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Follow safety rules and prevent hazardous situations:
Keep alarms clean, and test them weekly. Replace alarms immediately if they are not working properly. Smoke Alarms that do not work cannot alert you to a fire. Keep at least one working fire extinguisher on every floor, and an additional one in the kitchen. Have fire escape ladders or other reliable means of escape from an upper floor in case stairs are blocked.
Minimum coverage for Smoke Alarms, as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is one Smoke Alarm on every floor, in every sleeping area, and in every bedroom (See "Regulatory Information For Smoke Alarms" for details on the NFPA recommendations).
For CO Alarms, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that a CO Alarm should be centrally located outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms. For added protection, install additional CO Alarms in each separate bedroom, and on every level of your home.
NOTE: For added protection, install an additional Smoke/CO Alarm at least 15 feet (4.6 meters) away from the furnace or fuel burning heat source where possible. In smaller homes or in manufactured homes where this distance cannot be maintained, install the Alarm as far away as possible from the furnace or other fuel burning source. Installing the Alarm closer than 15 feet (4.6 meters) will not harm the Alarm, but may increase the frequency of unwanted alarms.
IN GENERAL, INSTALL COMBINATION SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS:
SUGGESTED AREAS FOR INSTALLING SMOKE ALARMS, CO ALARMS, AND COMBO UNITS
KEY:
![]() | SMOKE ALARMS |
![]() | SMOKE ALARM WITH SILENCE FEATURE |
![]() | CO ALARMS |
![]() | BOTH, OR COMBINATION SMOKE/CO ALARMS |
Suggested locations are based on NFPA recommendations (NFPA 72 for Smoke Alarms and NFPA 720 for Carbon Monoxide Alarms). Always refer to national and local codes before beginning any installation.
In new construction AC and AC/DC smoke alarms MUST be interconnected to meet NFPA recommendations.
NOTE: For any location, make sure no door or other obstruction could keep carbon monoxide or smoke from reaching the Alarm.
Installing Smoke/CO Alarms in Mobile Homes
For minimum security install one Smoke/CO Alarm as close to each sleeping area as possible. For more security, put one unit in each room. Many older mobile homes (especially those built before 1978) have little or no insulation. If your mobile home is not well insulated, or if you are unsure of the amount of insulation, it is important to install units on inside walls only.
DO NOT LOCATE THIS SMOKE/CO ALARM:
AVOIDING DEAD AIR SPACES
"Dead air" spaces may prevent smoke from reaching the Smoke/CO Alarm. To avoid dead air spaces, follow installation recommendations below.
On ceilings, install Smoke/CO Alarms as close to the center of the ceiling as possible. If this is not possible, install the Smoke/CO Alarm at least 4 inches (102 mm) from the wall or corner.
For wall mounting (if allowed by building codes), the top edge of Smoke/CO Alarms should be placed between 4 inches (102 mm) and 12 inches (305 mm) from the wall/ceiling line, below typical "dead air" spaces.
On a peaked, gabled, or cathedral ceiling, install first Smoke/CO Alarm within 3 feet (0.9 meters) of the peak of the ceiling, measured horizontally. Additional Smoke/CO Alarms may be required depending on the length, angle, etc. of the ceiling's slope. Refer to NFPA 72 for details on requirements for sloped or peaked ceilings.
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This combination Smoke/CO Alarm was designed to be mounted on the ceiling or wall. It is not a tabletop device. You must install this device on the ceiling or wall as outlined below. Read "Where To Install This Alarm" before starting.
Tools you will need: pencil, drill with 3/16" or 5mm drill bit, flathead screwdriver, hammer.
PARTS OF THIS SMOKE/CO ALARM
If you want to lock the battery compartment, or lock the Smoke/CO Alarm to the mounting bracket, please read the "Optional Locking Features" section.
This unit has been designed to be as maintenance-free as possible, but there are a few simple things you must do to keep it working properly.
