Smoke Alarm
The smoke alarm monitors the air for products of
combustion that are produced when something is burning
or smouldering. When smoke particles in the smoke sensor
reach a specified concentration, the alarm/voice message
warning system will sound, and be accompanied by the
flashing red LED light.
The smoke alarm takes prece-
dence when both smoke and carbon monoxide are
present.
Life safety from fire in residential occupancies is based pri-
marily on early notification to occupants of the need to
escape, followed by the appropriate escape actions by those
occupants. Fire warning systems for dwelling units are capa-
ble of protecting about half of the occupants in potentially
fatal fires. Victims are often intimate with the fire, For the
old, young, or physically or mentally impaired such that
they cannot escape even when warned early enough that
escape should be possible. For these people, other strate-
gies such as protection-in-place or assisted escape or rescue
are necessary.
• Smoke alarms are devices that can provide early warning
of possible fires at a reasonable cost; however, alarms
have sensing limitations. Ionisation sensing alarms may
detect invisible fire particles (associated with fast flaming
fires) sooner than photoelectric alarms. Photoelectric
sensing alarms may detect visible fire particles (associated
with slow smouldering fires) sooner than ionisation
alarms. Home fires develop in different ways and are
often unpredictable. For maximum protection, Kidde
recommends that both Ionisation and Photoelectric
alarms be installed.
• A battery powered alarm must have a battery of the
specified type, in good condition and installed properly.
• Smoke alarms must be tested regularly to make sure the
batteries and the alarm circuits are in good operating
condition.
• Smoke alarms cannot provide an alarm if smoke does not
reach the alarm. Therefore, smoke alarms may not sense
fires starting in chimneys, walls, on roofs, on the other
side of a closed door or on a different floor.
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Smoke Alarm Features
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