User Manual

Limitations of Alarm Products

This security system cannot offer guaranteed protection against burglary, ﬁ re, or other emergencies. Any alarm, whether

commercial or residential, is subject to compromise or failure to warn for a variety of reasons. For example:

Intruders may gain access through unprotected openings or have the technical sophistication to bypass an alarm

sensor or disconnect an alarm warning device.

Intrusion detectors (sensors) do not work without power. Battery operated devices do not work without batteries,

with dead batteries, or if the batteries are not put in properly. Devices powered solely by AC do not work if their AC

power supply is cut off for any reason, however brieﬂ y.

Signals sent by wireless sensors may be blocked or reﬂ ected by metal before they reach the alarm Control Panel,

even if the signal path has been recently checked during a weekly test.

Blockage can occur if a metal object has been moved into the sensor’s signal path.

A user may not be able to reach a panic or emergency button quickly enough.

Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from a premises to a Central Station may be out of service or

temporarily out of service. Telephone lines are also subject to compromise by sophisticated intruders.

Even if the system responds to the emergency as intended, however, occupants may have insufﬁ cient time to

protect themselves from the emergency situation. In the case of a monitored alarm system, authorities may not

respond appropriately.

Alarm warning devices such as sirens, bells, or horns may not alert people or wake up sleepers if they are located

on the other side of closed or partly open doors. If warning devices sound on a different level of the residence

from the bedrooms, then they are less likely to waken or alert people inside the bedrooms. Even persons who are

awake may not hear the warning if the alarm is mufﬂ ed from a stereo, radio, air conditioner, or other appliance, or

by passing trafﬁ c. Finally, alarm warning devices, however loud, may not warn hearing-impaired people or awaken

deep sleepers.

While smoke detectors have played a key role in reducing residential ﬁ re deaths, they may not activate or provide

early warning for a variety of reasons in as many as 35% of all ﬁ res, according to data published by the Federal

Emergency Management Agency. Some of the reasons smoke detectors used in conjunction with this system may

not work are where smoke cannot reach the detectors, such as in chimneys, in walls, or roofs, or on the other side

of closed doors. Smoke detectors may have been improperly installed and positioned. Smoke detectors also may

not sense a ﬁ re on another level of a residence or building. A second-ﬂ oor detector, for example, may not sense

a ﬁ rst ﬂ oor or basement ﬁ re. Moreover, smoke detectors have sensing limitations. No smoke detector can sense

every kind of ﬁ re every time. In general, detectors may not always warn about ﬁ res caused by carelessness and

safety hazards like smoking in bed, violent explosions, escaping gas, improper storage of ﬂ ammable materials,

overloaded electrical circuits, children playing with matches, or arson. Depending upon the nature of the ﬁ re and/

or the locations of the smoke detectors, the detector, even if it operates as anticipated, may not provide sufﬁ cient

warning to allow occupants to escape in time to prevent injury or death.

This equipment, like other electrical devices, is subject to component failure. Even though this equipment is

designed to last as long as ten years, the electronic components could fail at any time.

The most common cause of an alarm system not functioning when an intrusion or ﬁ re occurs is inadequate maintenance.

Although installing an alarm system may make homeowners eligible for lower insurance rates, an alarm system is not

a substitute for insurance. Homeowners, property owners, and renters should continue to act prudently in protecting

themselves and continue to insure their lives and property.