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F I R E P R O T E C T I O N
Although a fire alarm system may be of a
reliable and state-of- the-art design, neither it
nor its peripheral detection devices can offer
guaranteed protection against fire. Any such
equipment may fail to warn for a variety of
reasons:
Control panels, communicators, dialers,
smoke detectors, and many other sensing
devices will not work without power. Battery-
operated devices will not work without batteries,
with dead batteries, or with improperly-installed
batteries. Devices powered solely by AC will
not work if their power source is cut off for any
reason.
Fires often cause a failure of electrical
power. If the system does not contain a working
battery backup power supply, and if the
electrical circuit feeding the devices is cut or is
not providing power for any reason, the system
will not detect heat or smoke or provide any
warning of a possible fire.
Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm
signals to a central monitoring station may be
out of service.
Smoke detectors, though highly effective
in reducing fire deaths, may not activate or
provide early-enough warning for a variety of
reasons: (a) they may not sense fires that start
where smoke cannot reach them, such as in
chimneys, walls, roofs, behind closed doors,
etc.; (b) they may not sense a fire on a different
level of the residence or building; (c) they have
sensing limitations; no smoke detector can
sense every kind of fire every time.
Thermostatic heat detectors do not
always detect fires because the fire may be a
slow smoldering low-heat type (producing
smoke); because they may not be near the fire;
or because the heat of the fire may bypass
them. These detectors will not detect oxygen
levels, smoke, toxic gases, or flames.
Therefore, they may only be used as part of a
comprehensive fire-detection system in
conjunction with other devices. Under no
circumstances should thermostatic heat
detectors be relied upon as the sole measure to
ensure fire safety.
Alarm warning devices such as sirens,
bells, or horns may not alert someone behind a
closed or partially-opened door. Warning
devices located on one level are less likely to
alert those on a different level. Even those who
are awake may not hear the warning if the
alarm is obscured by noise from a stereo, radio,
air conditioner, or other appliance, or by
passing traffic, etc. Alarm warning devices,
however loud, may fail to warn the hearing
impaired.
Alarm products, as all electrical devices,
are subject to component failure. Even though
the equipment is designed for many years of
trouble-free performance, electronic
components could fail at any time.
Above are some of the reasons that fire
alarm equipment could fail. The most common
cause of an alarm system not functioning when
a fire occurs is inadequate testing and
maintenance. The system should be tested at
least weekly to ensure that all the equipment is
working properly.
While an alarm system may make one
eligible for lower insurance rates, it is not a
substitute for insurance. Homeowners, property
owners, and renters are therefore urged to
maintain adequate insurance coverage of life
and property.
LIMITATIONS OF FIRE ALARM WARNING SYSTEM
