smoke alarm MAY be used inside individual rooms as SUPPLEMENTAL protection.
•Smoke alarms must not be used with detector guards unless the combination of alarm and guard has been evaluated and found suitable for that purpose.
•Install a smoke alarm in every room and on every level of the home. Smoke may not reach the smoke alarm for many reasons. For example, if a fire starts in a remote part of the home, on another level, in a chimney, wall, roof, or on the other side of a closed door, smoke may not reach the smoke alarm in time to alert household members. A smoke alarm will not promptly detect a fire EXCEPT in the area or room in which it is installed.
•Interconnected smoke alarms installed in every room and on every level of the household offer maximum protection. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) recommends interconnecting smoke alarms so that when one smoke alarm senses smoke and sounds its alarm, all others will sound as well. Do not interconnect smoke alarms from one individual family living unit to another. Do not connect this smoke alarm to any other type of alarm or auxiliary device.
•Smoke alarms may not alert every household member every time. The alarm horn is loud in order to alert individuals to a potential danger. However, there may be limiting circumstances where a household member may not hear the alarm (i.e., out- door or indoor noise, sound sleepers, drug or alcohol usage, the hard of hearing, etc.). If you suspect that this smoke alarm may not alert a household member, install and maintain specialty smoke alarms. Household members must hear the alarm’s warning sound and quickly respond to it to reduce the risk of damage, injury, or death that may result from fire. If a household member is hard of hearing, install special smoke alarms with lights or vibrating devices to alert occupants.
•Smoke alarms can sound their alarms only when they detect smoke. Smoke alarms detect combustion particles in the air. They do not sense heat, flame, or gas. This smoke alarm is designed to give audible warning of a developing fire. However, many fires are
•Smoke alarms have limitations. This smoke alarm is not fool- proof and is not warranted to protect lives or property from fire. Smoke alarms are not a substitute for insurance. Homeowners and renters should insure their lives and property. In addition, it is possible for the smoke alarm to fail at any time. For this rea- son, you must test the smoke alarm weekly and replace every 10 years.
SMOKE ALARM PLACEMENT
Invensys Controls Americas recommends complete coverage pro- tection achieved by installing a smoke alarm in every room of your home. The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) minimum requirement, as stated in Standard 72, Chapter 2, reads as follows:
Chapter 2 also reads as follows:
The NFPA, 1993 Edition, Appendix A further states:
DINING | KITCHEN | BEDROOM BEDROOM |
ROOM |
|
|
LIVING ROOM |
| BEDROOM |
“The required number of smoke detectors may not provide reliable early warning protection for those areas separated by a door from the areas protected by the required smoke detectors. For this reason, it is recommend-
ed that the householder consider the use of additional
BEDROOM
smoke detectors for those
BEDROOM
areas for increased protec- tion. The additional areas include: basement, bed-
rooms, dining room, furnace room, utility room, and hallways not protected by the required smoke detectors.”
Also, as required by the California State Fire Marshal:
“Early warning fire detection is best achieved by the installation of fire detection equipment in all rooms and areas of the house-
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