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ABOUT SMOKE ALARMS
Battery or DC operated Smoke Alarms: Provide protection even when
electricity fails, provided the batteries or power cells are fresh and cor-
rectly installed or activated. Units are easy to install, and do not require
professional installation.
AC powered Smoke Alarms: Can be interconnected so if one unit
senses smoke, all units alarm. They do not operate if electricity fails.
AC with battery (DC) back-up: will operate if electricity fails, provided
the batteries are fresh and correctly installed. AC and AC/DC units must
be installed by a qualified electrician.
Smoke Alarms for Solar or Wind Energy users and battery backup
power systems: AC powered Smoke Alarms should only be operated
with true or pure sine wave inverters. Operating this Smoke Alarm with
most battery-powered UPS (uninterruptible power supply) products or
square wave or “quasi sine wave” inverters will damage the Alarm. If
you are not sure about your inverter or UPS type, please consult with
the manufacturer to verify.
Smoke Alarms for the hearing impaired: Special purpose Smoke
Alarms should be installed for the hearing impaired. They include a
visual alarm and an audible alarm horn, and meet the requirements of
the Americans With Disabilities Act. Can be interconnected so if one
unit senses smoke, all units alarm.
All these Smoke Alarms are designed to provide early warning of fires if
located, installed and cared for as described in the user’s manual, and if
smoke reaches them. If you are unsure which type of unit to install, refer
to Chapter 2 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard
72 (National Fire Alarm Code) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code). National
Fire Protection Association, One Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269-
9101. Local building codes may also require specific units in new
construction or in different areas of the home.
5
SPECIAL COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS
This Smoke Alarm alone is not a suitable substitute for complete fire
detection systems in places housing many people—like apartment
buildings, condominiums, hotels, motels, dormitories, hospitals, long-
term health care facilities, nursing homes, day care facilities, or group
homes of any kind—even if they were once single-family homes. It is not
a suitable substitute for complete fire detection systems in warehouses,
industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and special-purpose non-resi-
dential buildings which require special fire detection and alarm systems.
Depending on the building codes in your area, this Smoke Alarm may be
used to provide additional protection in these facilities.
The following information applies to all four building types below:
In new construction, most building codes require the use of AC or AC/DC
powered Smoke Alarms only. AC, AC/DC, or DC powered Smoke Alarms
can be used in existing construction as specified by local building codes.
Refer to NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm Code) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety
Code), local building codes, or consult your Fire Department for detailed
fire protection requirements in buildings not defined as “households.”
1. Single-Family Residence:
Single family home, townhouse. It is recommended Smoke Alarms be
installed on every level of the home, in every bedroom, and in each
bedroom hallway.
2. Multi-Family or Mixed Occupant Residence:
Apartment building, condominium. This Smoke Alarm is suitable for use
in individual apartments or condos, provided a primary fire detection
system already exists to meet fire detection requirements in common
areas like lobbies, hallways, or porches. Using this Smoke Alarm in
common areas may not provide sufficient warning to all residents or
meet local fire protection ordinances/regulations.
3. Institutions:
Hospitals, day care facilities, long-term health care facilities. This Smoke
Alarm is suitable for use in individual patient sleeping/resident rooms,
provided a primary fire detection system already exists to meet fire
detection requirements in common areas like lobbies, hallways, or
porches. Using this Smoke Alarm in common areas may not provide
sufficient warning to all residents or meet local fire protection ordi-
nances/regulations.
4. Hotels and Motels:
Also boarding houses and dormitories. This Smoke Alarm is suitable
for use inside individual sleeping/resident rooms, provided a primary fire
detection system already exists to meet fire detection requirements in
common areas like lobbies, hallways, or porches. Using this Smoke
Alarm in common areas may not provide sufficient warning to all
residents or meet local fire protection ordinances/regulations.
LIMITATIONS OF SMOKE ALARMS
Smoke Alarms have played a key role in reducing deaths resulting from
home fires worldwide. However, like any warning device, Smoke Alarms
can only work if they are properly located, installed, and maintained, and
if smoke reaches them. They are not foolproof.
Smoke alarms may not waken all individuals. Practice the escape
plan at least twice a year, making sure that everyone is involved – from
kids to grandparents. Allow children to master fire escape planning and
practice before holding a fire drill at night when they are sleeping.
If children or others do not readily waken to the sound of the smoke
alarm, or if there are infants or family members with mobility limitations,
make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in fire drill and in the
event of an emergency. It is recommended that you hold a fire drill while
family members are sleeping in order to determine their response to the
sound of the smoke alarm while sleeping and to determine whether they
may need assistance in the event of an emergency.
Smoke Alarms cannot work without power. DC operated units cannot
work if the power cells are missing, deactivated, or dead, or if the power
cells were not activated correctly. AC units cannot work if the AC power
is cut off for any reason (open fuse or circuit breaker, failure along a
power line or at a power station, electrical fire that burns the electrical
wires, etc.). If you are concerned about the limitations of DC or AC
power, install both types of units.
Smoke Alarms cannot detect fires if the smoke does not reach
them. Smoke from fires in chimneys or walls, on roofs, or on the other
side of closed doors may not reach the sensing chamber and set off the
alarm. That is why one unit should be installed inside each bedroom or
sleeping area—especially if bedroom or sleeping area doors are closed
at night—and in the hallway between them.
Smoke Alarms may not detect fire on another floor or area of the
dwelling. For example, a stand-alone unit on the second floor may not
detect smoke from a basement fire until the fire spreads. This may not
give you enough time to escape safely. That is why recommended mini-
mum protection is at least one unit in every sleeping area, and every
bedroom on every level of your dwelling. Even with a unit on every floor,
stand-alone units may not provide as much protection as interconnect-
ed units, especially if the fire starts in a remote area. Some safety
experts recommend installing interconnected AC powered units with
battery back-up (see “About Smoke Alarms”) or professional fire
detection systems, so if one unit senses smoke, all units alarm.
Interconnected units may provide earlier warning than stand-alone
units since all units alarm when one detects smoke.
Smoke Alarms may not be heard. Though the alarm horn in this unit
meets or exceeds current standards, it may not be heard if: 1) the unit
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
stereo, TV, traffic, air conditioner or other appliances, 4) residents are
hearing impaired or sound sleepers. Special purpose units, like those
with visual and audible alarms, should be installed for hearing impaired
residents.
Smoke Alarms may not have time to alarm before the fire itself
causes damage, injury, or death, since smoke from some fires may
not reach the unit immediately. Examples of this include persons
smoking in bed, children playing with matches, or fires caused by
violent explosions resulting from escaping gas.
Smoke Alarms are not foolproof.
Like any electronic device, Smoke
Alarms are made of components that can wear out or fail at any time.
You must test the unit weekly to ensure your continued protection.
Smoke Alarms cannot prevent or extinguish fires. They are not a substi-
tute for property or life insurance.
Smoke Alarms have a limited life. The unit should be replaced
immediately if it is not operating properly. You should always replace a
Smoke Alarm after 10 years from date of purchase. Write the purchase
date on the space provided on back of unit.
First Alert
®
is a registered trademark of the First Alert Trust.
BRK
®
is a registered trademark of BRK Brands, Inc.
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