background image

Precau-Lg.p65    01/18/2000

An automatic fire alarm system

–typically made up of smoke

detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, audible warn-
ing devices, and a fire alarm control with remote notification
capability–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.

The Manufacturer recommends that smoke and/or heat detec-
tors be located throughout a protected premise following the
recommendations of the current edition of the National Fire
Protection Association Standard 72 (NFPA 72),
manufacturer's recommendations, State and local codes, and
the recommendations contained in the Guide for Proper Use
of System Smoke Detectors, which is made available at no
charge to all installing dealers.  A study by the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency (an agency of the United States
government) indicated that smoke detectors may not go off in
as many as 35% of all fires.  While fire alarm systems are de-
signed to provide early warning against fire, they do not guar-
antee warning or protection against fire.  A fire alarm system
may not provide timely or adequate warning, or simply may not
function, for a variety of reasons:

Smoke detectors

 may not sense fire where smoke cannot

reach the detectors such as in chimneys, in or behind 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 build-
ing.  A second-floor detector, for example, may not sense a
first-floor or basement fire.

Particles of combustion or "smoke"

 from a developing fire

may not reach the sensing chambers of smoke detectors be-
cause:

• Barriers such as closed or partially closed doors, walls, or

chimneys may inhibit particle or smoke flow.

• Smoke particles may become "cold," stratify, and not reach

the ceiling or upper walls where detectors are located.

• Smoke particles may be blown away from detectors by air

outlets.

• Smoke detectors may be drawn into air returns before

reaching the detector.

The amount of "smoke" present may be insufficient to alarm
smoke detectors.  Smoke detectors are designed to alarm at
various levels of smoke density.  If such density levels are not
created by a developing fire at the location of detectors, the
detectors will not go into alarm.

Smoke detectors, even when working properly, have sensing
limitations.  Detectors that have photoelectronic sensing
chambers tend to detect smoldering fires better than flaming
fires, which have little visible smoke.  Detectors that have ion-
izing-type sensing chambers tend to detect fast-flaming fires
better than smoldering fires.  Because fires develop in differ-
ent ways and are often unpredictable in their growth, neither
type of detector is necessarily best and a given type of detec-
tor may not provide adequate warning of a fire.

Smoke detectors cannot be expected to provide adequate
warning of fires caused by arson, children playing with
matches (especially in bedrooms), smoking in bed, and violent
explosions (caused by escaping gas, improper storage of
flammable materials, etc.).

Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion and
alarm only when heat on their sensors increases at a prede-
termined rate or reaches a predetermined level.  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 pro-
tection specialist.  

Heat detectors are designed to protect

property, not life.

IMPORTANT! 

 Smoke detectors 

must be installed in the

same room as the control panel and in rooms used by the sys-
tem for the connection of alarm transmission wiring, communi-
cations, signaling, and/or power.  If detectors are not so lo-
cated, a developing fire may damage the alarm system, crip-
pling its ability to report a fire.

Audible warning devices

 such as bells 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.
Any warning device may fail to alert people with a disability or
those who have recently consumed drugs, alcohol or medica-
tion.  Please note that:

• Strobes can, under certain circumstances, cause seizures

in people with conditions such as epilepsy.

• Studies have shown that certain people, even when they

hear a fire alarm signal, do not respond or comprehend the
meaning of the signal.  It is the property owner's responsibil-
ity to conduct fire drills and other training exercise to make
people aware of fire alarm signals and instruct them on the
proper reaction to alarm signals.

• In rare instances, the sounding of a warning device can

cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.

A fire alarm system

 will not operate without any electrical

power.  If AC power fails, the system will operate from standby
batteries only for a specified time and only if the batteries
have been properly maintained and replaced regularly.

Equipment used in the system

 may not be technically com-

patible with the control.  It is essential to use only equipment
listed for service with your control panel.

Telephone lines

 needed to transmit alarm signals from a

premise to a central monitoring station may be out of service
or temporarily disabled. For added protection against tele-
phone line failure, backup radio transmission systems are rec-
ommended.

The most common cause

 of fire alarm malfunction is inade-

quate maintenance.  To keep the entire fire alarm system in
excellent working order, ongoing maintenance is required per
the manufacturer's recommendations, and UL and NFPA stan-
dards.  At a minimum, the requirements of Chapter 7 of NFPA
72 shall be followed.  Environments with large amounts of
dust, dirt or high air velocity require more frequent mainte-
nance.  A maintenance agreement should be arranged
through the local manufacturer's representative.  Maintenance
should be scheduled monthly or as required by National and/
or local fire codes and should be performed by authorized pro-
fessional fire alarm installers only.  Adequate written records
of all inspections should be kept.

