First Alert CO606A - 120V Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Alarm Manual

INTRODUCTION

BASIC SAFETY INFORMATION

• Dangers, Warnings, and Cautions alert you to important operating instructions or to potentially hazardous situations. Pay special attention to these items.
• THIS IS NOT A SMOKE ALARM! This CO Alarm is designed to detect carbon monoxide from ANY source of combustion. It is NOT designed to detect smoke, fire, or any other gas.
• This CO Alarm is approved for use in single-family residences.

• This CO Alarm will only indicate the presence of carbon monoxide gas at the sensor. Carbon monoxide gas may be present in other areas.

• The Silence Feature is for your convenience only and will not correct a CO problem. Always check your home for a potential problem after any alarm. Failure to do so can result in injury or death.
• This CO Alarm should receive continuous 120VAC, 60 Hz, pure sine wave electrical power. (The battery is meant for emergency back-up only). Do not use in an extension cord or outlet controlled by a dimmer or switch. In order for the emergency battery back-up to work, a working (fresh) battery must be properly installed.
• NEVER ignore your Carbon Monoxide Alarm if it alarms. Refer to "If Your CO Alarm Sounds" for more information. Failure to do so can result in injury or death.
• Test the CO Alarm once a week. If the CO Alarm ever fails to test correctly, have it replaced immediately! If the CO Alarm is not working properly, it cannot alert you to a problem.
• This product is intended for use in ordinary indoor locations of family living units. It is not designed to measure CO levels in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) commercial or industrial standards. Individuals with medical conditions that may make them more sensitive to carbon monoxide may consider using warning devices which provide audible and visual signals for carbon monoxide concentrations under 30 ppm. For additional information on carbon monoxide and your medical condition contact your physician.

HOW YOUR CO ALARM WORKS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Leave your CO Alarm plugged in year-round. CO problems can occur any time during the year, and this Alarm can only alert you if it is plugged in and receiving power.

This CO Alarm is intended for use in a standard, unswitched 120V AC wall outlet. It is not intended for use in extension cords, power strips, or outlets controlled by a switch or dimmer. These may not provide continuous power to the unit. When fully powered, the unit samples the air and takes a new reading about every second. A microchip inside the unit stores each reading, and remembers the levels of CO it has been exposed to over time. The Alarm sounds when it has been exposed to a "critical" level of CO (measured in parts per million or "ppm") within a specified time (measured in minutes). This CO Alarm features a permanently installed sensor, an indicator light, and an 85dB alarm horn. It also has a Silence Feature to temporarily quiet the alarm horn.

MALFUNCTION WARNING

This unit performs self-diagnostic tests. If the Alarm malfunctions, it should be replaced immediately. See "IF THE CO ALARM IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY" for more information.

THE PARTS OF YOUR ALARM

2. Open door (in back)
3. Battery Compartment (in back)
4. Test/Silence Button
5. POWER/ALARM Light (Red)
6. (Behind Cover) Alarm Horn:
   85 dB audible alarm for test, alarm, and unit malfunction warning.

In a Single-level Home:

• Install at least one CO Alarm near or within each separate sleeping area.
• For added protection, install an additional CO Alarm at least 20 feet (6 meters) away from the furnace or fuel burning heat source.

In a Multi-level Home:

• Install at least one CO Alarm near or within each separate sleeping area.
• For added protection, install at least one CO Alarm on each level of the home. If you have a basement, install that CO Alarm at the top of the basement stairs.
• For added protection, install an additional CO Alarm at least 20 feet (6 meters) away from the furnace or fuel burning heat source.

This unit should receive continuous electrical power. (The battery is meant for emergency back-up only). Choose an outlet where it cannot be accidentally unplugged or switched off by children. Keep small children away from the unit. Teach them not to play with it or unplug it. Explain what the alarms mean.

WHERE CO ALARMS SHOULD NOT BE INSTALLED

DO NOT LOCATE THIS CO ALARM:

• In garages, kitchens, furnace rooms, or in any extremely dusty, dirty or greasy areas.
• Closer than 15 feet (4.6 meters) from a furnace or other fuel burning heat source, or fuel burning appliances like a water heater.
• Within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of any cooking appliance.
• In extremely humid areas. This Alarm should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from a bath or shower, sauna, humidifier, vaporizer, dishwasher, laundry room, utility room or other source of high humidity.
• In areas where temperature is colder than 40˚ F (4.4˚ C) or hotter than 100˚ F (37.8˚ C). These areas include non-airconditioned crawl spaces, unfinished attics, uninsulated or poorly insulated ceilings, porches, and garages.
• In turbulent air, like near ceiling fans, heat vents, air conditioners, fresh air returns, or open windows. Blowing air may prevent CO from reaching the sensors.
• In direct sunlight.
• In outlets covered by curtains or other obstruction.

