21
Warning! Limitations of Smoke Sensors
Wireless smoke sensor have been proven to be both effective and reliable, but
they may not be effective under all conditions. No sensor design can offer
total protection of life and property. A smoke sensor is not a substitute for an
adequate homeowner’s fire insurance or life insurance policy.
Smoke sensor will not work without a source of power. The sensor will
not operate and the alarm will not sound if the batteries have died or been
deactivated. Or in the case of an AC powered sensor, the wiring has not been
properly connected.
Radio communication between sensor units may fail to take place if significant
changes to the home have occurred since installation and testing. Moving
large objects such as a refrigerator or metal cabinet could impede sensor radio
performance.
The sensor warning signal may not be heard. A deep sleeper, hearing-impaired
person, young child or someone impaired by drugs or alcohol may not awaken
in response to a sensor activation. This can occur even when an sensor is located
inside the individual’s bedroom. Be sure fire drills are practiced that take this
possibility into account.
Current studies have shown smoke sensors may not awaken all sleeping
individuals, and that it is the responsibility of individuals in the household that
are capable of assisting others to provide assistance to those who may not be
awakened by the alarm sound, or to those who may be incapable of safely
evacuating the area unassisted.
Smoke sensors may not always activate and provide early enough warning. A
smoke sensor will only activate when it is maintained in working order and
sufficient smoke reaches the unit. Certain fires can originate inside of walls,
attics or on the other side of closed doors. This may prevent smoke from
reaching the smoke sensor.
Smoke sensors may not be effective in certain situations, such as: Fires where
the victim is intimate with a flaming fire; for example, when a person’s clothes
catch fire while cooking; Fires where the smoke is prevented from reaching the
sensor due to a closed door or other obstruction; Incendiary fires where the fire
grows so rapidly that an occupant’s egress is blocked even with the properly
located sensors.
A Bed Shaker can not guarantee that a hearing impaired person will wake up
during a fire.
SMOKE SENSORS CAN NOT GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL NEVER SUFFER ANY
DAMAGE OR INJURY FROM A FIRE.
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