CHAPTER 8: General Limitations Of CO Alarms
This CO alarm is intended for residential use. It is not intended for use in industrial applications where Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for carbon monoxide detectors must be met.
CO alarms will not work without power. This CO alarm requires a continuous supply of AC power, and a fresh, correctly installed 9V battery to power the battery
This CO alarm will not sense carbon monoxide that does not reach the sensor. This CO alarm will only sense CO at the sensor. CO may be present in other areas. Doors or other obstructions may affect the rate at which CO reaches the CO alarm. For this reason, if bedroom doors are usually closed at night, we recommend you install a CO alarm in each bedroom and in the hallway between them.
CO alarms may not sense CO on another level of the home. For example, a CO alarm on the second level, near the bedrooms, may not sense CO in the basement. For this reason, one CO alarm may not give adequate warning. Complete coverage is recommended. Place CO alarms on each level of the home.
CO alarms may not be heard. The alarm horn loudness meets or exceeds current UL standards of 85 dB at 10 feet. However, if the CO alarm is installed outside the bedroom, it may not wake up a sound sleeper or one who has recently used drugs or has been drinking alcoholic beverages. This is especially true if the door is closed or only partly open. Even persons who are awake may not hear the alarm horn if the sound is blocked by distance or closed doors. Noise from traffic,
stereo, radio, television, air conditioner, or other appliances may also prevent alert persons from hearing the alarm horn. This CO alarm is not intended for people who are hearing impaired.
CO alarms are not a substitute for a smoke alarm. Although fire is a source of carbon monoxide, this CO alarm does not sense smoke or fire. This CO alarm senses CO that may be escaping unnoticed from malfunctioning furnaces, appliances, or other sources. Early warning of fire requires the installation of smoke alarms.
CO alarms are not a substitute for life insurance.
Though these CO alarms warn against increasing CO levels, BRK Brands, Inc. does not warrant or imply in any way that they will protect lives from CO poisoning. Homeowners and renters must still insure their lives.
CO alarms have a limited life. Although the CO alarm and all of its parts have passed many stringent tests and are designed to be as reliable as possible, any of these parts could fail at any time. Therefore, you must test your CO alarm weekly.
CO alarms are not foolproof. Like all other electronic devices, CO alarms have limitations. They can only detect CO that reaches their sensors. They may not give early warning to rising CO levels if the CO is coming from a remote part of the home, away from the CO alarm.
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