• This CO Alarm is designed for use inside a single-family home or apartment. It is not meant to be used in common lobbies, hallways, or basements of multi-family buildings unless working CO Alarms are also installed in each family living unit. CO Alarms in common areas may not be heard from inside individual family living units.
• This CO Alarm alone is not a suitable substitute for complete detection systems in places which house many people, like hotels or dormitories, unless a CO Alarm is also placed in each unit.
• DO NOT use this CO Alarm in warehouses, industrial or commercial buildings, special-purpose non-residential buildings, or airplanes. This CO Alarm is specifically designed for residential use, and may not provide adequate protection in non-residential applications.

HOW TO INSTALL YOUR CO ALARM

Read "Where To Install CO Alarms" before starting.
Before you start installation, find the pair of self-adhesive labels included with this CO Alarm. On each label write in the phone number of your emergency responder (like 911) and a qualified appliance technician. Place one label near the CO Alarm, and the other label in the "fresh air" location you plan to go if the alarm sounds.

ACTIVATING THE BATTERY BACK-UP

Activate the battery back-up by installing one 9 volt battery.

1. Push and lift the battery door down to open.
2. Install the 9 volt battery (included) inside the battery compartment as indicated. Make sure the "+" and "–" ends of each battery are aligned properly.
   
3. Ensure battery is securely snapped into terminals by pushing in direction of arrow in the diagram.
4. Close the battery door.
5. Push and hold the Test/Silence button on the cover until you hear an acknowledge "chirp". The alarm horn will sound 4 beeps, a pause, then 4 beeps. The ALARM (RED) light will flash. The alarm sequence should last 5-6 seconds. If it does not alarm, make sure the battery is correctly installed, and test it again.

The battery is for back-up only and is not intended to power the Alarm for an extended period of time in the absence of AC.

DIRECT PLUG ALARM INTO AN OUTLET

This Alarm can be plugged directly into a wall outlet located close to the floor.

1. Choose a standard UNSWITCHED 120V AC outlet.
2. Plug Alarm in.

IF YOUR CO ALARM SOUNDS

Actuation of your CO Alarm indicates the presence of carbon monoxide (CO) which can kill you. In other words, when your CO Alarm sounds, you must not ignore it!

IF THE ALARM SIGNAL SOUNDS:
If alarm signal sounds (four beeps):

1. immediately move to fresh air - outdoors or by an open door or window. Check that all persons are accounted for. Do not re-enter the premises or move away from the open door/window until the emergency services responders have arrived, the premises have been aired out, and your alarm remains in its normal condition.
2. call your emergency local service ___________________
   3. If malfunction signal sounds (3 "chirps") refer to Troubleshooting Guide.

"ALARM-MOVE TO FRESH AIR"
If you hear the alarm horn and the red light is flashing, move everyone to a source of fresh air. DO NOT unplug the CO Alarm!

Alarms have various limitations. See "General Limitations of CO Alarms" for details.

USING THE SILENCE FEATURES

• The Silence Feature is for your convenience only and will not correct a CO problem. Always check your home for a potential problem after any alarm. Failure to do so can result in injury or death.
• N EVER remove the batteries from your CO Alarm to silence the horn. Use the silence feature. Removing the batteries removes your protection! See "If Your CO Alarm Sounds" for details on responding to an alarm.

The Silence Feature is intended to temporarily silence your CO Alarm's alarm horn while you correct the problem—it will not correct a CO problem. While the alarm is silenced it will continue to monitor the air for CO.

When CO reaches alarm levels the alarm will sound— repeating horn pattern: 4 beeps, a pause, 4 beeps, etc. Press and hold the Test/Silence button until the horn is silent. The initial Silence cycle will last approximately 4 minutes.

NOTE: After initial 4-minute Silence cycle, the CO Alarm re-evaluates present CO levels and responds accordingly. If CO levels remain potentially dangerous—or start rising higher—the horn will start sounding again.

