46
Important Notice
Alarm System Limitations
This security system can not offer guaranteed protection against burglary, fi re, or other emergencies.
Any alarm system, whether commercial or residential, is subject to compromise or failure to warn for
a variety of reasons. For example:
Intruders may gain access through unprotected openings or have the technical sophistication
•
to bypass an alarm sensor or disconnect an alarm warning device.
Intrusion detectors (sensors) will not work without power. Battery operated devices will not work
•
without batteries, with dead batteries, or if the batteries are not put in properly. Devices powered
solely by AC will not work if their AC power supply is cut off for any reason, however briefl y.
Signals sent by wireless sensors may be blocked or refl ected by metal before they reach the
•
alarm Control Panel, even if the signal path has been recently checked during a weekly test.
Blockage can occur if a metal object has been moved into the sensor’s signal path.
A user may not be able to reach a panic or emergency button quickly enough.
•
While smoke detectors have played a key role in reducing residential fi re deaths in the United States, they may not
•
activate or provide early warning for a variety of reasons in as many as 35% of all fi res, according to data published
by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Some of the reasons smoke detectors used in conjunction with this
system may not work are where smoke cannot reach the detectors, such as in chimneys, in walls, or roofs, or on the
other side of closed doors. Smoke detectors may have been improperly installed and positioned. Smoke detectors
may not sense fi res that start where smoke cannot reach the detectors, such as in chimneys, in walls, or roofs, or on
the other side of closed doors. Smoke detectors also may not sense a fi re on another level of a residence or building.
A second fl oor detector, for example, may not sense a fi rst fl oor or basement fi re. Moreover, smoke detectors have
sensing limitations. No smoke detector can sense every kind of fi re every time. In general, detectors may not always
warn about fi res caused by carelessness and safety hazards like smoking in bed, violent explosions, escaping gas,
improper storage of fl ammable materials, overloaded electrical circuits, children playing with matches, or arson.
Depending upon the nature of the fi re and/or the locations of the smoke detectors, the detector, even if it operates as
anticipated, may not provide suffi cient warning to allow all occupants to escape in time to prevent injury or death.
Alarm warning devices such as sirens, bells or horns may not alert people or wake up sleepers if they are located on
•
the other side of closed or partly open doors. If warning devices sound on a different level of the residence from the
bedrooms, then they are less likely to waken or alert people inside the bedrooms. Even persons who are awake may
not hear the warning if the alarm is muffl ed from a stereo, radio, air conditioner or other appliance, or by passing traffi c.
Finally, alarm warning devices, however loud, may not warn hearing-impaired people or awaken deep sleepers.
Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from a premises to a central monitoring station may be out of
•
service or temporarily out of service. Telephone lines are also subject to compromise by sophisticated intruders.
Even if the system responds to the emergency as intended, however, occupants may
•
have insuffi cient time to protect themselves from the emergency situation. In the case
of a monitored alarm system, authorities may not respond appropriately.
This equipment, like other electrical devices, is subject to component failure. Even though this equipment
•
is designed to last as long as ten years, the electronic components could fail at any time.
The most common cause of an alarm system not functioning when an intrusion or fi re occurs is
inadequate maintenance. This alarm system should be tested weekly to make sure the sensors are
working properly.
Installing an alarm system may make one eligible for lower insurance rates, but an alarm system is
not a substitute for insurance. Homeowners, property owners, and renters should continue to act
prudently in protecting themselves and continue to insure their lives and property.
