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Limitations of This Alarm System
While this system is an advanced design security system, it does not offer guaranteed protection against burglary, fire, or
other emergency. Any alarm system, 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 (e.g., passive infrared detectors), smoke detectors, and many other sensing devices will not work
without batteries, or if the batteries are not put in properly. Devices powered solely by AC will not work if their AC power
supply is cut off for any reason, however briefly.
• Signals sent by wireless transmitters may be blocked or reflected by metal before they reach the alarm receiver. Even if
the signal path has been recently checked during a weekly test, blockage can occur if a metal object is moved into the
path.
• A user may not be able to reach a panic or emergency button quickly enough.
• While smoke detectors have played a key role in reducing residential fire deaths, they may not activate or provide early
warning for a variety of reasons in as many as 35% of all fires. Some of the reasons smoke detectors used in
conjunction with the System may not work are as follows: Smoke detectors may not sense fires that start where smoke
cannot reach the detectors, such as in chimneys, in walls, or roofs, or on the other side of closed doors. Smoke
detectors also may not sense a fire on another level of a residence or building. A second-floor detector, for example,
may not sense a first-floor or basement fire. Moreover, smoke detectors have sensing limitations. No smoke detector
can sense every kind of fire every time. In general, detectors may not always warn about fires caused by carelessness
and safety hazards like smoking in bed, violent explosions, escaping gas, improper storage of flammable materials,
overloaded electrical circuits, children playing with matches, or arson. Depending on the nature of the fire and/or the
location of the smoke detectors, the detector, even if it operates as anticipated, may not provide sufficient warning to
allow all occupants to escape in time to prevent injury or death.
• Passive Infrared Motion Detectors can detect intrusion only within the designed ranges as diagrammed in their
Installation Manual. Passive Infrared Detectors do not provide volumetric area protection. They do create multiple
beams of protection, and intrusion can only be detected in unobstructed areas covered by the beams. They cannot
detect motion or intrusion that takes place behind walls, ceilings, floors, closed doors, glass partitions, glass doors or
windows. Mechanical tampering, masking, painting or spraying, of any material on the mirrors, windows or any part of
the optical system can reduce their detection ability. Passive Infrared Detectors sense changes in temperature;
however, as the ambient temperature of the protected area approaches the temperature range of 90º to 104º
Fahrenheit (32º to 40º Celsius), the detection performance can decrease.
• Alarm warning devices such as sirens, bells or horns may not alert people or wake up sleepers who 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 muffled by noise from a stereo, radio, air conditioner, other appliances, or by
passing traffic. Finally, alarm warning devices, however loud, may not warn hearing-impaired people or waken deep
sleepers.
• Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from a premises to a central monitoring station may be out of service
or temporarily out of service. Telephone lines are also subject to compromise by sophisticated intruders.
However, even if the system responds to the emergency as intended, occupants may have insufficient time to protect
themselves from the emergency situation. In the case of a monitored alarm system, authorities may not respond
appropriately.
• This equipment, like other electrical devices, is subject to component failure. Even though this equipment is designed
to last as long as 20 years, the electronic components could fail at any time.
The most common cause of an alarm system not functioning when an intrusion or fire occurs is inadequate maintenance.
This alarm system should be tested weekly to make sure all sensors are working properly.
Installing an alarm system may make one eligible for lower insurance rates, but 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.
We continue to develop new and improved protection devices. Users of alarm systems owe it to themselves and their
loved ones to learn about these developments.