Introduction—FC-2000 Introduction 17
Fire Alarm System Limitations
An automatic fire alarm system is typically made up of smoke detectors,
heat detectors, manual pull stations, audible warning devices, and a fire
alarm control with remote notification capability, which can provide early
warning of a developing fire. Such a system, however, does not assure
protection against property damage or loss of life resulting from a fire.
Any fire alarm system may fail for a variety of reasons:
●
Smoke detectors may not sense fire where smoke cannot reach the
detectors such as in chimneys, in walls, on roofs, or on the other side
of closed doors. Smoke detectors also may not sense a fire on another
level or floor of a building. A second floor detector, for example,
may not sense a first floor or basement fire. Furthermore, all types of
smoke detectors have sensing limitations. No type of smoke detector
can sense every kind of fire caused by carelessness and safety hazards
like smoking in bed, violent explosions, escaping gas, improper
storage of flammable materials, overloaded electrical circuits, children
playing with matches, or arson.
●
Rate-of-rise heat detectors may be subject to reduced sensitivity over
time. For this reason, the rate-of-rise feature of each detector should
be tested at least once per year by a qualified fire protection specialist.
●
Audible warning devices such as horns may not alert people if these
devices are located on the other side of closed or partly open doors or
are located on another floor of a building.
●
A fire alarm system will not operate without electrical power. If
AC power fails, the system will operate from standby batteries only
for a specified time.
●
Equipment used in the system may not be technically compatible with
the control. It is essential to use only equipment listed for service
with your Johnson Controls fire controller.
●
Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from a premise to a
central monitoring station may be out of service or temporarily
disabled.
