5. NUISANCE ALARMS
Smoke alarms are designed to minimize nuisance alarms. Cigarette smoke will not normally set off the alarm, unless the smoke is blown directly into the alarm. Combustion particles from cooking may set off the alarm if the alarm is located close to the cooking area. Large quantities of combustible particles are generated from spills or when broiling. Using the fan on a range hood which vents to the outside
Model 1275H has a “HUSH” button that is extremely useful in a kitchen area or other areas prone to nuisance alarms. For more information, refer to Section 4 OPERATION AND TESTING.
If the alarm does sound, check for fires first. If a fire is discovered, get out and call the fire department. If no fire is present, check to see if one of the reasons listed in Section 2 may have caused the alarm.
6. MAINTENANCE
ALARM REMOVAL
IF TAMPER RESIST PIN HAS BEEN USED, REFER TO TAMPER RESIST LOCKING PIN IN SEC- TION 3 FOR PIN REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS.
To replace the battery, remove the alarm from the trim ring by rotating the alarm in the direction of the “OFF” arrow on the cover (see Section 3, Figure 4) To disconnect the A.C. power harness, squeeze the locking arms on the sides of the Quick Connector while pulling the connector away from the bottom of the alarm (see Section 3, Figure 3).
BATTERY INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL
To replace or install the batteries, you must first remove the alarm from the trim ring by following the ALARM REMOVAL instructions at the beginning of this section. After alarm has been removed, you can open the battery door and install or replace the battery. Battery installation instructions are provided on the inside of the battery door.
When installing the battery, press the battery reminder finger down into the battery compartment and install the battery (see Figure 6).
FIGURE 6.
CAUTION! IF THE BATTERY REMINDER FINGER IS NOT HELD DOWN IN THE BATTERY COM- PARTMENT BY THE BATTERY, THE BATTERY DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE, THE A.C. QUICK CON- NECTOR WILL NOT ATTACH TO THE ALARM, AND THE ALARM WILL NOT ATTACH TO THE TRIM RING.
This smoke alarm uses a 9V carbon backup battery (alkaline and lithium batteries may also be used). A fresh battery should last for one year under normal operating conditions.
This alarm has a low/missing battery monitor circuit which will cause the alarm to “chirp” approximately every
USE ONLY THE FOLLOWING 9 VOLT BATTERIES FOR SMOKE ALARM REPLACEMENT.
| EVEREADY 216 OR 1222; GOLD PEAK 1604P OR 1604S |
Alkaline type | EVEREADY 522; DURACELL MN1604, MX1604; GOLD PEAK 1604A |
Lithium type | ULTRALIFE U9VL |
NOTE: REGULAR TESTING IS RECOMMENDED!
NOTE: IF AFTER BATTERY REPLACEMENT THE ALARM CONTINUES TO CHIRP, PUSH THE TEST BUTTON. THE “HUSH” FEATURE MAY HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED ACCIDENTLY WHILE CHANGING THE BATTERY AND PUSHING THE TEST BUTTON WILL END THE HUSH CYCLE.
WARNING! BE SURE TO FOLLOW BATTERY INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS PRINTED ON THE INSIDE OF THE BATTERY DOOR AND USE ONLY THE BATTERIES SPECIFIED. USE OF DIFFERENT BATTERIES MAY HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE SMOKE ALARM.
CLEANING YOUR ALARM.
YOUR ALARM SHOULD BE CLEANED AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR
To clean your alarm, remove it from the mounting bracket as outlined in the beginning of this section. You can clean the interior of your alarm (sensing chamber) by using compressed air or a vacuum cleaner hose and blowing or vacuuming through the openings around the perimeter of the alarm. The outside of the alarm can be wiped with a damp cloth. After cleaning, reinstall your alarm and test your alarm by using the test button. If cleaning does not restore the alarm to normal operation the alarm should be replaced.
After cleaning, reinstall your alarm. Test your alarm by using the test button and check that the green LED is on.
7. LIMITATIONS OF SMOKE ALARMS
WARNING: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY
•NFPA 72 states: Life safety from fire in residential occupancies is based primarily on early notification to occupants of the need to escape, followed by the appropriate egress actions by those occupants. Fire warning systems for dwelling units are capable of protecting about half of the occupants in potentially fatal fires. Victims are often intimate with the fire, too old or young, or physically or mentally impaired such that they cannot escape even when warned early enough that escape should be possible. For these people, other strategies such as
•Smoke alarms are devices that can provide early warning of possible fires at a reasonable cost; how- ever, alarms have sensing limitations. Ionization type alarms offer a broad range of fire sensing capabil- ities but are better at detecting fast flaming fires than slow smoldering fires. Photoelectric alarms sense smoldering fires better than flaming fires. Home fires develop in different ways and are often unpre- dictable. Neither type of alarm (photoelectric or ionization) is always best, and a given alarm may not always provide warning of a fire.
•A battery powered alarm must have a battery of the specified type, in good condition and installed properly.
•A.C. powered alarms will not operate if the A.C. power has been cut off, such as by an electrical fire or an open fuse.
•Smoke alarms must be tested regularly to make sure the batteries and the alarm circuits are in good operating condition.
•Smoke alarms cannot provide an alarm if smoke does not reach the alarm. Therefore, smoke alarms
