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Basic Information about your Smoke Alarm
A Smoke Alarm is an early warning device. Used correctly it can
give you and your family valuable extra time to escape.
Note:-
·
When the battery is first connected the Alarm may sound for
2-3 seconds and/or the LED may flash quickly for 10 sec
-
onds - this is normal.
·
A Smoke Alarm does not prevent fires.
·
Install correctly, in the centre of the ceiling if possible.
·
Test monthly.
·
When the Alarm beeps and
LED flashes at the same time
replace battery.
·
If the Alarm beeps without
the LED flashing at the same
time then clean unit as this is the automatic test feature tell
-
ing you the chamber is degraded.
·
Plan your escape route.
·
Proper protection may require morethan one SmokeAlarm.
·
If you have any doubt or query about Smoke Alarms consult
the supplier or your local Fire Brigade.
Locating your Smoke Alarm
Sufficient smoke must enter your Smoke Alarm before it will re-
spond. Your Smoke Alarm needs to be within 10 paces (23 feet)
of the fire to respond quickly. It also needs to be in a position
where its alarm can be heard throughout your home, so it can
wake you and your family in time for you all to escape. A single
Smoke Alarm will give some protection if it is properly installed,
but most homes will require two
or more to ensure that a reliable
early warning is given. For maximum protection you should put
individual Smoke Alarms inall the rooms where fire is most likely
to break out.
Your first Smoke Alarm should be located between the sleeping
area and the most likely sources of fire (living room or kitchen for
example). But it should not be more than 10 paces (seven me
-
tres) from the door to any roomwhere a fire might start and block
your escape from the house.
(a) Single Storey Dwelling.
If your Home is on one level (a bungalow or mobile home for ex
-
ample) you should put your first Smoke Alarm in a corridor or
hallway between the sleeping and living areas. Place it as near
to the living area as possible, but make sure you can hear it
loudly enough to wake you in the bedroom. (for example, see
figure 1)
If your bungalow is very large and the corridor or hallway is more
than say 22 paces (15 metres) long, one Smoke Alarm will not
be sufficient. This is because no matter where it is located it will
be more than 7.5 metres from potential fires.
In houses with more than one sleeping area, Smoke Alarms
should be placed between each sleeping area and the living
area (for example, see figure 2).
b) Multi Storey Dwellings
If your home is on more than one level the best place for your
first Smoke Alarm is in the downstairs hallway near the stairs.
(for example see figure 3). This is because smoke is likely to be
detectable in the hallway before it reaches the upstairs landing
and bedrooms. Your second Smoke Alarm should be upstairs,
because the downstairs Smoke Alarm is unlikely to detect the
smoke from a fire in a bedroom upstairs.
(c) Maximum Protection
For maximum protection you should put individual Smoke
Alarms in all the rooms where fire is most likely to break out
(apart from the locations to avoid, mentioned below). The living
room is the most likelyplace for a fire to start at night,followed by
the kitchen and then the dining room. You should also consider
putting Smoke Alarms in any bedrooms where fires might occur,
for instance, where there is an electrical appliance such as an
electric blanket or heater, or where the occupant is a smoker.
You could also consider putting Smoke Alarms in any rooms
where the occupant is unable to respond very well to a fire start-
ing in the room, such as an elderly orsick person or a very young
child.
(d) Checking you can hear your Smoke Alarm
With the Smoke Alarm sounding in its intended location, check
you are able to hear it in each bedroom with the door closed,
above the sound of your radio. The radio should be set to a rea-
sonably loud conversation level. If you can’t hear it over your ra-
dio the chances are that it wouldn’t wake you.
If a SmokeAlarm is too far away forit to wake you, itis best to link
it to another Smoke Alarm near the bedroom. The Interconnect
Smoke Alarms EI105C and EI100C are designed for this - when
one alarm senses smoke, all connected alarms respond.
Positioning your Smoke Alarm
(a) Ceiling Mounting
Hot smoke rises and spreads out, so a central ceiling position is
the preferred location. The air is “dead” and does not move in
corners, therefore Smoke Alarms must be mounted away from
corners. Place the unit at least 30cm (12 inches) from any light
fitting or decorative object which might obstruct smoke entering
the Smoke Alarm. Keep at least 15 cm (6 inches) away from
walls and corners. See figure 4.
(b) Wall Mounting
When a ceiling position is not practical (for example on a ceiling
having exposed beams or joists, or built-in radiant heating) put
the top edge of your Smoke Alarm between 15 and 30 cm (6 and
12 inches) below the ceiling. Keep at least 15cm (6 inches) from
corners. (see figure 4).
(c) On a sloping Ceiling
In areas with sloping or peaked ceilings install your Smoke
Alarm 90 cm (3 feet) from the highest point measured horizon
-
tally (see figure 5), because “dead air” at the apex may prevent
smoke from reaching the unit.
(d) Locations to Avoid
Don’t place your Smoke Alarm in any of the following areas:
· Bathrooms, shower rooms, garages or other rooms
where the smoke alarm may be triggered by steam, conden-
sation, normal smoke or fumes.
· Attics or other places where extremes of temperature may
occur (below 4°C/34°F or above 40°C/104°F).
· Near a decorative object, door, light fitting, window
molding etc., that may prevent smoke from entering the
Smoke Alarm.
·
Surfaces that are normallywarmer or colder than the restof
the room (for example attic hatches, uninsulated exterior
walls etc). Temperature differences might stop smoke from
reaching the unit.
·
Next to or directly above heaters or air conditioning
vents, windows, wall vents etc. that can change the direc
-
tion of airflow.
·
In very high or awkward areas where it may be difficult to
reach the alarm (for testing, battery replacement etc).
·
Locate unit at least 1.5m (5 feet) and route wiring at least 1m
(3 feet) away from fluorescent light fittings as electricial
“noise” and/or flickering may affect the unit.
·
Locate away from very dusty or dirtyareas as dust build-up
in the chamber can make unit too sensitive and prone to
alarm. It can also block the insect screen mesh and prevent
smoke from entering the chamber.
·
Do not locate in insect infested areas. Small insects get
-
ting in to the chamber can cause intermittent alarms.
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
LIVING
BEDROOM
RECREATION
DININGKITCHEN
BEDROOM
BEDROOM BEDROOM
KITCHEN
DINING
Figure 1: Single Storey Dwelling
Figure 2: Single Storey Dwelling with
separate sleeping areas
Figure 3: Multi Storey Dwelling
Recommended protection, Figures 1,2 & 3
+
Minimum protection
·
each storey
·
each sleeping area.
·
every 7.5 metres (25 ft) of hallways and rooms.
1
Maximum protection.
All rooms (except bathroom & kitchens)
2
3
4
5
PAGE 2,3,4&5
B10274
REV-2
DEAD AIR SPACES
NEVER WITH IN15cm
OF ANY CORNER
IDEAL IN CENTRE OF CEILING
90cm
Figure
4
Figure 5