Printed in Mexico
M08-0149-002 Q
05/06
IMPORTANT!
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND SAVE.
This user’s manual contains important information about your
Smoke Alarm’s operation. If you are installing this Smoke Alarm for use by
others, you must leave this manual—or a copy of it—with the end user.
© 2006 BRK Brands, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
BRK Brands, Inc., 3901 Liberty Street Road, Aurora, IL 60504-8122
Consumer Affairs: (800)323-9005 • www.firstalert.com
FIRE SAFETY TIPS
Follow safety rules and prevent hazardous situations: 1) Use smoking
materials properly. Never smoke in bed. 2) Keep matches or lighters away
from children; 3) Store flammable materials in proper containers; 4) Keep
electrical appliances in good condition and don’t overload electrical circuits;
5) Keep stoves, barbecue grills, fireplaces and chimneys grease- and debris-
free; 6) Never leave anything cooking on the stove unattended; 7) Keep
portable heaters and open flames, like candles, away from flammable
materials; 8) Don’t let rubbish accumulate.
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.
BEFORE YOU INSTALL THIS SMOKE ALARM
IMPORTANT! Read “Recommended Locations for Smoke Alarms” and
“Locations to Avoid for Smoke Alarms” before beginning. This unit monitors
the air, and when smoke reaches its sensing chamber, it alarms. It can give
you more time to escape before fire spreads. This unit can ONLY give an early
warning of developing fires if it is installed, maintained and located where
smoke can reach it, and where all residents can hear it, as described in this
manual. This unit will not sense gas, heat, or flame. It cannot prevent or
extinguish fires.
Understand The Different Type of Smoke Alarms
Battery powered or electrical? Different Smoke Alarms provide different
types of protection. See “About Smoke Alarms” for details.
Know Where To Install Your Smoke Alarms
Fire Safety Professionals recommend at least one Smoke Alarm on every
level of your home, in every bedroom, and in every bedroom hallway or
separate sleeping area. See “Recommended Locations For Smoke Alarms”
and “Locations To Avoid For Smoke Alarms” for details.
Know What Smoke Alarms Can and Can’t Do
A Smoke Alarm can help alert you to fire, giving you precious time to
escape. It can only sound an alarm once smoke reaches the sensor. See
“Limitations of Smoke Alarms” for details.
Check Your Local Building Codes
This Smoke Alarm is designed to be used in a typical single-family home.
It alone will not meet requirements for boarding houses, apartment buildings,
hotels or motels. See “Special Compliance Considerations” for details.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Fire Safety Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Before You Install This Smoke Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
How To Install This Smoke Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Weekly Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Regular Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Installation Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Optional Locking Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Understanding the Indicator Lights
and Alarm Horn Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Wireless Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
If This Smoke Alarm Sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
What To Do In Case Of Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Using the Silence Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
If You Suspect a Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Recommended Locations For Smoke Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Locations To Avoid For Smoke Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
About Smoke Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-7
Special Compliance Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Limitations of Smoke Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
1
All First Alert
®
and BRK
®
Smoke Alarms conform to regulatory
requirements, including UL217 and are designed to detect particles of
combustion. Smoke particles of varying number and size are produced
in all fires.
Ionization technology is generally more sensitive than photoelectric
technology at detecting small particles, which tend to be produced
in greater amounts by flaming fires, which consume combustible
materials rapidly and spread quickly. Sources of these fires may include
paper burning in a wastebasket, or a grease fire in the kitchen.
Photoelectric technology is generally more sensitive than ionization
technology at detecting large particles, which tend to be produced in
greater amounts by smoldering fires, which may smolder for hours
before bursting into flame. Sources of these fires may include cigarettes
burning in couches or bedding.
For maximum protection, use both types of Smoke Alarms on each
level and in every bedroom of your home.
USER’S MANUAL
ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD. Turn off the power to the area where the
Smoke Alarm is installed before removing it from the mounting bracket.
Failure to turn off the power first may result in serious electrical shock,
injury or death.
• This unit will not alert hearing impaired residents. It is recommended
that you install special units which use devices like flashing strobe
lights to alert hearing impaired residents.
• Installation of this unit must conform to the electrical codes in
your area; Article 760 of NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 72, NFPA 101; SBC
(SBCCI); UBC (ICBO); NBC (BOCA); OTFDC (CABO), and any other
local or building codes that may apply. Wiring and installation
must be performed by a licensed electrician. Failure to follow
these guidelines may result in injury or property damage.
• This unit must be powered by a 24-hour, 120VAC pure sine wave
60Hz circuit. Be sure the circuit cannot be turned off by a switch,
dimmer, or ground fault circuit interrupter. Failure to connect this
unit to a 24-hour circuit may prevent it from providing constant
protection.
• This Smoke Alarm must have AC or battery power to operate.
If the AC power fails, battery back-up will allow the alarm to
sound for at least 4 minutes. If AC power fails and the battery is
weak, protection should last for at least 7 days. If AC power fails
and the battery is dead or missing, the alarm cannot operate.
• Never disconnect the power from an AC powered unit to stop an
unwanted alarm. Doing so will disable the unit and remove your
protection. In the case of a true unwanted alarm open a window or
fan the smoke away from the unit. The alarm will reset automatically
when it returns to normal operation. Never remove the batteries
from a battery operated unit to stop an unwanted alarm (caused by
cooking smoke, etc.). Instead open a window or fan the smoke
away from the unit. The alarm will reset automatically.
• Connect this unit ONLY to other compatible units. See “How To
Install This Smoke Alarm” for details. Do not connect it to any
other type of alarm or auxiliary device. Connecting anything else
to this unit may damage it or prevent it from operating properly.
• This Smoke Alarm has a battery drawer which resists closing
unless a battery is installed. This warns you the unit will not
operate under DC power without a battery.
• Do not stand too close to the unit when the alarm is sounding.
It is loud to wake you in an emergency. Exposure to the horn at
close range may harm your hearing.
• Do not paint over the unit. Paint may clog the openings to the
sensing chambers and prevent the unit from operating properly.
Input: 120V AC
~
,
60Hz, 0.09A
WIRELESS
ONE
LINK
TM
AC POWERED
SMOKE ALARM WITH BATTERY BACK-UP
3055574
UL STANDARD 217
Model
SA520
