Kidde KN-COB-DP-H) manual Part Six - Frequently Asked Questions, Part Five - Technical Information

Part Five – Technical Information

How the CO alarm determines when to alarm

Your Kidde CO alarm uses advanced technology to monitor the environment in your home and warn you of unacceptable levels of carbon monoxide. An internal microcomputer works together with the carbon monoxide sensor inside the alarm to determine the lev- els of carbon monoxide in the air and to calculate the rate that CO would be absorbed into the human body.

The microcomputer is calibrated to trigger the alarm before most people would experience any symptoms of carbon monoxide poi- soning. Because carbon monoxide is a cumulative poison, long- term exposures to low levels can cause symptoms, as well as short-term exposures to high levels. Your Kidde CO alarm has a time weighted alarm, so the higher the level of carbon monoxide present, the sooner the alarm will be triggered.

This CO alarm meets response time requirements as follows:

At 70 ppm, the unit must alarm within 60-240 minutes. At 150 ppm, the unit must alarm within 10-50 minutes. At 400 ppm, the unit must alarm within 4-15 minutes.

WARNING: This product is intended for use in ordinary indoor residentual areas. It is not designed to measure compliance with commercial and industrial standards. This device is designed to protect individuals from acute effects of carbon monoxide expo- sure. It will not fully safeguard individuals with specific medical conditions. If in doubt, consult a medical practitioner.

Individuals with medical problems may consider using warning devices, which provide audible and visual signals for carbon monoxide concentrations under 30 ppm.

Part Six – Frequently Asked Questions

Q.How many alarms do I need in my house? How much square footage will one CO alarm cover?

A.We recommend you place alarms near the sleeping area(s). If

you have a multi-level home, you should place a CO alarm on each level of the home. A good rule of thumb for the number and place- ment of CO alarms for your particular home is to place CO alarms near smoke alarms that have been installed to meet current building code requirements.

Generally, one CO alarm can be adequate for 1,200 to 1,500 square feet of living space. The most important determination for the num- ber of alarms needed is whether an alarm can be heard in all sleep- ing areas.

Q. What is the lowest level at which the CO alarm will sound? A. The lowest level of carbon monoxide at which the alarm will sound is 45 ppm. The CO alarm must be exposed continuously to this level for at least three hours.

Q. Can you explain what “time-weighted alarm” means?

A. Because carbon monoxide is a cumulative poison, two factors determine how the body is affected by CO: the level of exposure and the length of exposure. For example, being continuously exposed to low levels of carbon monoxide for many hours can be as dangerous as being exposed to higher levels of CO for a short period of time.

The microchip inside your Kidde CO alarm monitors the air for the presence of carbon monoxide and computes the levels and length of exposure, alarming when you should be concerned about CO exposure.

For more information about the alarm, see page 29.

Q. Do I have to press the test button to get a CO alarm?

A. No. If it detects a dangerous level of CO it will alarm automatical- ly. To test the internal components and circuitry of your CO alarm, press the Test/Reset button.

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