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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, Hubs, 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