Choosing a replacement battery:
Your Smoke/CO Alarm requires two standard AA batteries. The following batteries are acceptable as replacements: Duracell MN1500. These batteries are available at many local retail stores.
Actual battery service life depends on the Smoke/CO Alarm and the environment in which it is installed. All the batteries specified above are acceptable replacement batteries for this unit. Regardless of the manufacturer's suggested battery life, you MUST replace the battery immediately once the unit starts "chirping" (the "low battery warning").
To replace the batteries (without removing Alarm from the ceiling or wall):
It is important to test this unit every week to make sure it is working properly. Using the test button is the recommended way to test this Smoke/CO Alarm.
You can test this Smoke/CO Alarm: Press and hold the Test/Silence button 3-5 seconds until unit starts to alarm.
During testing, you will see and hear the following sequence:
If the unit does not alarm, make sure the batteries are correctly installed, and test again. If the unit still does not alarm, replace it immediately.
Type of Alarm | What You See and Hear |
Carbon Monoxide (CO) | CO LED: Flashes Red Horn: 4 beeps, pause, 4 beeps, pause Power/Smoke LED: Off |
Smoke | Power/Smoke LED: Flashes Red Horn: 3 beeps, pause, 3 beeps, pause CO LED: Off |
"ALARM-MOVE TO FRESH AIR""
If you hear the CO alarm horn and the CO red light is flashing, move everyone to a source of fresh air. DO NOT remove the batteries!
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 CO ALARM SIGNAL SOUNDS:
NOTE: A qualified appliance technician is defined as "a person, firm, corporation, or company that either in person or through a representative, is engaged in and responsible for the installation, testing, servicing, or replacement of heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, combustion appliances and equipment, and/or gas fireplaces or other decorative combustion equipment."
RESPONDING TO AN ALARM
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF FIRE
Alarms have various limitations. See "General Limitations of Smoke/CO Alarms" for details.
The optional locking features are designed to discourage unauthorized removal of the batteries or Alarm. It is not necessary to activate the locks in single-family households where unauthorized battery or Alarm removal is not a concern.
This Smoke Alarm has two separate locking features: one to lock the battery compartment, and the other to lock the Smoke Alarm to the mounting bracket. You can choose to use either feature independently, or use them both.
Tools you will need: Needle-nose pliers or utility knife Standard flathead screwdriver.
Both locking features use locking pins, which are molded into the mounting bracket. Depending on which locking features you use, remove one or both pins from the mounting bracket using needle-nose pliers or a utility knife.
To permanently remove either locking pin, insert a flathead screwdriver between the locking pin and the lock, and pry the pin out of the lock.
Do not lock the battery compartment until you activate the battery and test the Smoke/CO Alarm.
If the unit does not alarm during testing, DO NOT lock the battery compartment! Install new batteries and test again. If the unit still does not alarm, replace it immediately.
When replacing the batteries, always test the Smoke/CO Alarm before relocking the battery compartment.
Never remove the batteries to quiet an unwanted alarm. Removing the batteries disables the alarm and removes your protection.
The Silence Feature is intended to temporarily silence the horn while you identify and correct the problem. Do not use the Silence Feature in emergency situations. It will not correct a CO problem or extinguish a fire.
The Silence Feature can temporarily quiet an unwanted alarm for several minutes. Press the Test/Silence button on the alarm cover for at least 3-5 seconds.
After the Test/Silence button is released, the Red LED blinks during the silence mode.
When the Smoke Alarm is Silenced | When the CO Alarm is Silenced |
The Smoke Alarm will remain silent for up to 15 minutes, then return to normal operation. If the smoke has not cleared–or continues to increase–the device will go back into alarm. | The CO alarm will remain silent for up to 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, if CO levels remain potentially dangerous the horn will start sounding again. |
This silence feature can temporarily quiet the low battery warning "chirp" for up to 8 hours. Press the Test/Silence button on the alarm cover.
