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 smoldering 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.
IMPORTANT! READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE INSTALLATION AND KEEP THIS
MANUAL NEAR THE ALARM FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
CONTENTS OF THIS MANUAL
1 -- RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS FOR ALARMS
2 -- LOCATIONS TO AVOID
3 -- INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
4 -- OPERATION AND TESTING
5 -- NUISANCE ALARMS
6 -- MAINTENANCE
7 -- LIMITATIONS OF SMOKE ALARMS
8 -- GOOD SAFETY HABITS
9 -- KIDDE RECOMMENDATIONS
10 -- SERVICE AND WARRANTY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Waste electrical products should not be disposed of with household
waste. Please recycle where facilities exist. Check with Local Authority
or Supplier for recycling advice.
1. RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS FOR ALARMS
• Locate the first alarm in the immediate area of the bedrooms. Try to monitor the
exit path as the bedrooms are usually farthest from the exit. If more than one
sleeping area exists, locate additional alarms in each sleeping area.
• Locate additional alarms to monitor any stairway as stairways act like chimneys for
smoke and heat.
• Locate at least one alarm on every floor level.
• Locate an alarm in every bedroom.
• Locate an alarm in every room where electrical appliances are operated (i.e.
portable heaters or humidifiers).
• Locate an alarm in every room where someone sleeps with the door closed.
The closed door may prevent an alarm not located in that room from waking the
sleeper.
• Smoke, heat, and combustion products rise to the ceiling and spread horizontally.
Mounting the smoke alarm on the ceiling in the center of the room places it closest
to all points in the room. Ceiling mounting is preferred in ordinary residential
construction.
• For mobile home installation, select locations carefully to avoid thermal barriers that
may form at the ceiling. For more details, see MOBILE HOME INSTALLATION below.
• When mounting an alarm on the ceiling, locate it at a minimum of 10 cm (4”)
from the side wall. (see Figure 1).
• When mounting the alarm on the wall, use an inside wall with the top edge of the
alarm at a minimum of 10 cm (4”) and a maximum of 30.5 cm (10”) below the
ceiling. (see Figure 1).
0310-7201-00.qxd:_ 2008.2.25 2:08 PM Page 2
