconcernedaboutthelimitationsofthebatteryorACpower,installbothtypesofalarms.
 USING AN IONIZATION SMOKE ALARM IN A SMOKY AREA, SUCH AS A KITCHEN, OR IN A HIGH
HUMIDITY AREA NEAR A SHOWER, CAN CAUSE NUISANCE FALSE ALARMS. IT IS PREFERABLE
TO USE PHOTOELECTRIC ALARMS IN THESE AREAS. DO NOT TURN OFF THE AC POWER TO
QUIET THE ALARM. A SMOKE ALARM WILL NOT HELP PROTECT YOU IF IT IS NOT POWERED.
Properly locate your alarm to avoid nuisance alarms.
 A SMOKE ALARM MAY NOT ALWAYS WARN YOU ABOUT FIRES CAUSED BY CARELESSNESS
AND SAFETY HAZARDS LIKE SMOKING IN BED, VIOLENT EXPLOSIONS, ESCAPING GAS,
IMPROPER STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE MATERIALS, OVERLOADED ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS,
CHILDREN PLAYING WITH MATCHES, NATURAL CAUSES SUCH AS LIGHTNING, OR ARSON. FIRE
PREVENTION IS YOUR BEST SAFEGUARD.
 INSTALLING SMOKE ALARMS MAY MAKE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR LOWER INSURANCE RATES, BUT
SMOKE ALARMS ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR INSURANCE. Homeowners and renters alike should
continue to insure their lives and properties.
 SMOKE ALARMS CANNOT DETECT FIRES IF THE SMOKE DOES NOT REACH THEM. Smoke from
resmaynotreachthesensingchamberandsetoffthealarm.Onealarmshouldbeinstalledinside
eachbedroomorsleepingarea.Donotobstructairowaroundthesmokealarmorplaceinareasof
obstructedairow.
 BE AWARE OF VARIOUS SITUATIONS AGAINST WHICH THE SMOKE ALARM MAY NOT BE
EFFECTIVE.Forexample:(1)Fireswherethevictimisintimatewithaaminginitiatedre;forexample,
whenaperson'sclothescatchrewhilecooking;(2)Fireswherethesmokeispreventedfromreaching
thealarmduetoacloseddoororotherobstructionor(3)Incendiaryreswheretheregrowssorapidly
thatanoccupant'segressisblockedevenwithproperlylocatedalarms.
 SMOKE ALARMS MAY NOT DETECT FIRE ON ANOTHER FLOOR OR AREA OF THE HOME.
Recommended minimum protection is at least one smoke alarm in every sleeping area and every
bedroomoneverylevelofyourhome.Interconnectedsmokealarmsmayprovideearlierwarningthan
stand-alone smoke alarms since all smoke alarms alarm when one detects smoke.
SMOKEALARMS MAY NOTBE HEARD.The alarm horn in this alarm meets or exceeds current
standards,butitmaynotbeheardif:(1)thesmokealarmislocatedoutsideaclosedorpartiallyclosed
door;(2)residents recently consumed alcoholordrugs;(3) the alarm isdrownedoutby noise from
stereos,TV's,airconditionersorotherappliances;(4)residentsarehearingimpairedor(5)ifresidents
are sleeping.
CURRENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN SMOKE ALARMS MAY NOT AWAKEN ALL SLEEPING
INDIVIDUALS AND THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE HOUSEHOLD WHO
ARE CAPABLE OF ASSISTING OTHERS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT
BE AWAKENED BY THE ALARM SOUND OR TO THOSE WHO MAY BE INCAPABLE OF SAFELY
EVACUATING THE AREA UNASSISTED.
SMOKE ALARMS ARE NOT FOOLPROOF. You must test the smoke alarm weekly to ensure your
continuedprotection.Smokealarmscannotpreventorextinguishres.
SMOKEALARMSHAVEALIMITEDLIFE.Thesmokealarmshouldbereplacedimmediatelyifitisnot
operating properly. You should always replace a smoke alarm after 10 years.
SMOKE ALARMS ARE NOT TO BE USED WITH DETECTOR GUARDS UNLESS THE COMBINATION
HAS BEEN EVALUATED AND FOUND SUITABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE.