Manufacturer recommends that smoke and/or heat detectors be
located throughout a protected premise following the rec
-
ommendations of the current edition of the National Fire
Protection Association Standard 72, National Fire Alarm Code
(NFPA 72
), manufacturer’s recommendations, state/provincial
and local codes, and the recommendations contained in
Guide
for the Proper Use of System Smoke Detectors
, which is made
available at no charge to all installing dealers. In Canada refer
to CAN/ULC-S524 “The Standard for the Installation Of Fire
Alarm Systems". A study by the Federal Emergency Manage
-
ment Agency (an agency of the United States government)
indicated that smoke detectors may not go off or give early
warning in as many as 35% of all fires.
While fire alarm
systems are designed to provide warning against fire, they do
not guarantee warning or protection against fire.
Any alarm
system is subject to compromise or failure to warn for a variety
of reasons. For example:
•
Particles of combustion or “smoke” from a developing fire
may not reach the sensing chambers of the smoke detector
because:
-
Barriers such as closed or partially closed doors, walls,
or chimneys may inhibit flow.
-
Smoke particles may become “cold” and stratify, and
may not reach the ceiling or upper walls where detec
-
tors are located.
-
Smoke particles may be blown away from detectors by
air outlets.
-
Smoke particles may be drawn into air returns before
reaching the detector.
In general, smoke detectors on one level of a structure cannot
be expected to sense fires developing on another level.
•
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 sens
-
ing limitations. Detectors that have photoelectronic 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 are subject to false alarms and nuisance
alarms. For example, a smoke detector located in or near a
kitchen may go into nuisance alarm during normal operation
of kitchen appliances. In addition, dusty or steamy environ
-
ments may cause a smoke detector to falsely alarm. If the
location of a smoke detector causes an abundance of false
alarms or nuisance alarms,
do not disconnect the smoke
detector; call a professional to analyze the situation and
recommend a solution.
•
Smoke detectors cannot be expected to provide adequate
warning of fires caused by arson, children playing with
matches (especially within bedrooms), smoking in bed,
violent explosions (caused by escaping gas, improper storage
of flammable materials, etc.).
Limitations of
Fire Alarm Systems
• Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion and
are designed to alarm only when heat on their sensors in-
crease at a predetermined rate or reaches a predetermined
level. Heat detectors are designed to protect property, not
life.
• Warning devices (including horns, sirens, and bells) may
not alert people or wake up sleepers who are located on
the other side of closed or partially open doors. A warn-
ing device that activates on a different floor or level of
a dwelling or structure is less likely to awaken or alert
people. Even persons who are awake may not notice the
warning if the alarm is muffled by noise from a stereo,
radio, air conditioner or other appliance, or by passing
traffic. Audible warning devices may not alert the hearing-
impaired (strobes or other devices should be provided to
warn these people). Any warning device may fail to alert
people with a disability, deep sleepers, people who have
recently used alcohol or drugs, or people on medication
or sleeping pills.
- Please note that:
i) Strobes can, under certain circumstances, cause
seizures in people with conditions such as epilepsy.
ii) 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 exercises to make people aware
of fire alarm signals and instruct on the proper
reaction to alarm signals.
iii) In rare instances, the sounding of a warning device
can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.
• Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from
a premises to a central station may be out of service or
temporarily out of service. For added protection against
telephone line failure, backup radio transmission systems
are recommended.
• System components, though designed to last many years,
can fail at any time. As a precautionary measure, it is rec-
ommended that smoke detectors be checked, maintained,
and replaced per manufacturer’s recommendations.
• System components will not work without electrical
power. If system batteries are not serviced or replaced
regularly, they may not provide battery backup when AC
power fails.
• Environments with high air velocity or that are dusty or
dirty require more frequent maintenance.
In general, fire alarm systems and devices will not work
without power and will not function properly unless they
are maintained and tested regularly.
While installing a fire alarm system may make the owner
eligible for a lower insurance rate, an alarm system is not a
substitute for insurance. Property owners should continue
to act prudently in protecting the premises and the people
in the premises and should properly insure life and property
and buy sufficient amounts of liability insurance to meet
their needs.
I56-1558-00
1 I56-1558-00
05/29/2018
KITCHEN
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
TV ROOM
KITCHEN DINING
BDRM
BDRM
LIVING ROOM
LIVING
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Requirements and recommendations
for proper use of fire alarm systems
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alarm devices:
Early fire detection is best achieved by the installation
and maintenance of fire detection equipment in all rooms
and areas of the house or building in accordance with the
requirements and recommendations of the current edition
of the National Fire Protection Association Standard 72,
National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72), the manufacturer’s
recommendations, state/provincial and local codes, and
the recommendations contained in Guide for the Proper
Use of System Smoke Detectors, which is made available
at no charge to all installing dealers. In Canada refer to
CAN/ULC-S524 “The Standard for the Installation Of Fire
Alarm Systems". For specific requirements, check with the
local Authority Having Jurisdiction (ex. Fire Chief) for fire
protection systems.
Requirements and Recommendations include:
•
For residential applications, smoke detectors shall be
installed outside of each separate sleeping area in the im
-
mediate vicinity of the bedrooms and on each additional
story of the family living unit, including basements and
excluding crawl spaces and unfinished attics.
•
Smoke detectors shall be installed in sleeping rooms in new
construction and it is recommended that they shall also be
installed in sleeping rooms in existing construction.
•
It is recommended that more than one smoke detector shall
be installed in a hallway if it is more than 30 feet long.
• It is recommended that there shall never be less then two
smoke detectors per apartment or residence.
• It is recommended that smoke detectors be located in any
room where an alarm control is located, or in any room
where alarm
control connections to an AC source or phone
lines are made. If detectors are not so located, a fire within
the room could prevent the control from reporting a fire.
• All fire alarm systems require notification devices, includ-
ing sirens, bells, horns, and/or strobes. In residential
applications, each automatic alarm initiating device when
activated shall cause the operation of an alarm notification
device that shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over
ambient or background noise levels (at least 15dB above
noise) with all intervening doors closed.
• It is recommended that a smoke detector with an integral
sounder (smoke alarm) be located in every bedroom and
an additional notification device be located on each level
of a residence.
• To keep your fire alarm system in excellent working order,
ongoing maintenance is required per the manufacturer’s
recommendations and UL/ULC and NFPA standards. At
a minimum the requirements of Chapter 7 of NFPA 72
shall be followed. In Canada refer to CAN/ULC-S536
“The Standard for the Inspection and testing Of Fire
Alarm Systems". A maintenance agreement should be
arranged through the local manufacturer’s representative.
Maintenance should be performed annually by authorized
personnel only.
• The most common cause of an alarm system not func-
tioning when a fire occurs is inadequate maintenance. As
such, the alarm system should be tested weekly to make
sure all sensors and transmitters are working properly.
• Although designed for long life, fire alarm devices
including smoke detectors may fail at any time. It is
recommended that residential smoke detectors shall be
replaced every 10 years.
• Wireless smoke detectors that are used in one- and
two-unit family dwellings may be used as long as the
detectors are being monitored, tested, and maintained.
Once the detector is no longer part of a listed fire alarm
system monitoring program, it is recommended that it be
replaced prior to 10 years from the date of manufacture
per recommended practice of NFPA 72.
• Any smoke detector, fire alarm system or any component
of that system which fails shall be repaired or replaced
immediately.
2 I56-1558-00
05/29/2018
- Smoke Detectors required
- Smoke Detectors required with integral sounders recommended
- Heat Activated Detectors required
- Smoke Detectors for additional protection
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As of May 2018, this document supersedes any
previous liability information enclosed with this product.
Typical System Installations per NFPA 72
L0001-00