While the detector is silenced:

SILENCING THE LOW BATTERY WARNING

Pressing the silence button can stop the low battery "chirp" for up to 8 hours; do not remove the battery or unplug the Alarm, unless changing the battery. Activation of low battery silence is acknowledged with a "chirp". Once the low battery warning "chirp" silence feature is activated, the unit continues to flash the red light once a minute for 8 hours. After 8 hours, the low battery "chirp" will resume. Replace the batteries as soon as possible.

If you cannot silence the low battery warning, replace the batteries immediately.

SILENCING THE END OF LIFE SIGNAL

This silence feature can temporarily quiet the End of Life warning "chirp" for up to 2 days. You can silence the End of Life warning "chirp" by pressing the Test/Silence button. The horn will chirp, acknowledging that the End of Life silence feature has been activated.

After approximately 2 days, the End of Life "chirp" will resume.

POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CO IN THE HOME

Fuel-burning appliances like: portable heater, gas or wood burning fireplace, gas kitchen range or cooktop, gas clothes dryer.

Damaged or insufficient venting: corroded or disconnected water heater vent pipe, leaking chimney pipe or flue, or cracked heat exchanger, blocked or clogged chimney opening.

Improper use of appliance/ device: operating a barbecue grill or vehicle in an enclosed area (like a garage or screened porch).

Transient CO Problems: "transient" or on-again-off-again CO problems can be caused by outdoor conditions and other special circumstances. The following conditions can result in transient CO situations:

1. Excessive spillage or reverse venting of fuel appliances caused by outdoor conditions such as:
   • Wind direction and/or velocity, including high, gusty winds. Heavy air in the vent pipes (cold/humid air with extended periods between cycles).
   • Negative pressure differential resulting from the use of exhaust fans.
   • Several appliances running at the same time competing for limited fresh air.
   • Vent pipe connections vibrating loose from clothes dryers, furnaces, or water heaters.
   • Obstructions in or unconventional vent pipe designs which can amplify the above situations.
2. Extended operation of unvented fuel burning devices (range, oven, fireplace).
3. Temperature inversions, which can trap exhaust close to the ground.
4. Car idling in an open or closed attached garage, or near a home.

These conditions are dangerous because they can trap exhaust in your home. Since these conditions can come and go, they are also hard to recreate during a CO investigation.

REGULATORY INFORMATION FOR CO ALARMS

WHAT LEVEL OF CO CAUSE AN ALARM?
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Standard CSA 6.19 requires residential CO Alarms to sound when exposed to levels of CO and exposure times as described below. CO levels are measured in parts per million (ppm) of CO over time (in minutes).

CSA 6.19 Required Alarm Points*:

• If the alarm is exposed to 400 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM BETWEEN 4 and 15 MINUTES.
• If the alarm is exposed to 150 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM BETWEEN 10 and 50 MINUTES.
• If the alarm is exposed to 70 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM BETWEEN 60 and 240 MINUTES.

* Approximately 10% COHb exposure at levels of 10% to 95% Relative Humidity (RH).

The unit is designed not to alarm when exposed to a constant level of 30 ppm for 30 days.

CO Alarms are designed to alarm before there is an immediate life threat. Since you cannot see or smell CO, never assume it's not present.

• An exposure to 100 ppm of CO for 20 minutes may not affect average, healthy adults, but after 4 hours the same level may cause headaches.
• An exposure to 400 ppm of CO may cause headaches in average, healthy adults after 35 minutes, but can cause death after 2 hours.

This CO Alarm measures exposure to CO over time. It alarms if CO levels are extremely high in a short period of time, or if CO levels reach a certain minimum over a long period of time. The CO Alarm generally sounds an alarm before the onset of symptoms in average, healthy adults.

Why is this important? Because you need to be warned of a potential CO problem while you can still react in time. In many reported cases of CO exposure, victims may be aware that they are not feeling well, but become disoriented and can no longer react well enough to exit the building or get help. Also, young children and pets may be the first affected. The average healthy adult might not feel any symptoms when the CO Alarm sounds. However, people with cardiac or respiratory problems, infants, unborn babies, pregnant mothers, or elderly people can be more quickly and severely affected by CO. If you experience even mild symptoms of CO poisoning, consult your doctor immediately!