Once the low battery warning "chirp" silence feature is activated, the unit continues to flash the Green light once a minute for 8 hours. After 8 hours, the low battery "chirp" will resume. Replace the batteries as soon as possible; this unit will not operate without battery power!
To deactivate this feature: Press the Test/Silence button again. The unit will go into Test Mode and the low battery warning will resume (LED flashes and unit sounds "chirp" once a minute).
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.
CO is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas produced when fossil fuels do not burn completely, or are exposed to heat (usually fire). Electrical appliances typically do not produce CO. These fuels include: Wood, coal, charcoal, oil, natural gas, gasoline, kerosene, and propane.
Common appliances are often sources of CO. If they are not properly maintained, are improperly ventilated, or malfunction, CO levels can rise quickly. CO is a real danger now that homes are more energy efficient. "Air-tight" homes with added insulation, sealed windows, and other weatherproofing can "trap" CO inside.
These symptoms are related to CO POISONING and should be discussed with ALL household members.
Mild Exposure: Slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue ("flu-like" symptoms).
Medium Exposure: Throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate.
Extreme Exposure: Convulsions, unconsciousness, heart and lung failure.
Exposure to Carbon Monoxide can cause brain damage, death.
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!
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, invisible gas, which often makes it difficult to locate the source of CO after an alarm. These are a few of the factors that can make it difficult to locate sources of CO:
Because CO may dissipate by the time an investigator arrives, it may be difficult to locate the source of CO. BRK Brands, Inc. shall not be obligated to pay for any carbon monoxide investigation or service call.
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-againoff-again CO problems can be caused by outdoor conditions and other special circumstances.
The following conditions can result in transient CO situations:
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.
A CO Alarm is an excellent means of protection. It monitors the air and sounds a loud alarm before Carbon Monoxide levels become threatening for average, healthy adults.
A CO Alarm is not a substitute for proper maintenance of home appliances.
To help prevent CO problems and reduce the risk of CO poisoning:
In addition, familiarize yourself with all enclosed materials. Read this manual in its entirety, and make sure you understand what to do if your CO Alarm sounds.
WHAT LEVELS OF CO CAUSE AN ALARM?
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Standard UL2034 requires residential CO Alarms to sound when exposed to levels of CO and exposure times as described below. They are measured in parts per million (ppm) of CO over time (in minutes).
UL2034 Required Alarm Points*:
* 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.
Standards: Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Single and Multiple Station carbon monoxide alarms UL2034.
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).
Installing Smoke Alarms in Single-Family Residences
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), recommends one Smoke Alarm on every floor, in every sleeping area, and in every bedroom. In new construction, the Smoke Alarms must be AC powered and interconnected. See "Agency Placement Recommendations" for details.
For additional coverage, it is recommended that you install a Smoke Alarm in all rooms, halls, storage areas, finished attics, and basements, where temperatures normally remain between 40˚ F (4.4˚ C) and 100˚ F (37.8˚ C). Make sure no door or other obstruction could keep smoke from reaching the Smoke Alarms.
More specifically, install Smoke Alarms:
Specific requirements for Smoke Alarm installation vary from state to state and from region to region. Check with your local Fire Department for current requirements in your area. It is recommended AC or AC/DC units be interconnected for added protection.
Standards: Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Single and Multiple Station Smoke Alarms 217.
NFPA 72 Chapter 29
"For your information, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, NFPA 72, reads as follows:"
29. 5.1* Required Detection.
29.5.1.1* Where required by other governing laws, codes, or standards for a specific type of occupancy, approved single and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed as follows:
(Reprinted with permission from NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Copyright © 2010 National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of the National Fire Protection Association, on the referenced subject which is represented only by the standard in its entirety), (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code® and NFPA 72® are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Inc., Quincy, MA 02269).
California State Fire Marshal (CSFM)
Early warning detection is best achieved by the installation of fire detection equipment in all rooms and areas of the household as follows: A Smoke Alarm installed in each separate sleeping area (in the vicinity, but outside bedrooms), and Heat or Smoke Alarms in the living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, finished attics, furnace rooms, closets, utility and storage rooms, basements, and attached garages.
