Honeywell Notifier NFS-320/E/C Operation Manual page 3

Fire alarm control panel

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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

An automatic fire alarm system

smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, audible

warning devices, and a fire alarm control panel with remote

notification capability—can provide early warning of a develop-

notification capability—can provide early warning of a

ing fire. Such a system, however

ing fire.

Such a system, however, does not assure

against property damage or loss of life resulting from a fire.

The Manufacturer recommends that smoke and/or heat detec-

tors 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

recommendations, State and local codes, and the recommen-

recommendations, State and local codes, and the

dations contained in the Guide for Proper Use of System

Smoke Detectors, which is made available at no charge to all

installing dealers. A study by the

installing dealers.

A study by the Federal Emergency Man-

agement Agency (an agency of the United States government)

indicated that smoke detectors may not go off in as many as

35% of all fires.

35% of all fires. While fire alarm systems are designed to pro-

While fire alarm systems are designed to pro-

vide early warning against fire, they do not guarantee warning

or protection against fire. A fire alarm system may not provide

or protection against fire.

timely or adequate warning, or simply may not function, for a

variety of reasons:

Smoke detectors may not sense fire where smoke cannot

Smoke detectors

may not sense fire where smoke cannot

reach the detectors such as in chimneys, in

reach the detectors such as in chimneys, in or behind walls, on

roofs, or on the

roofs, or on the other side of closed

other side of closed doors.

also may not sense a fire on another level

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 developing fire

Particles of combustion or "smoke"

may not reach the sensing chambers of smoke detectors

because:

• •

Barrie

Barriers such

rs such as clo

as closed o

sed or pa

chimneys may inhibit particle or smoke flow.

chimneys may inhibit particle or

• •

Smoke

Smoke partic

particles ma

les may beco

y become "c

the ceiling or upper walls where detectors are located.

• •

Smoke

Smoke parti

particles m

cles may be

ay be blown

outlets.

• •

Smoke

Smoke partic

particles ma

les may be

y be drawn

reaching the detector.

The amount of "smoke" present may be insufficient to alarm

smoke detectors. Smoke detectors are designed

smoke detectors.

Smoke detectors are designed to alarm at

various levels of smoke density

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

Smoke detectors, even when

limitations. Detectors that

limitations.

Detectors that have photoelectronic

chambers tend to detect smoldering fires better than flaming

fires, which have little visible smoke.

fires, which have little visible

izing-type sensing chambers tend to detect fast-flaming fires

better than smoldering fires.

better than smoldering fires. Because fires develop in

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 cannot be expected to provide adequate

warning of fires caused by arson, children playing with

matches (especially in bedrooms), smoking in bed, and violent

explosions (caused by escaping gas, improper storage of

flammable materials, etc.).

2 2

—typically made up of

, does not assure protection

protection

recommen-

Federal Emergency Man-

A fire alarm system may not provide

or behind walls, on

doors. Smoke detectors

Smoke detectors

or floor of a building.

from a developing fire

r partiall

rtially clos

y closed do

ed doors, w

ors, walls,

smoke flow.

me "cold,"

old," strati

stratify fy, and

, and not re

not reach

blown away

away from d

from detecto

etectors by

rs by air

drawn into

into air r

air return

eturns befo

s before re

to alarm at

If such density levels are not

working properly, have sensing

have photoelectronic sensing

sensing

smoke. Detectors that have ion-

Detectors that have ion-

Because fires develop in different

Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion and

Heat detectors

alarm only when heat on their sensors increases at a predeter-

mined rate or reaches a predetermined

mined rate or

reaches a predetermined level.

develop-

heat detectors may be subject to reduced s ensitivity over time.

heat detectors may be subject to reduced s

For this reason, the rate-of-rise feature of each detector

should be tested at least once per year by a qualified fire pro-

tection specialist. Heat detectors are

tection specialist.

property, not life.

IMPORTANT! Smoke

IMPORTANT!

same room as the control panel and in rooms used by the sys-

same room as the control panel and in rooms used

tem for the connection of alarm transmission wiring, communi-

cations, signaling, and/or power.

cations, signaling, and/or p

located, a developing fire may damage the alarm system, crip-

pling its ability to report a fire.

Audible warning devices such as bells may not alert people

Audible warning devices

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 medica-

tion. Please

tion.

Please note

note that:

• •

Strobes

Str

obes can, u

can, under

in people with conditions such as epilepsy.

in people with conditions such

• •

Stu

Studies

dies have s

have shown

hear a fire alarm signal, do not respond or comprehend the

hear a fire alarm signal, do not

meaning of the signal.

meaning of the sign

bility 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 rar

In rare ins

e instance

tances, the

cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.

alls, or

A fire alarm system will not operate without any electrical

A fire alarm system

power. If AC power fails, the system will

power.

If AC power fails, the system will operate from standby

ach

batteries only for a specified time and only if the batteries have

been properly maintained and

been properly maintained and replaced regularly.

air

Equipment used in the system

Equipment used in the system may not be technically com-

patible with the control panel. It is essential to use only equip-

patible with the control panel.

ment listed for service with your control panel.

Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from a

Telephone lines

premise to a central monitoring station may be out of service

or temporarily disabled. For added protection against tele-

phone line failure, backup radio transmission systems are rec-

ommended.

The most common cause

The most common cause of fire alarm malfunction is inade-

quate maintenance. T T o keep the entire fire alarm system in

quate maintenance.

excellent working order, ongoing maintenance is required per

the manufacturer's recommendations, and UL and NFPA stan-

dards. At a minimum, the requirements of NFP

dards.

At a minimum, the requirements of NFPA 72 shall be

followed. Environments with large

followed.

Environments with large amounts of dust, dirt

high air velocity require more frequent ma

high air velocity

different

tenance agreement should be arranged through the local man-

ufacturer's representative.

ufacturer's representative. Maintenance should

monthly or as required by National and/or local fire codes and

should be performed by authorized professional fire alarm

installers only. . Adequate written records

installers only

should be kept.

NFS-320/E/C Operations Manual — P/N

NFS-320/E/C Operations Manual —

do not sense particles of combustion and

level. Rate-of-rise

ensitivity over time.

Heat detectors are designed to

designed to protect

Smoke detectors

detectors must be installed in the

must be installed in the

ower. If detectors are not so

If detectors are not so

such as bells may not alert people

that:

nder certa

certain ci

in circumsta

rcumstances,

nces, cause

as epilepsy.

hown that c

that certai

ertain peo

n people,

ple, even

respond or comprehend the

al. It is the property

It is the property owner's responsi-

s, the sound

sounding o

ing of a w

f a warning

arning device

will not operate without any electrical

operate from standby

replaced regularly.

may not be technically com-

It is essential to use only equip-

needed to transmit alarm signals from a

of fire alarm malfunction is inade-

o keep the entire fire alarm system in

amounts of dust, dirt or

require more frequent maintenance.

intenance. A main-

Maintenance should be scheduled

Adequate written records of all inspections

of all inspections

P/N 52747:A

52747:A 12/28/2006

Rate-of-rise

protect

by the sys-

cause seizur

seizures

even when t

when they

hey

owner's responsi-

device can

can

A 72 shall be

A main-

be scheduled

Limit-C-9-2005

12/28/2006

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Honeywell Notifier NFS-320/E/C Operation Manual page 3

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