Napco Security Technologies GEM-RP3DGTL - Manual (Page 15)

15
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 de-
vices will not work without power. Battery- oper-
ated devices will not work without batteries, with
dead batteries, or with improperly-installed bat-
teries. 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 sig-
nals 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 ther-
mostatic 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 de-
vices 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 compo-
nents 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 insur-
ance. Homeowners, property owners, and renters are
therefore urged to maintain adequate insurance cover-
age of life and property.
LIMITATIONS OF FIRE ALARM WARNING SYSTEMS
GEM-RP3DGTL.pub
page 15 Wednesday, August 18, 1999 14:03