Battery (DC) operated Smoke Alarms: Provide protection even when electricity fails, provided the batteries are fresh and correctly installed. Units are easy to install, and do not require professional installation.
AC powered Smoke Alarms: Can be interconnected so if one unit senses smoke, all units alarm. They do not operate if electricity fails. AC with battery (DC) back-up: will operate if electricity fails, provided the batteries are fresh and correctly installed. AC and AC/DC units must be installed by a qualified electrician.
Smoke/CO Alarms for Solar or Wind Energy users and battery backup power systems: AC powered Smoke/ CO Alarms should only be operated with true or pure sine wave inverters. Operating this Alarm with most batterypowered 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.
Smoke Alarms for the hearing impaired: Special purpose Smoke Alarms should be installed for the hearing impaired. They include a visual alarm and an audible alarm horn, and meet the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Can be interconnected so if one unit senses smoke, all units alarm.
This Smoke Alarm is suitable for use in apartments, condominiums, townhouses, hospitals, day care facilities, health care facilities, boarding houses, group homes and dormitories provided a primary fire detection system already exists to meet fire detection requirements in common areas like lobbies, hallways, or porches. Using this Smoke Alarm in common areas may not provide sufficient warning to all residents or meet local fire protection ordinances/regulations.
This Smoke Alarm alone is not a suitable substitute for complete fire detection systems in places housing many people—like apartment buildings, condominiums, hotels, motels, dormitories, hospitals, health care facilities, nursing homes, day care facilities, or group homes of any kind. It is not a suitable substitute for complete fire detection systems in warehouses, industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and special-purpose non-residential buildings which require special fire detection and alarm systems. Depending on the building codes in your area, this Smoke Alarm may be used to provide additional protection in these facilities.
In new construction, most building codes require the use of AC or AC/DC powered Smoke Alarms only. In existing
Smoke alarms are not to be used with detector guards unless the combination has been evaluated and found suitable for that purpose.
All these Smoke Alarms are designed to provide early warning of fires if located, installed and cared for as described in the user's manual, and if smoke reaches the Alarm. If you are unsure which type of Smoke Alarm to install, refer the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code). National Fire Protection Association, One Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 022699101. Local building codes may also require specific units in new construction or in different areas of the home. construction, AC, AC/DC, or DC powered Smoke Alarms can be used as specified by local building codes. Refer to NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), local building codes, or consult your Fire Department for detailed fire protection requirements in buildings not defined as "households".
HUD MAP PROGRAM
Certain HUD battery powered Smoke Alarm applications, especially those that fall under HUD 223(f) MAP (Multi-family Accelerated Processing), may require a 10 Year sealed tamper resistant battery. This alarm does not meet that requirement. Substitute First Alert SA340B.
This Smoke/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 Alarms must be met. The Smoke Alarm portion of this device is not intended to alert hearing impaired residents. Special purpose Smoke Alarms should be installed for hearing impaired residents (CO Alarms are not yet available for the hearing impaired).
Smoke/CO Alarms may not waken all individuals. Practice the escape plan at least twice a year, making sure that everyone is involved – from kids to grand- parents. Allow children to master fire escape planning and practice before holding a fire drill at night when they are sleeping. If children or others do not readily waken to the sound of the Smoke/CO Alarm, or if there are infants or family members with mobility limitations, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in fire drill and in the event of an emergency. It is recommended that you hold a fire drill while family members are sleeping in order to determine their response to the sound of the Smoke/ CO Alarm while sleeping and to determine whether they may need assistance in the event of an emergency.
Smoke/CO Alarms cannot work without power. Battery operated units cannot work if the batteries are missing, disconnected or dead, if the wrong type of batteries are used, or if the batteries are not installed correctly. AC units cannot work if the AC power is cut off for any reason (open fuse or circuit breaker, failure along a power line or at a power station, electrical fire that burns the electrical wires, etc.). If you are concerned about the limitations of battery or AC power, install both types of units.