While a fire alarm system may lower insurance
rates, it is not a substitute for fire insurance!

Fire Alarm System Limitations

Technical Manuals Online! - http://www.tech-man.com

Summary of Contents for AFC-600

Page 1: ...ver page precautions limitations Precautions limitations 4 Page 5 6 Page 7 8 Page 9 10 Page 71 72 Page 73 74 Page 75 76 Document 51031 03 28 2001 Rev 683 1 6XSSOHPHQW WR WKH QVWDOODWLRQ 0DQXDO RFXPHQW...

Page 2: ...7KLV SDJH LQWHQWLRQDOO OHIW EODQN 2 AFC 600 Installation Supplement PN 51031SUP A 03 28 2001 Technical Manuals Online http www tech man com...

Page 3: ...QWHOOLJHQW LUH 3DQHO QVWDOODWLRQ 0DQXDO RFXPHQW 5HY 31 Technical Manuals Online http www tech man com...

Page 4: ...ping gas improper storage of flammable materials etc Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion and alarm only when heat on their sensors increases at a prede termined rate or reaches a prede...

Page 5: ...red Disconnect AC power and batteries prior to removing or in serting circuit boards Failure to do so can damage circuits Remove all electronic assemblies prior to any drilling filing reaming or punch...

Page 6: ...TM Detectors 20 Addressable Modules 21 Introduction 21 Module Descriptions 21 End Of Line Devices 23 Descriptions 23 Annunciation Modules 24 Introduction 24 Description 24 Annunciator Control System A...

Page 7: ...s 43 Overview 43 Installing a Chassis 43 Mounting a cabinet 44 Mounting an MPS 6 Power Supply 45 Overview 45 Mounting an MPS 6 into a CAB 3 Series Cabinet 45 Mounting an MPS 6 into a CAB 600AA 46 Moun...

Page 8: ...nstalling an Ancillary Device on the EIA 232 Communications Circuit 75 Wiring a Signaling Line Circuit SLC 76 Overview of SLC Wiring 76 SLC Devices 77 SLC Capacity 77 SLC Performance 78 Shield Termina...

Page 9: ...Module Description 133 Connecting XP 5C Speaker and Telephone Circuits 133 Wiring Speaker Circuits 136 Overview 136 30 Watt Four and Eight Speaker Circuits 137 120 Watt Four and Eight Speaker Circuits...

Page 10: ...ed NACs 165 Releasing Applications 166 Overview 166 Programming Releasing Applications 166 Wiring for Releasing Applications 167 Connecting a Releasing Device to the MPS 6 168 Connecting a Releasing D...

Page 11: ...otifier Compatible Equipment 201 Notifier Compatible Equipment 202 SSHQGL 57 RQILJXUDWLRQ Overview 203 Setting CRT 2 Parameters 203 Uploading or Downloading the Operating Program 204 SSHQGL 7HUPLQDO Q...

Page 12: ...How to Use the Calculating Tables 220 Calculation for Main Supply Current 221 Calculation for SLC 1 Loop Current 222 Calculation for SLC 2 Loop Current 223 Calculating the Maximum Secondary Power Fire...

Page 13: ...he Notifier Device Compatibility Document for a list of compatible releasing devices 6WDQGDUG 5HOD V The MPS 6 provides a set of Form C alarm and a set of Form C trouble contacts rated for 2 0 A at 30...

Page 14: ...rm system configuration for example a Proprietary Fire Alarm System a remote printer requires a secondary power source battery backup Because a secondary power source is not provided use a separate Un...

Page 15: ...te I O Buffer Serial Baud Format Protocol Character Set S1 Zero Auto LF MENULOCK PAPER BIN 1 BIN 2 SINGLE PUSH TRA PULL TRA PAP ROLL PAPOPT 10 CPI 0 5 Epson 36K 9600 7 Bit Even 1 Stop XON XOFF Standar...

Page 16: ...RFRO Connect a CRT 2 to the CPU as follows Step Action 1 Connect the three 3 open leads of the custom cable to the TB2 terminal block on the CPU 600 as shown in the figure below 2 Plug the DB 25 conne...

Page 17: ...n be connected to the EIA 232 serial printer port connection on the fire alarm system to provide a supplementalsignalingcapability Additionally some devices such as PageNet 1 can be actuated by means...

Page 18: ...Loop resistance Total wiring length Typical Wiring Style 6 7 Wiring an ISO X Isolator Module Wiring an ISO X Isolator Module on page 85 which covers Description Isolating a Branch of a Two Wire SLC Wi...

Reviews: