4FocalPoint™ Gateway Installation & Operation Manual - P/N: 52649:Rev: B3 2/11/10
LIMITATIONS OF FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
Gamewell/FCI recommends that smoke and/or heat
detectors be located throughout the protected premises
following the recommendations of the current edition of the
National Fire Protection Association Standard 72, the
National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72), manufacturer’s
recommendations, State and local codes, and the
recommendations contained in the Guide for the Proper
Use of System Smoke Detectors, which is made available
at no charge to all installing dealers. A study by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (an agency of the United
States government) indicated that smoke detectors may not
go into alarm or give early warning in as many as 35% of all
fires. While fire alarm systems are designed to provide
warning against fire, they do not guarantee warning or
protection against fire. Any alarm system is subject to
compromise or failure to warn for a variety of reasons. For
example:
Particles of combustion or “smoke” from a developing fire
may not reach the sensing chambers of a smoke detector
because:
• Barriers such as closed or partially closed doors, walls,
or chimneys may inhibit air flow.
• Smoke particles may become “cold” and stratify, and
may not reach the ceiling or upper walls where
detectors are located.
• Smoke particles may be blown away from detectors by
air outlets.
• Smoke particles may be drawn into air returns before
reaching the detector.
In general, smoke detectors on one level of a structure
cannot be expected to sense fires developing on another
level.
The amount of “smoke” present may be insufficient to alarm
smoke detectors. Smoke detectors are designed to alarm
at various levels of smoke density. If such density levels
are not created by a developing fire at the location of
detectors, the detectors will not go into alarm.
Smoke detectors, even when working properly, have
sensing limitations. Detectors that have photo-electronic
sensing chambers tend to detect smoldering fires earlier
than flaming fires, which have little visible smoke.
Detectors that have ionization-type sensing chambers tend
to detect fast flaming fires earlier than smoldering fires.
Because fires develop in different ways and are often
unpredictable in their growth, neither type of detector is
necessarily best and a given type of detector may not
provide adequate warning of a fire.
Smoke detectors are subject to unwanted or nuisance
alarms. For example, a smoke detector located in or near a
kitchen may go into nuisance alarm during normal
operation of kitchen appliances. In addition, dusty or
steamy environments may cause a smoke detector to alarm
unnecessarily. If the location of a smoke detector causes
an abundance of unwanted or nuisance alarms, do not
disconnect the smoke detector; call a professional to
analyze the situation and recommend a solution.
Smoke detectors cannot be expected to provide adequate
warning of a fire caused by arson, children playing with
matches (especially in bedrooms), smoking in bed, violent
explosions (caused by escaping gas, improper storage of
flammable materials, etc.).
Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion and
are designed to alarm only when heat on their sensors
increase at a predetermined rate or reaches a
predetermined level. Heat detectors are designed to
protect property, not life.
Warning devices (including horns, sirens, bells, and
speakers) may not alert people or awaken sleepers who
are located on the other side of closed or partially open
doors. A warning device that activates on a different floor
or level of a dwelling or structure is less likely to awaken or
alert people. Even persons who are awake may not notice
the warning if the alarm is muffled by noise from a stereo,
radio, air conditioner or other appliance, or by passing
traffic. Audible warning devices may not alert the hearing-
impaired (strobes or other devices should be provided to
warn these people). Any warning device may fail to alert
people with a disability, deep sleepers, people who have
recently used alcohol or drugs, or people on medication or
sleeping pills.
Please note that:
• Strobes can, under certain circumstances, cause
seizures in people with conditions such as epilepsy.
• Studies have shown that certain people, even when
they hear a fire alarm signal, do not respond or
comprehend the meaning of the signal. It is the
property owner’s responsibility to conduct fire drills and
other training exercises to make people aware of the
fire alarm signals and instruct on the proper reaction to
alarm signals.
• In rare instances, the sounding of a warning device
can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.
Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from a
premise to a central station may be out of service or
temporarily out of service. For added protection against
telephone line failure, backup radio transmission systems
are recommended.
System components, though designed to last many years,
can fail at any time. As a precautionary measure, it is
recommended that smoke detectors be checked,
maintained, and replaced per manufacturer’s
recommendations.
System components will not work without electrical power.
If system batteries are not serviced or replaced regularly,
they may not provide adequate standby when AC power
fails.
Environments with high air velocity or that are dusty or dirty
require more frequent maintenance.
In general, fire alarm systems and devices will not work
without power and will not function properly unless they are
maintained and tested regularly.
While installing a fire alarm system may make the owner
eligible for a lower insurance rate, a fire alarm system is not
a substitute for insurance. Property owners should
continue to act prudently in protecting the premises and the
people on the premises and should properly insure life and
property and buy sufficient amounts of liability insurance to
meet their needs.