This Smoke/CO Alarm will not sense smoke or CO that does not reach the sensors. It will only sense smoke or CO at the sensor. Smoke or CO may be present in other areas. Doors or other obstructions may affect the rate at which CO or smoke reaches the sensors. If bedroom doors are usually closed at night, we recommend you install an alarm device (Combination CO and Smoke Alarm, or separate CO Alarms and Smoke Alarms) in each bedroom and in the hallway between them.
This Smoke/CO Alarm may not sense smoke or CO on another level of the home. Example:
This alarm device, installed on the second floor, may not sense smoke or CO in the basement. For this reason, one alarm device may not give adequate early warning. Recommended minimum protection is one alarm device in every sleeping area, every bedroom, and on every level of your home. Some experts recommend battery powered Smoke and CO Alarms be used in conjunction with interconnected AC powered Smoke Alarms. For details, see "About Smoke Alarms" for details.
Smoke/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 Smoke/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 Smoke/CO Alarm is not intended for people who are hearing impaired.
The Alarm may not have time to alarm before the fire itself causes damage, injury, or death, since smoke from some fires may not reach the unit immediately. Examples of this include persons smoking in bed, children playing with matches, or fires caused by violent explosions resulting from escaping gas.
This Smoke/CO Alarm is not a substitute for life insurance. Though this Smoke/CO Alarm warns against increasing CO levels or the presence of smoke, BRK Brands, Inc. does not warrant or imply in any way that they will protect lives. Homeowners and renters must still insure their lives.
This Smoke/CO Alarm has a limited life. Although this Smoke/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 this device weekly. The unit should be replaced immediately if it is not operating properly.
This Smoke/CO Alarm is not foolproof. Like all other electronic devices, this Smoke/CO Alarm has limitations. It can only detect smoke or CO that reaches the sensors. It may not give early warning of the source of smoke or CO is in a remote part of the home, away from the alarm device.
IF THE ALARM... | PROBLEM... | YOU SHOULD... | |
Horn "chirps" about once per minute. | Low battery warning. | Install two new AA batteries*. | |
Horn does three "chirps" every minute; LED has 3 rapid flashes with "chirps". | MALFUNCTION SIGNAL. Device is not working properly, and needs to be replaced. | Units under warranty should be returned to manufacturer for replacement. See "Limited Warranty" for details. | |
The light flashes GREEN and the horn sounds 5 "chirps" every minute. | END OF LIFE SIGNAL. Alarm needs to be replaced. | Immediately replace the Alarm. | |
Carbon Monoxide Alarm ONLY: | |||
CO Alarm goes back into alarm 4 minutes after you Silence it. | CO levels indicate a potentially dangerous situation. | IF YOU ARE FEELING SYMPTOMS OF CO POISONING, EVACUATE your home and call 911 or the Fire Department. Refer to "If The CO Alarm Sounds" for details. | |
CO Alarm sounds frequently even though no high levels of CO are revealed in an investigation. | The CO Alarm may be improperly located. Refer to "Where to Install This Alarm" for details. | Relocate your Alarm. If frequent alarms continue, have home rechecked for potential CO problems. You may be experiencing an intermittent CO problem. | |
Smoke Alarm ONLY: | |||
Smoke Alarm sounds when no smoke is visible. | Unwanted alarm may be caused by nonemergency source like cooking smoke. | Silence Alarm using Test/Silence button; clean the Alarm's cover with a soft, clean cloth. If frequent unwanted alarms continue, relocate your Alarm. Alarm may be too close to a kitchen, cooking appliance, or steamy bathroom. | |
*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: 1-800-323-9005. |
Here you can download full pdf version of manual, it may contain additional safety instructions, warranty information, FCC rules, etc.
Download First Alert SCO5 - Combination Carbon Monoxide And Smoke Alarm Manual
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