Standards: CSA 6.19. Residential carbon Monoxide alarming devices

According to Underwriters Laboratories Inc. UL2034, Section 1-1.2: "Carbon monoxide alarms covered by these requirements are intended to respond to the presence of carbon monoxide from sources such as, but not limited to, exhaust from internal-combustion engines, abnormal operation of fuel-fired appliances, and fireplaces. CO Alarms are intended to alarm at carbon monoxide levels below those that could cause a loss of ability to react to the dangers of Carbon Monoxide exposure." This CO Alarm monitors the air at the Alarm, and is designed to alarm before CO levels become life threatening. This allows you precious time to leave the house and correct the problem. This is only possible if Alarms are located, installed, and maintained as described in this manual.

Gas Detection at Typical Temperature and Humidity Ranges:
The CO Alarm is not formulated to detect CO levels below 30 ppm typically. UL tested for false alarm resistance to Methane (500 ppm), Butane (300 ppm), Heptane (500 ppm), Ethyl Acetate (200 ppm), Isopropyl Alcohol (200 ppm) and Carbon Dioxide (5000 ppm). Values measure gas and vapor concentrations in parts per million.

Audible Alarm: 85 dB minimum at 10 feet (3 meters).

GENERAL LIMITATIONS OF CO ALARMS

This CO Alarm is intended for residential use. It is not intended for use in industrial applications where Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for carbon monoxide detectors must be met.

CO Alarms may not waken all individuals. If children or others do not readily waken to the sound of the CO Alarm, or if there are infants or family members with mobility limitations, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in the event of an emergency.

CO Alarms will not work without power. This CO Alarm requires a continuous supply of AC power. Plug into an unswitched 120V AC outlet only.

CO Alarms for Solar or Wind Energy users and battery backup power systems: AC powered CO Alarms should only be operated with true or pure sine wave inverters. Operating this CO Alarm with most battery-powered UPS (uninterruptible power supply) products or square wave or "quasi sine wave" inverters will damage the Alarm. If you are not sure about your inverter or UPS type, please consult with the manufacturer to verify.

This CO Alarm will not sense carbon monoxide that does not reach the sensor. This CO Alarm will only sense CO at the sensor. CO may be present in other areas. Doors or other obstructions may affect the rate at which CO reaches the CO Alarm. For this reason, if bedroom doors are usually closed at night, we recommend you install a CO Alarm in each bedroom and in the hallway between them.

CO Alarms may not sense CO on another level of the home. For example, a CO Alarm on the second level, near the bedrooms, may not sense CO in the basement. For this reason, one CO Alarm may not give adequate warning. Complete coverage is recommended. Place CO Alarms on each level of the home.

CO Alarms may not be heard. The alarm horn loudness meets or exceeds current UL standards of 85 dB at 10 feet (3 meters). However, if the CO Alarm is installed outside the bedroom, it may not wake up a sound sleeper or one who has recently used drugs or has been drinking alcoholic beverages. This is especially true if the door is closed or only partly open. Even persons who are awake may not hear the alarm horn if the sound is blocked by distance or closed doors. Noise from traffic, stereo, radio, television, air conditioner, or other appliances may also prevent alert persons from hearing the alarm horn. This CO Alarm is not intended for people who are hearing impaired.

CO Alarms are not a substitute for a smoke alarm. Although fire is a source of carbon monoxide, this CO Alarm does not sense smoke or fire. This CO Alarm senses CO that may be escaping unnoticed from malfunctioning furnaces, appliances, or other sources. Early warning of fire requires the installation of smoke alarms.

CO Alarms are not a substitute for life insurance. Though these CO Alarms warn against increasing CO levels, BRK Brands, Inc. does not warrant or imply in any way that they will protect lives from CO poisoning. Homeowners and renters must still insure their lives.

CO Alarms have a limited life. Although the CO Alarm and all of its parts have passed many stringent tests and are designed to be as reliable as possible, any of these parts could fail at any time. Therefore, you must test your CO Alarm weekly.

CO Alarms are not foolproof. Like all other electronic devices, CO Alarms have limitations. They can only detect CO that reaches their sensors. They may not give early warning to rising CO levels if the CO is coming from a remote part of the home, away from the CO Alarm.

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

*For a list of acceptable replacement batteries, see "Regular Maintenance."

If you have any questions that cannot be answered by reading this manual, call Consumer Affairs at 1-800-323-9005.

© 2014 BRK Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed by BRK Brands, Inc. 3901 Liberty Street Road, Aurora, IL 60504-8122 Consumer Affairs: (800) 323-9005 • www.firstalert.ca

Documents / Resources

References

• Smoke Alarms | Carbon Monoxide Detectors | Fire Safety Products

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