Fire-Lite PS-Tools 5UD/10UD - Manual (Page 2)

Fire Alarm System Limitations
While a fire alarm system may lower insurance rates, it is not a substitute for fire
insurance!
An automatic fire alarm system—typically
made up of smoke detectors, heat detectors,
manual pull stations, audible warning devices,
and a fire alarm control panel with remote
notification capability—can provide early warning
of a developing fire. Such a system, however,
does not assure protection against property
damage or loss of life resulting from a fire.
The Manufacturer recommends that smoke
and/or heat detectors are located throughout a
protected premise following the
recommendations of the National Fire Protection
Association Standard 72 (NFPA 72),
manufacturer's recommendations, State and local
codes, and the recommendations contained in
the Guides for Proper Use of System Smoke
Detectors, which are made available at no charge
to all installing dealers. These documents can be
found at
http://www.systemsensor.com/html/applicat.html.
A study by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (an agency of the United States
government) indicated that smoke detectors may
not go off in as many as 35% of all fires. While
fire alarm systems are designed to provide early
warning against fire, they do not guarantee
warning or protection against fire. A fire alarm
system may not provide timely or adequate
warning, or simply may not function, for a variety
of reasons:
Smoke detectors may not sense fire where
smoke cannot reach the detectors such as in
chimneys, in or behind walls, on roofs, or on the
other side of closed doors. Smoke detectors also
may not sense a fire on another level or floor of a
building. A second-floor detector, for example,
may not sense a first floor or basement fire.
Particles of combustion or “smoke” from a
developing fire may not reach the sensing
chambers of smoke detectors because:
• Barriers such as closed or partially closed
doors, walls, or chimneys may inhibit particle or
smoke flow.
• Smoke particles may become “cold,” stratify,
and not reach the ceiling or upper walls where
detectors are located.
• Smoke particles may be blown away from
detectors by air outlets.
• Smoke particles may be drawn into air returns
before reaching the detector.
The amount of “smoke” present may be
insufficient to alarm smoke detectors. Smoke
detectors are designed to alarm at various levels
of smoke density. If such density levels are not
created by a developing fire at the location of
detectors, the detectors will not go into alarm. Smoke detectors, even when working properly,
have sensing limitations. Detectors that have
photo electronic sensing chambers tend to detect
smoldering fires better than flaming fires, which
have little visible smoke. Detectors that have
ionizing-type sensing chambers tend to detect
fast-flaming fires better than smoldering fires.
Because fires develop in different ways and are
often unpredictable in their growth, neither type of
detector is necessarily best nor may a given type
of detector not provide adequate warning of a
fire. Smoke detectors cannot be expected to
provide adequate warning of fires caused by
arson, children playing with matches (especially
in bedrooms), smoking in bed, and violent
explosions (caused by escaping gas, improper
storage of flammable materials, etc.).
Heat detectors do not sense particles of
combustion and alarm only when heat on their
sensors increases at a predetermined rate or
reaches a predetermined level. Rate-of-rise heat
detectors may be subject to reduced sensitivity
over time. For this reason, the rate-of-rise feature
of each detector should be tested at least once
per year by a qualified fire protection specialist.
Heat detectors are designed to protect property,
not life.
IMPORTANT! Smoke detectors must be
installed in the same room as the control panel
and in rooms used by the system for the
connection of alarm transmission wiring,
communications, signaling, and/or power. If
detectors are not so located, a developing fire
may damage the alarm system, crippling its
ability to report a fire.
Audible warning devices such as bells may not
alert people if these devices are located on the
other side of closed or partly open doors or are
located on another floor of a building. Any
warning device may fail to alert people with a
disability or those who have recently consumed
drugs, alcohol or medication.
Please note that:
• Strobes can, under certain circumstances,
cause seizures in people with conditions such as
epilepsy.
• Studies have shown that certain people, even
when they hear a fire alarm signal, do not
respond or comprehend the meaning of the
signal. It is the property owner's responsibility to
conduct fire drills and other training exercise to
make people aware of fire alarm signals and
instruct them on the proper reaction to alarm
signals.
• In rare instances, the sounding of a warning
device can cause temporary or permanent
hearing loss.