System overview 
EST3 Installation and Service Manual  1.27 
The alarm sensitivity setting may be individually set for each 
detector using the SDU program. 
Alternate alarm sensitivity setting 
Alternate alarm sensitivity refers to the secondary threshold 
(expressed in percent smoke obscuration) at which the smoke 
detector goes into alarm. The alternate alarm sensitivity setting 
for smoke detectors can be set to one of the same five sensitivity 
levels as the primary alarm. When smoke detectors having both 
ionization and photoelectric elements are used, the sensitivity 
setting applies to both elements. This feature permits increasing 
or reducing an individual detector’s sensitivity at various times 
of the day, dependent upon, environmental conditions, 
occupancy, manufacturing processes, etc. Increased sensitivity is 
typically used when a facility is unoccupied. Reduced sensitivity 
is typically used to reduce the occurrence of nuisance alarms 
when occupancy or environmental conditions may create 
prealarm conditions. An alternate alarm sensitivity setting for 
each detector can be set using the SDU program. 
Alarm verification 
Upon receipt of the initial alarm signal from a verified detector, 
the EST3 panel issues a detector reset command. After a 
programmable reset/retard period, if the detector continues to 
generate an alarm during the fixed confirmation period, the 
alarm is considered valid and processed by the EST3 control 
panel. Alarm verification reduces the occurrence of nuisance 
alarms, as it provides a time frame in which the cause of the 
alarm can be investigated to determine whether an actual alarm 
condition exists. The alarm verification period can be increased 
or decreased through the SDU program, as limited by the listing 
agencies. 
Alternate alarm verification 
The alternate alarm verification feature operates the same way 
the alarm verification feature operates using a second, alternate, 
programmed reset/retard period. 
Prealarm setting 
Signature smoke detectors can be configured to enter a prealarm 
state, which generates a monitor event message. Detectors 
configured for prealarm have a prealarm pseudo point for which 
rules can be written. 
During configuration, you specify a percentage of the alarm 
sensitivity setting that will generate a prealarm event.