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FIRE PROTECTION
Although a fire alarm system may be of a
reliable and state-of- the-art design, neither it
nor its peripheral detection devices can offer
guaranteed protection against fire. Any such
equipment may fail to warn for a variety of
reasons:
Control panels, communicators, dialers,
smoke detectors, and many other sensing
devices will not work without power.
Battery- operated devices will not work
without batteries, with dead batteries, or
with improperly-installed batteries.
Devices powered solely by AC will not
work if their power source is cut off for any
reason.
Fires often cause a failure of electrical power.
If the system does not contain a working
battery backup power supply, and if the
electrical circuit feeding the devices is cut
or is not providing power for any reason,
the system will not detect heat or smoke
or provide any warning of a possible fire.
Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm
signals to a central monitoring station may
be out of service.
Smoke detectors, though highly effective in
reducing fire deaths, may not activate or
provide early-enough warning for a variety
of reasons: (a) they may not sense fires
that start where smoke cannot reach
them, such as in chimneys, walls, roofs,
behind closed doors, etc.; (b) they may
not sense a fire on a different level of the
residence or building; (c) they have
sensing limitations; no smoke detector
can sense every kind of fire every time.
Thermostatic heat detectors do not always
detect fires because the fire may be a
slow smoldering low-heat type
(producing smoke); because they may
not be near the fire; or because the heat
of the fire may bypass them. These
detectors will not detect oxygen levels,
smoke, toxic gases, or flames.
Therefore, they may only be used as part
of a comprehensive fire-detection system
in conjunction with other devices. Under
no circumstances should thermostatic
heat detectors be relied upon as the sole
measure to ensure fire safety.
Alarm warning devices such as sirens, bells,
or horns may not alert someone behind a
closed or partially-opened door. Warning
devices located on one level are less
likely to alert those on a different level.
Even those who are awake may not hear
the warning if the alarm is obscured by
noise from a stereo, radio, air
conditioner, or other appliance, or by
passing traffic, etc. Alarm warning
devices, however loud, may fail to warn
the hearing impaired.
Alarm products, as all electrical devices, are
subject to component failure. Even though
the equipment is designed for many years
of trouble-free performance, electronic
components could fail at any time.
Above are some of the reasons that fire
alarm equipment could fail. The most common
cause of an alarm system not functioning when
a fire occurs is inadequate testing and
maintenance. The system should be tested at
least weekly to ensure that all the equipment is
working properly.
While an alarm system may make one
eligible for lower insurance rates, it is not a
substitute for insurance. Homeowners, property
owners, and renters are therefore urged to
maintain adequate insurance coverage of life
and property.
LIMITATIONS OF FIRE ALARM WARNING SYSTEMS
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Tuesday, September 10, 2002 13:14