Honeywell Notifier LCD2-80 Instruction Manual page 2

Fire Alarm System Limitations
While a fire alarm system may lower insurance rates, it is not a
substitute for fire insurance!
An automatic fire alarm system—typically made up
of smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull sta-
tions, audible warning devices, and a fire alarm control
panel with remote notification capability—can provide
early warning of a developing fire. Such a system,
however, does not assure protection against property
damage or loss of life resulting from a fire.
The Manufacturer recommends that smoke and/or
heat detectors be located throughout a protected
premise following the recommendations of the current
edition of the National Fire Protection Association
Standard 72 (NFPA 72), manufacturer's recommenda-
tions, State and local codes, and the recommendations
contained in the Guides for Proper Use of System
Smoke Detectors, which are made available at no
charge to all installing dealers. These documents can
be found at http://www.systemsensor.com/html/appli-
cat.html. A study by the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency (an agency of the United States
government) indicated that smoke detectors may not
go off in as many as 35% of all fires. While fire alarm
systems are designed to provide early warning against
fire, they do not guarantee warning or protection
against fire. A fire alarm system may not provide
timely or adequate warning, or simply may not func-
tion, for a variety of reasons:
Smoke detectors may not sense fire where smoke
cannot reach the detectors such as in chimneys, in or
behind walls, on roofs, or on the other side of closed
doors. Smoke detectors also may not sense a fire on
another level or floor of a building. A second-floor
detector, for example, may not sense a first-floor or
basement fire.
Particles of combustion or "smoke" from a develop-
ing fire may not reach the sensing chambers of smoke
detectors because:
• Barriers such as closed or partially closed doors,
walls, or chimneys may inhibit particle or smoke
flow.
• Smoke particles may become "cold," stratify, and
not reach the ceiling or upper walls where detec-
tors are located.
• Smoke particles may be blown away from detec-
tors by air outlets.
• Smoke particles may be drawn into air returns
before reaching the detector.
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 photoelec-
tronic sensing chambers tend to detect smoldering
fires better than flaming fires, which have little visible
smoke. Detectors that have ionizing-type sensing
chambers tend to detect fast-flaming fires better than
smoldering fires. Because fires develop in different
ways and are often unpredictable in their growth, nei-
ther type of detector is necessarily best and a given
type of detector may not provide adequate warning of
a fire.
Smoke detectors cannot be expected to provide ade-
quate warning of fires caused by arson, children play-
ing with matches (especially in bedrooms), smoking in
2
bed, and violent explosions (caused by escaping gas,
improper storage of flammable materials, etc.).
Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion
and alarm only when heat on their sensors increases
at a predetermined rate or reaches a predetermined
level. Rate-of-rise heat detectors may be subject to
reduced sensitivity over time. For this reason, the
rate-of-rise feature of each detector should be tested
at least once per year by a qualified fire protection spe-
cialist. Heat detectors are designed to protect prop-
erty, not life.
IMPORTANT! Smoke detectors must be installed in
the same room as the control panel and in rooms used
by the system for the connection of alarm transmission
wiring, communications, signaling, and/or power. If
detectors are not so located, a developing fire may
damage the alarm system, crippling its ability to report
a fire.
Audible warning devices such as bells may not alert
people if these devices are located on the other side of
closed or partly open doors or are located on another
floor of a building. Any warning device may fail to alert
people with a disability or those who have recently
consumed drugs, alcohol or medication. Please note
that:
• Strobes can, under certain circumstances, cause
seizures in people with conditions such as epi-
lepsy.
• 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 exercise to make people
aware of fire alarm signals and instruct them on
the proper reaction to alarm signals.
• In rare instances, the sounding of a warning
device can cause temporary or permanent hear-
ing loss.
A fire alarm system will not operate without any elec-
trical power. If AC power fails, the system will operate
from standby batteries only for a specified time and
only if the batteries have been properly maintained and
replaced regularly.
Equipment used in the system may not be techni-
cally compatible with the control panel. It is essential
to use only equipment listed for service with your con-
trol panel.
Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals
from a premise to a central monitoring station may be
out of service or temporarily disabled. For added pro-
tection against telephone line failure, backup radio
transmission systems are recommended.
The most common cause of fire alarm malfunction is
inadequate maintenance. To keep the entire fire alarm
system in excellent working order, ongoing mainte-
nance is required per the manufacturer's recommen-
dations, and UL and NFPA standards. At a minimum,
the requirements of NFPA 72 shall be followed. Envi-
ronments with large amounts of dust, dirt or high air
velocity require more frequent maintenance. A main-
tenance agreement should be arranged through the
local manufacturer's representative. Maintenance
should be scheduled monthly or as required by
National and/or local fire codes and should be per-
formed by authorized professional fire alarm installers
only. Adequate written records of all inspections
should be kept.
LCD2-80 Instruction Manual — P/N 53242:A 08/18/2009