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General Limitations for Smoke/CO Alarms (Continued)
Smoke/CO Alarms Cannot Work Without Power.
Battery operated units cannot work if the batteries are missing,
disconnected or dead, if the wrong type of batteries are used, or if the batteries are not installed correctly. If the AC power is
cut off for any reason (open fuse or circuit breaker, failure along a power line or at a power station, electrical fire that burns
the electrical wires, etc.). If you are concerned about the limitations of battery or AC power, install both types of units.
This Smoke/CO Alarm Will Not Sense Smoke or CO that Does Not Reach the Sensors.
It will only sense smoke or CO at the
sensor. Smoke or CO may be present in other areas. Doors or other obstructions may affect the rate at which CO or smoke
reaches the sensors. If bedroom doors are usually closed at night, we recommend you install an alarm device (Combination
CO and smoke alarm, or separate CO alarms and smoke alarms) in each bedroom and in the hallway between them.
This Smoke/CO Alarm May Not Sense Smoke or CO on Another Level of the Home.
Example: This alarm device,
installed on the second floor, may not sense smoke or CO in the basement. For this reason, one alarm device may not
give adequate early warning. Recommended minimum protection is one alarm device in every sleeping area, every
bedroom, and on every level of your home. Some experts recommend battery powered smoke and CO alarms be used
in conjunction with interconnected AC powered smoke alarms. For details, see “About Smoke Alarms” for details.
Smoke/CO Alarms May Not Be Heard.
The alarm horn loudness meets or exceeds current UL standards of 85 dB at 10
feet (3 meters). However, if the smoke/CO alarm is installed outside the bedroom, it may not wake up a sound sleeper
or one who has recently used drugs or has been drinking alcoholic beverages. This is especially true if the door is closed
or only partly open. Even persons who are awake may not hear the alarm horn if the sound is blocked by distance or
closed doors. Noise from traffic, stereo, radio, television, air conditioner, or other appliances may also prevent alert
persons from hearing the alarm horn. This smoke/CO alarm is not intended for people who are hearing impaired.
The alarm may not have time to alarm before the fire itself causes damage, injury, or death, since smoke
from some fires may not reach the unit immediately. Examples of this include persons smoking in bed,
children playing with matches, or fires caused by violent explosions resulting from escaping gas.
This Smoke/CO Alarm Is Not a Substitute for Life Insurance.
Though this smoke/CO alarm warns
against increasing CO levels or the presence of smoke, BRK Brands, Inc. does not warrant or imply
in any way that they will protect lives. Homeowners and renters must still insure their lives.
This Smoke/CO Alarm Has a Limited Life.
Although this smoke/CO alarm and all of its parts have passed many
stringent tests and are designed to be as reliable as possible, any of these parts could fail at any time. Therefore,
you must test this device weekly. The unit should be replaced immediately if it is not operating properly.
This Smoke/CO Alarm Is Not Foolproof.
Like all other electronic devices, this smoke/CO alarm has
limitations. It can only detect smoke or CO that reaches the sensors. It may not give early warning of
the source of smoke or CO is in a remote part of the home, away from the alarm device.