INSTALLING YOUR SMOKE ALARM
Read “LOCATIONS TO INSTALL YOUR SMOKE ALARM” AND “LOCATIONS NOT TO INSTALL YOUR SMOKE ALARM” sections in the Manual
first, then decide where to install a Smoke Alarm.
Please follow these steps to install your smoke alarm:
1. At the place where you are going to install your Smoke Alarm, draw a vertical line six inches long.
2. Remove the mounting bracket from your unit by rotating it counter-clockwise.
3. Place the bracket so that the two longest hold slots are aligned on the line. In each of the keyhole slots, draw a mark to locate a mounting plug and screw.
4. Remove the bracket.
5. Using 3/16-inch (5 mm) drill bit, drill two holes at the marks and insert plastic wall plugs. Place the Smoke Alarm in a location where it cannot get any dust on it when
you drill holes for mounting
6. Using the two screws and plastic wall plugs (all supplied), attach the bracket to the wall.
7. Line up the slot of the bracket and the Smoke Alarm. Push the alarm onto the mounting bracket and turn it clockwise to fix it into place. Pull outward on the Smoke
Alarm to make sure it is securely attached to the mounting bracket.
CAUTION: This Smoke Alarm comes with battery cover latches that will
prevent the Smoke Alarm from closing if the battery is not installed. This
tells you that the smoke alarm will not work until a battery is properly
installed.
NOTE: The alarm horn will beep once after the detector is installed with
a battery and mounted on the bracket (2 – 4 seconds). This means the
Smoke Alarm is working normally and also indicates that the battery is
positioned properly. Once the smoke alarm is mounted press the test
button, holding it down for about 3 seconds until the horn sounds. The
horn should sound a loud pulsating alarm. This means the unit is
working properly.
REGULAR MAINTENACE
Your Smoke Alarm is designed to be as maintenance-free as possible. To keep your Smoke Alarm in good working condition, you must test the unit weekly, as described
in section “WEEKLY TESTING OF YOUR SMOKE ALARM”
•
Open the cover and vacuum the dust off the alarm's sensing chamber at least once a month.
•
Remove the battery before cleaning. To clean the Smoke Alarm, use the soft brush attachment to your vacuum. Carefully remove any dust on the Smoke Alarm
components, especially on the openings of the sensing chamber.
•
Replace the battery after cleaning. Test the Smoke Alarm to make sure the battery is working correctly. Never use water or cleaners as they may damage the unit.
Figure: Removable cover of smoke chamber
NOTE
: If nuisance alarms keep coming from the unit, you should check whether the Smoke Alarm’s location is adequate.
Refer to “LOCATIONS TO INSTALL YOUR SMOKE ALARM” to move your
Smoke Alarm if it is not located properly.
WEEKLY TESTING OF YOUR SMOKE ALARM
Test the Smoke Alarm weekly by pushing firmly on the test button with your finger for around 4 seconds until the horn sounds, the sound pattern is 3 beeps, pause, and then 3
beeps with the red LED flashing continuously and rapidly. If the Smoke Alarm beeps three times and the yellow LED flashes three times in 43 seconds, it indicates the Smoke
Alarm is not working properly, and it needs to be repaired or serviced.
This is the only way to make sure that the Smoke Alarm unit is working properly. If the unit fails to test properly, have it repaired or replaced immediately. If you suspect that
your Smoke Alarm does not go into alarm, test it by pressing the test button with your finger to ensure if it works properly.
WARNING: Never use an open flame of any kind to test your Smoke Alarm. You may set fire or damage the Smoke Alarm, as well as your home. The built-in test switch
accurately tests the SmokeAlarm unit's operation as required by UL217.
WARNING: When you are not testing the unit and the alarm horn sounds this means the Smoke Alarm has sensed smoke or combustion particles in the air. Be certain that the
alarm horn is a warning of a possible serious situation, which requires your immediate attention.
The alarm could be caused by a nuisance situation. Cooking smoke or a dusty furnace, sometimes called “friendly fires” can cause the alarm to sound. If this happens, open a
window or fan the air to remove the smoke or dust. The alarm will turn off as soon as the air is completely clear.
NOTE: Do not disconnect the power or remove the battery from the Smoke Alarm. This will remove your protection from fires.
If the alarm horn begins to beep once in 43 seconds with the yellow LED blinking at the same rate, this signal means that the Smoke Alarm's battery is weak. Replace with a
new battery immediately. Keep fresh batteries on hand for this purpose. Replacement batteries can be purchased at a local hardware store. NOTE: Use only the replacement
batteries listed: Panasonic CR123A 3V, Duracell DL123A 3V
WARNING: Do not use any other kind of battery. This Smoke Alarm may not operate properly with another kind of battery.
LOCATIONS TO INSTALL YOUR SMOKE ALARMS:
Smoke Alarms should be installed in accordance with the NFPA Standard 72 (National Fire Protection Association, Battery March Park, Quincy, MA 02169). For complete
coverage in residential units, Smoke Alarms should be installed in all rooms, halls, storage areas, basements, and attics in each family living unit. Minimum coverage is one
alarm on each floor and one in each sleeping area.
USEFUL TIPS FOR YOU:
Install a smoke alarm in the hallway outside every separate bedroom area, as shown in Figure 1.
Two Smoke Alarms are required in homes with two bedroom areas, as shown in Figure 2.
Install a smoke alarm on every floor of a multi-floor home or apartment, as shown in Figure 3.
•
Install a minimum of two Smoke Alarms in any household.
•
Install a Smoke Alarm inside every bedroom.
•
Install Smoke Alarms at both ends of a bedroom hallway if the hallway is more than 40 feet (12 meters long)
•
Install a Smoke Alarm inside every room where one sleeps with the door partly or completely closed, since smoke could be blocked by the closed door
and a hallway alarm may not wake up the sleeper if the door is closed.
•
Install basement Smoke Alarms at the bottom of the basement stairwell.
•
Install second floor Smoke Alarms at the top of the first-to-second floor stairwell.
•
Be sure no door or other obstruction blocks the path of smoke to the Smoke Alarm.
•
Install additional Smoke Alarms in your living room, dining room, family room, attic, utility and storage rooms.
•
Install Smoke Alarms as close to the center of the ceiling as possible. If this is not practical, put the Smoke Alarm on the ceiling, no closer than 4
inches (10 cm) from any wall or corner, as shown in Figure 4.
•
If ceiling mounting is not possible and wall mounting is permitted by your local and state codes, put wall-mounted Smoke Alarms between 4 and 6
inches (10 – 15 cm) from the ceiling,also see Figure 4.
•
If some of your rooms have sloped, peaked, or gabled ceilings, try to mount Smoke Alarms 3 feet (0.9 meter) measured horizontally from the highest
point to the ceiling as shown in Figure 5.
•
On ceilings with exposed joists or beams, Smoke Alarms shall be mounted on the bottom of the joists or beams as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 4: Recommended best and
Figure 5: Recommended locations
Figure 6: Recommended locations
acceptable locations to mount
to mount Smoke Alarms in rooms
on ceilings with exposed joists or beams.
Smoke Alarms.
with sloped, gabled, or peaked ceilings.
NOTE:
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.
Figure: Removable mounting bracket
Figure 1: Locations for placing
Figure 2: Locations for placing
Smoke Alarms for single residence
Smoke Alarms for single-floor residence
with only one sleeping area.
with more than one sleeping area.
Figure 3: Locations for placing
Smoke Alarms for a multi-floor residence
LOCATIONS NOT TO INSTALL YOUR SMOKE ALARMS
Nuisance alarms take place when smoke alarms are installed where they will not work properly. To avoid nuisance alarms, do not install smoke alarms in
the following situations: IMPORTANT: For any reason, do not disable the unit to avoid nuisance alarms.
• Combustion particles are the by-products of something that is burning. Thus, in or near areas where combustion particles are present you do not install
smoke alarms to avoid nuisance alarms, such as kitchens with few windows or poor ventilation, garages where there may be vehicle exhaust, near
furnaces, hot water, and space heaters.
• Do not install smoke alarms less than 20 feet (6 meters) away from places where combustion particles are normally present, like kitchens. If a 20-foot
distance is not possible, e.g. in a mobile home, try to install the alarm as far away from the combustion particles as possible, preferably on the wall. To
prevent nuisance alarms, provide good ventilation in such places.
• In air streams near kitchens. Air currents can draw cooking smoke into the sensing chamber of a smoke alarm near the kitchen.
• In damp or very humid areas or near bathrooms with showers. Moisture in humid air can enter the sensing chamber and then turn in droplets upon cooling
which can cause nuisance alarms. Install smoke alarms at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from bathrooms. • In very cold or very hot areas including
unheated buildings or outdoor rooms. If the temperature goes above or below the operating range of smoke alarms it will not work properly. The
temperature range for your smoke alarm is 0°C (32°F) ~ 49°C (120°F).
• In very dusty, dirty, or greasy areas. Do not install a smoke alarm directly over the stove or range. Keep laundry room smoke alarms free of dust or lint.
• Near fresh air vents or very drafty areas like air conditioners, heaters, fans, fresh air vents and drafts which can drive smoke away from smoke alarms.
• In insect-infested areas. If insects enter an alarm's sensing chamber they may cause a nuisance alarm. Where bugs are a problem get rid of them before
putting up an alarm.
• Near fluorescent lights as electrical “noise” from fluorescent lights may cause nuisance alarms. Install smoke alarms at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) from such
lights.
• In “dead air” spaces. “Dead air spaces my prevent smoke from reaching the smoke alarm.
Avoiding Dead Air Spaces “Dead air” spaces may prevent smoke from reaching the Smoke Alarm. To avoid dead air spaces, follow the installation
recommendations below.
•
On ceilings, install Smoke Alarms as close to the center of the ceiling as possible. If this is not possible, install the Smoke Alarm at least 4 inches
(100 mm) from the wall or corner.
•
For wall mounting (if allowed by building codes), the top edge of Smoke Alarms should be placed between 4 and 12 inches (100 and 300 mm) from
the wall/ceiling line, below typical “dead air” spaces.
•
On a peaked, gabled, or cathedral ceiling, install the first Smoke Alarm within 3 feet (0.9 meters) of the peak of the ceiling, measured horizontally.
Additional Smoke Alarms may be required depending on the length, angle, ect of the ceilings slope. Refer to NFPA 72 for details on requirements
for sloped peaked ceilings.
WARNING: Never remove the battery from the Smoke Alarm to stop a nuisance alarm. Open a window or fan the air around the Smoke Alarm to get rid of
the smoke. The alarm will turn itself off when the smoke is gone. If nuisance alarms persist, attempt to clean the Smoke Alarm as described in the User's
Manual.
WARNING: Do not stand close to the Smoke Alarm when the alarm is sounding. The alarm is loud in order to wake you in an emergency. Too much
exposure to the horn at close range may be harmful to your hearing.
