First Alert SA500 If This Smoke Alarm Sounds, If You Suspect A Problem, Responding To An Alarm

Models: SA500

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IF THIS SMOKE ALARM SOUNDS

IF THIS SMOKE ALARM SOUNDS

RESPONDING TO AN ALARM

During an alarm, you will hear a loud, repeating horn pattern: 3 beeps, pause, 3 beeps, pause. The LED will flash rapidly.

If the unit alarms and you are not testing the unit, it is warning you of a potentially dangerous situation that requires your immediate attention. NEVER ignore any alarm. Ignoring the alarm may result in injury or death.

Never remove the batteries from a battery operated Smoke Alarm to stop an unwanted alarm (caused by cooking smoke, etc.). Removing batteries disables the alarm so it cannot sense smoke, and removes your protection. Instead open a window or fan the smoke away from the unit. The alarm will reset auto- matically.

If the unit alarms get everyone out of the house immediately.

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF FIRE

Don’t panic; stay calm. Follow your family escape plan.

Get out of the house as quickly as possible. Don’t stop to get dressed or collect anything.

Feel doors with the back of your hand before opening them.

If a door is cool, open it slowly. Don’t open a hot door. Keep doors and windows closed, unless you must escape through them.

Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth (preferably damp). Take short, shallow breaths.

Meet at your planned meeting place outside your home, and do a head count to make sure everybody got out safely.

Call the Fire Department as soon as possible from outside. Give your address, then your name.

Never go back inside a burning building for any reason.

Contact your Fire Department for ideas on making your home safer.

Alarms have various limitations. See "Limitations of Smoke Alarms" for details.

USING THE SILENCE FEATURE

The Silence Feature can temporarily quiet an unwanted alarm for up to

15 minutes. To use this feature, press the “Push to Test/Silence” button on the cover. If the unit will not silence and no heavy smoke is present, or if it stays in silence mode continuously, it should be replaced immediately. The LED will continue to flash rapidly while in silence.

The Silence Feature does not disable the unit—it makes it temporarily less sensitive to smoke. For your safety, if smoke around the unit is dense enough to suggest a potentially dangerous situation, the unit will stay in alarm or may re-alarm quickly. If you do not know the source of the smoke, do not assume it is an unwanted alarm. Not responding to an alarm can result in property loss, injury, or death.

SILENCING THE LOW BATTERY WARNING

This silence feature can temporarily quiet the low battery warning “chirp” for up to 8 hours. You can silence the low battery warning “chirp” by pressing the Test/Silence button on the alarm cover.

Once the low battery warning “chirp” silence feature is activated, the unit continues to flash the Green light twice a minute for 8 hours. After 8 hours, the low battery “chirp” will resume. Replace the batteries as soon as possible; this unit will not operate without battery power!

To deactivate this feature: Press the Test/Silence button again. The unit will go into Test Mode and the low battery warning will resume (LED flashes and unit sounds “chirp” once a minute).

IF YOU SUSPECT A PROBLEM

Smoke Alarms may not operate properly because of dead, missing or weak batteries, a build-up of dirt, dust or grease on the Smoke Alarm cover, or installation in an improper location. Clean the Smoke Alarm as described in “Regular Maintenance,” and install a fresh battery, then test the Smoke Alarm again. If it fails to test properly when you use the test button, or if the problem persists, replace the Smoke Alarm immediately.

If you hear a “chirp” about once a minute, replace the battery.

If you experience frequent non-emergency alarms (like those caused by cooking smoke), try relocating the Smoke Alarm.

If the alarm sounds when no smoke is visible, try cleaning or relocating the Smoke Alarm. The cover may be dirty.

If the alarm does not sound during testing, try installing a new battery, and make sure it is snapped in securely.

If the alarm sounds 3 rapid “chirps” every minute; LED flashes approximately once a minute. MALFUNCTION: the device is not working properly and needs to be replaced.

Do not try fixing the alarm yourself – this will void your warranty!

If the Smoke Alarm is still not operating properly, and it is still under warranty, please see “How to Obtain Warranty Service” in the Limited Warranty.

RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS FOR

SMOKE ALARMS

Installing Smoke Alarms in Single-Family Residences

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), recommends one Smoke Alarm on every floor, in every sleeping area, and in every bed- room. In new construction, the Smoke Alarms must be AC powered and interconnected. See “Agency Placement Recommendations” for details. For additional coverage, it is recommended that you install a Smoke Alarm in all rooms, halls, storage areas, finished attics, and basements, where temperatures normally remain between 40˚ F (4˚ C) and 100˚ F (38˚ C). Make sure no door or other obstruction could keep smoke from reaching the Smoke Alarms.

More specifically, install Smoke Alarms:

On every level of your home, including finished attics and basements.

Inside every bedroom, especially if people sleep with doors closed.

In the hall near every sleeping area. If your home has multiple sleep- ing areas, install a unit in each. If a hall is over 40 feet (12 meters) long, install an alarm at each end.

At the top of the first-to-second floor stairway, and at bottom of basement stairway.

Specific requirements for Smoke Alarm installation vary from state to state and from region to region. Check with your local Fire Department for current requirements in your area. It is recommended AC or AC/DC units be interconnected for added protection.

HOMES

 

 

BEDROOM

KITCHEN

DINING ROOM

BEDROOM HALL

BEDROOM

 

 

 

LIVING ROOM

KITCHEN

 

 

 

EXISTING

MULTI-STORY RESIDENCE

BEDROOM

 

LIVING ROOM

 

FINISHED BASEMENT

SINGLE-STORY RESIDENCE, APARTMENT,

 

 

 

MOBILE HOME

 

 

KEY:

RECOMMENDED

SMOKE ALARMS WITH SILENCE

 

REQUIRED TO

 

MEET NFPA

FOR ADDITIONAL

FEATURES RECOMMENDED FOR

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

PROTECTION

 

ADDITIONAL PROTECTION

AGENCY PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

NFPA 72 (National Fire Code) Chapter 11

“For your information, the National Fire Protection Association's Standard 72, reads as follows:”

“11.5.1 One- and Two-Family Dwelling Units.”

“11.5.1.1 Smoke Detection. Where required by applicable laws, codes, or standards for the specified occupancy, approved single- and multiple- station Smoke Alarms shall be installed as follows: (1) In all sleeping rooms Exception: Smoke Alarms shall not be required in sleeping rooms in existing one- and two-family dwelling units. (2) Outside of each separate sleeping area, in immediate vicinity of the sleeping rooms.

(3)On each level of the dwelling unit, including basements Exception: In existing one- and two family dwelling units, approved Smoke Alarms powered by batteries are permitted.”

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First Alert SA500 If This Smoke Alarm Sounds, If You Suspect A Problem, Recommended Locations For Smoke Alarms, Continued