Limitations Of Smoke Alarms - Kidde P3010L-CO-CA User Manual

1. Limitations of Smoke Alarms

WARNING: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY
•NFPA72states:Lifesafetyfromfireinresidentialoccupanciesisbased
primarilyonearlynotificationtooccupantsoftheneedtoescape,
followedbytheappropriateegressactionsbythoseoccupants.
•Firewarningsystemsfordwellingunitsarecapableofprotectingabout
halfoftheoccupantsinpotentiallyfatalfires.Victimsareoftenintimate
withthefire,toooldoryoung,orphysicallyormentallyimpairedsuch
thattheycannotescapeevenwhenwarnedearlyenoughthatescape
shouldbepossible.Forthesepeople,otherstrategiessuchasprotection-
in-placeorassistedescapeorrescuearenecessary.
•Smokealarmsaredevicesthatcanprovideearlywarningof
possiblefiresatareasonablecost;however,alarmshavesensing
limitations.Ionizationsensingalarmsmaydetectinvisiblefire
particles(associatedwithfastflamingfires)soonerthanphotoelectric
alarms.Photoelectricsensingalarmsmaydetectvisiblefireparticles
(associatedwithslowsmolderingfires)soonerthanionizationalarms.
Homefiresdevelopindifferentwaysandareoftenunpredictable.For
maximumprotection,KidderecommendsthatbothIonizationand
Photoelectricalarmsbeinstalled.
•Abatterypoweredalarmmusthaveabatteryofthespecifiedtype,
ingoodconditionandinstalledproperly.
•Smokealarmsmustbetestedregularlytomakesurethebatteryand
thealarmcircuitsareingoodoperatingcondition.
•Smokealarmscannotprovideanalarmifsmokedoesnotreach
thealarm.Therefore,smokealarmsmaynotsensefiresstartingin
chimneys,walls,onroofs,ontheothersideofacloseddoororona
differentfloor.
•Ifthealarmislocatedoutsidethebedroomoronadifferentfloor,it
maynotwakeupasoundsleeper.
•Theuseofalcoholordrugsmayalsoimpairone'sabilitytohearthe
smokealarm.Formaximumprotection,asmokealarmshouldbe
installedineachsleepingareaoneverylevelofahome.
• A lthoughsmokealarmscanhelpsavelivesbyprovidinganearly
warningofafire,theyarenotasubstituteforaninsurancepolicy.
Homeowners,landlordsandtenantsshouldhaveadequateinsurance
toprotecttheirlivesandproperty.
This alarm is not intended to alert hearing impaired individuals.