User Manual

LimWarSm.p65 01/10/2000
An automatic fire alarm system–typically made up
of smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull
stations, audible warning devices, and a fire alarm
control with remote notification capability–can provide
early warning of a developing fire. Such a system,
however, does not assure protection against property
damage or loss of life resulting from a fire.
The Manufacturer recommends that smoke and/or
heat detectors be located throughout a protected
premise following the recommendations of the current
edition of the National Fire Protection Association
Standard 72 (NFPA 72), manufacturer's recommenda-
tions, State and local codes, and the recommenda-
tions contained in the Guide for Proper Use of System
Smoke Detectors, which is made available at no
charge to all installing dealers. A study by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (an agency
of the United States government) indicated that
smoke detectors may not go off in as many as 35% of
all fires. While fire alarm systems are designed to
provide early warning against fire, they do not guaran-
tee warning or protection against fire. A fire alarm
system may not provide timely or adequate warning, or
simply may not function, for a variety of reasons:
Smoke detectors may not sense fire where smoke
cannot reach the detectors such as in chimneys, in or
behind walls, on roofs, or on the other side of closed
doors. Smoke detectors also may not sense a fire on
another level or floor of a building. A second-floor
detector, for example, may not sense a first-floor or
basement fire.
Particles of combustion or "smoke" from a develop-
ing fire may not reach the sensing chambers of smoke
detectors because:
• Barriers such as closed or partially closed doors,
walls, or chimneys may inhibit particle or smoke
flow.
• Smoke particles may become "cold," stratify, and
not reach the ceiling or upper walls where detec-
tors are located.
• Smoke particles may be blown away from detec-
tors by air outlets.
• Smoke particles may be drawn into air returns
before reaching the detector.
The amount of "smoke" present may be insufficient to
alarm smoke detectors. Smoke detectors are
designed to alarm at various levels of smoke density.
If such density levels are not created by a developing
fire at the location of detectors, the detectors will not
go into alarm.
Smoke detectors, even when working properly, have
sensing limitations. Detectors that have photoelec-
tronic sensing chambers tend to detect smoldering
fires better than flaming fires, which have little visible
smoke.
Detectors that have ionizing-type sensing chambers
tend to detect fast-flaming fires better than smoldering
fires. Because fires develop in different ways and are
often unpredictable in their growth, neither type of
detector is necessarily best and a given type of
detector may not provide adequate warning of a fire.
Smoke detectors cannot be expected to provide
adequate warning of fires caused by arson, children
playing with matches (especially in bedrooms),
smoking in bed, and violent explosions (caused by
escaping gas, improper storage of flammable
materials, etc.).
Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion
and alarm only when heat on their sensors increases
at a predetermined rate or reaches a predetermined
level. Rate-of-rise heat detectors may be subject to
reduced sensitivity over time. For this reason, the
rate-of-rise feature of each detector should be tested
at least once per year by a qualified fire protection
specialist. Heat detectors are designed to protect
property, not life.
IMPORTANT! Smoke detectors must be installed in
the same room as the control panel and in rooms
used by the system for the connection of alarm
transmission wiring, communications, signaling, and/or
power. If detectors are not so located, a developing
fire may damage the alarm system, crippling its ability
to report a fire.
Audible warning devices such as bells may not alert
people if these devices are located on the other side
of closed or partly open doors or are located on
another floor of a building. Any warning device may
fail to alert people with a disability or those who have
recently consumed drugs, alcohol or medication.
Please note that:
• Strobes can, under certain circumstances, cause
seizures in people with conditions such as
epilepsy.
• Studies have shown that certain people, even
when they hear a fire alarm signal, do not respond
or
comprehend the meaning of the signal. It is the
property owner's responsibility to conduct fire drills
and other training exercise to make people aware
of fire alarm signals and instruct them on the
proper reaction to alarm signals.
• In rare instances, the sounding of a warning device
can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.
A fire alarm system will not operate without any
electrical power. If AC power fails, the system will
operate from standby batteries only for a specified
time and only if the batteries have been properly
maintained and replaced regularly.
Equipment used in the system may not be
technically compatible with the control. It is essential
to use only equipment listed for service with your
control panel.
Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals
from a premise to a central monitoring station may be
out of service or temporarily disabled. For added
protection against telephone line failure, backup radio
transmission systems are recommended.
The most common cause of fire alarm malfunction is
inadequate maintenance. To keep the entire fire
alarm system in excellent working order, ongoing
maintenance is required per the manufacturer's
recommendations, and UL and NFPA standards. At a
minimum, the requirements of Chapter 7 of NFPA 72
shall be followed. Environments with large amounts
of dust, dirt or high air velocity require more frequent
maintenance. A maintenance agreement should be
arranged through the local manufacturer's representa-
tive. Maintenance should be scheduled monthly or as
required by National and/or local fire codes and
should be performed by authorized professional fire
alarm installers only. Adequate written records of all
inspections should be kept.
While a fire alarm system may lower insurance
rates, it is not a substitute for fire insurance!
Fire Alarm System Limitations