Honeywell Notifier NFS-320/E/C Operation Manual page 2

Fire alarm control panel

Hide thumbs

Table Of Contents

Table of Contents

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

An automatic fire alarm system

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 develop-

notification capability—can provide early warning of a

ing fire.

ing fire. Such a system, however

Such a system, however, does not assure

against property damage or loss of life resulting from a fire.

The Manufacturer recommends that smoke and/or heat detec-

tors be located throughout a protected premise following the

recommendations of the current edition of the National Fire

Protection Association Standard 72 (NFPA 72), manufacturer's

recommendations, State and local codes, and the

recommendations, State and local codes, and the recommen-

dations contained in the Guide for Proper Use of System

Smoke Detectors, which is made available at no charge to all

installing dealers. A study by the

installing dealers.

A study by the Federal Emergency Man-

agement 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 pro-

35% of all fires.

While fire alarm systems are designed to pro-

vide early warning against fire, they do not guarantee warning

or protection against fire.

or protection against fire. A fire alarm system may not provide

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

Smoke detectors

may not sense fire where smoke cannot

reach the detectors such as in chimneys, in or behind walls, on

reach the detectors such as in chimneys, in

roofs, or on the other side of closed

roofs, or on the

other side of closed doors.

also may not sense a fire on another level

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

Particles of combustion or "smoke"

may not reach the sensing chambers of smoke detectors

because:

• •

Barrie

Barriers such

rs such as clo

as closed o

sed or pa

r partiall

chimneys may inhibit particle or

chimneys may inhibit particle or smoke flow.

• •

Smoke partic

Smoke

particles ma

les may beco

y become "c

the ceiling or upper walls where detectors are located.

• •

Smoke

Smoke parti

particles m

cles may be

ay be blown

blown away

outlets.

• •

Smoke partic

Smoke

particles ma

les may be

y be drawn

drawn into

reaching the detector.

The amount of "smoke" present may be insufficient to alarm

smoke detectors. Smoke detectors are designed

smoke detectors.

Smoke detectors are designed to alarm at

various levels of smoke density. . If such density levels are not

various levels of smoke density

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

Smoke detectors, even when

limitations. Detectors that

limitations.

Detectors that have photoelectronic

have photoelectronic sensing

chambers tend to detect smoldering fires better than flaming

fires, which have little visible

fires, which have little visible smoke.

smoke. Detectors that have ion-

izing-type sensing chambers tend to detect fast-flaming fires

better than smoldering fires. Because fires develop in

better than smoldering 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 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.).

2 2

—typically made up of

develop-

, does not assure protection

protection

recommen-

Federal Emergency Man-

or behind walls, on

doors. Smoke detectors

Smoke detectors

or floor of a building.

from a developing fire

rtially clos

y closed do

ed doors, w

ors, walls,

alls, or

smoke flow.

me "cold,"

old," strati

stratify fy, and

, and not re

not reach

ach

away from d

from detecto

etectors by

rs by air

air

into air r

air return

eturns befo

s before re

to alarm at

If such density levels are not

working properly, have sensing

sensing

Detectors that have ion-

different

Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion and

Heat detectors

do not sense particles of combustion and

alarm only when heat on their sensors increases at a predeter-

mined rate or reaches a predetermined

mined rate or

reaches a predetermined level.

heat detectors may be subject to reduced s ensitivity over time.

heat detectors may be subject to reduced s

For this reason, the rate-of-rise feature of each detector

should be tested at least once per year by a qualified fire pro-

tection specialist.

tection specialist. Heat detectors are

Heat detectors are designed to

property, not life.

IMPORTANT! Smoke

IMPORTANT!

Smoke detectors

detectors must be installed in the

same room as the control panel and in rooms used by the sys-

same room as the control panel and in rooms used

tem for the connection of alarm transmission wiring, communi-

cations, signaling, and/or p

cations, signaling, and/or power.

ower. If detectors are not so

located, a developing fire may damage the alarm system, crip-

pling its ability to report a fire.

Audible warning devices

Audible warning devices such as bells may not alert people

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 medica-

tion.

tion. Please

Please note

note that:

that:

• •

Str

Strobes

obes can, u

can, under

nder certa

certain ci

in circumsta

in people with conditions such as epilepsy.

in people with conditions such

• •

Studies

Stu

dies have s

have shown

hown that c

that certai

ertain peo

hear a fire alarm signal, do not respond or comprehend the

hear a fire alarm signal, do not

meaning of the signal.

meaning of the sign

al. It is the property

It is the property owner's responsi-

bility 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 rar

In rare ins

e instance

tances, the

s, the sound

sounding o

ing of a w

cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.

A fire alarm system will not operate without any electrical

A fire alarm system

will not operate without any electrical

power.

power. If AC power fails, the system will

If AC power fails, the system will operate from standby

batteries only for a specified time and only if the batteries have

been properly maintained and replaced regularly.

been properly maintained and

replaced regularly.

Equipment used in the system may not be technically com-

Equipment used in the system

patible with the control panel. It is essential to use only equip-

patible with the control panel.

It is essential to use only equip-

ment listed for service with your control panel.

Telephone lines

Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from a

needed to transmit alarm signals from a

premise to a central monitoring station may be out of service

or temporarily disabled. For added protection against tele-

phone line failure, backup radio transmission systems are rec-

ommended.

The most common cause

The most common cause of fire alarm malfunction is inade-

of fire alarm malfunction is inade-

quate maintenance.

quate maintenance. T T o keep the entire fire alarm system in

o keep the entire fire alarm system in

excellent working order, ongoing maintenance is required per

the manufacturer's recommendations, and UL and NFPA stan-

dards. At a minimum, the requirements of NFP

dards.

At a minimum, the requirements of NFPA 72 shall be

followed.

followed. Environments with large

Environments with large amounts of dust, dirt

high air velocity require more frequent ma

high air velocity

require more frequent maintenance.

tenance agreement should be arranged through the local man-

ufacturer's representative.

ufacturer's representative. Maintenance should

Maintenance should be scheduled

monthly or as required by National and/or local fire codes and

should be performed by authorized professional fire alarm

installers only. . Adequate written records

installers only

Adequate written records of all inspections

should be kept.

NFS-320/E/C Operations Manual —

NFS-320/E/C Operations Manual — P/N

level. Rate-of-rise

Rate-of-rise

ensitivity over time.

designed to protect

protect

must be installed in the

by the sys-

If detectors are not so

rcumstances,

nces, cause

cause seizur

seizures

as epilepsy.

n people,

ple, even

even when t

when they

hey

respond or comprehend the

owner's responsi-

f a warning

arning device

device can

can

operate from standby

may not be technically com-

A 72 shall be

amounts of dust, dirt or

intenance. A main-

A main-

be scheduled

of all inspections

Limit-C-9-2005

P/N 52747:A

52747:A 12/28/2006

12/28/2006

Table of Contents

Honeywell Notifier NFS-320/E/C Operation Manual page 2

Related Manuals for Honeywell Notifier NFS-320/E/C

Related Products for Honeywell Notifier NFS-320/E/C

Table of Contents