SilentKnight SK-5208 Conventional FACP 10-30 Zone - Manual (Page 8)

Introduction 151204
1-3
fires. Because fires develop in different ways and are often unpredictable in their growth, neither type of
detector is necessarily best and a given type of detector may not provide adequate warning of a fire.
• Smoke detectors are subject to false alarms and nuisance alarms and may have been disconnected by users.
For example, a smoke detector located in or near a kitchen may go into nuisance alarm during normal
operation of kitchen appliances. In addition, dusty or steamy environments may cause a smoke detector to
falsely alarm. If the location of a smoke detector causes an abundance of false alarms or nuisance alarms, do
not disconnect the smoke detector; call a professional to analyze the situation and recommend a solution.
• Smoke detectors cannot be expected to provide adequate warning of fires caused by arson, children playing
with matches (especially within bedrooms), smoking in bed, violent explosions (caused by escaping gas,
improper storage of flammable materials, etc.).
• Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion and are designed to alarm only when heat on their
sensors increases at a predetermined rate or reaches a predetermined level. Heat detectors are designed to
protect property, not life.
• Warning devices (including horns, sirens, and bells) may not alert people or wake up sleepers who are
located on the other side of closed or partially open doors. A warning device that activates on a different
floor or level of a dwelling or structure is less likely to awaken or alert people. Even persons who are awake
may not notice the warning if the alarm is muffled by noise from a stereo, radio, air conditioner or other
appliance, or by passing traffic. Audible warning devices may not alert the hearing-impaired (strobes or
other devices should be provided to warn these people). Any warning device may fail to alert people with a
disability, deep sleepers, people who have recently used alcohol or drugs, or people on medication or
sleeping pills.
- Please note that:
i)
Strobes can, under certain circumstances, cause seizures in people with conditions such as epilepsy.
ii) Studies have shown that certain people, even when they hear a fire alarm signal, do not respond or com-
prehend the meaning of the signal. It is the property owner’s responsibility to conduct fire drills and
other training exercises to make people aware of fire alarm signals and instruct on the proper reaction to
alarm signals.
iii) In rare instances, the sounding of a warning device can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.
• Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from a premises to a central station may be out of service
or temporarily out of service. For added protection against telephone line failure, backup radio transmission
systems are recommended.
• System components, though designed to last many years, can fail at any time. As a precautionary measure, it
is recommended that smoke detectors be checked, maintained, and replaced per manufacturer's
recommendations.
• System components will not work without electrical power. If system batteries are not serviced or replaced
regularly, they may not provide battery backup when AC power fails.
• Environments with high air velocity or that are dusty or dirty require more frequent maintenance.
In general, fire alarm systems and devices will not work without power and will not function properly unless they
are maintained and tested regularly.
While installing a fire alarm system may make the owner eligible for a lower insurance rate, an alarm system is
not a substitute for insurance. Property owners should continue to act prudently in protecting the premises and
the people in their premises and should properly insure life and property and buy sufficient amounts of liability
insurance to meet their needs.