First Alert 0827 - Smoke Alarm With Ten-Year Battery Pack Manual

INTRODUCTION

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND SAVE.
This user's manual contains important information about your Smoke Alarm's operation. If you are installing this Smoke Alarm for use by others, you must leave this manual—or a copy of it—with the end user.

You have purchased a state-of-the-art Smoke Alarm designed to provide you with early warning of a fire. Please take the time to read this manual and make the Smoke Alarm an integral part of your family's safety plan.

All First Alert ® Smoke Alarms conform to regulatory requirements, including UL217 and are designed to detect particles of combustion. Smoke particles of varying number and size are produced in all fires.

Ionization technology is generally more sensitive than photoelectric technology at detecting small particles, which tend to be produced in greater amounts by flaming fires, which consume combustible materials rapidly and spread quickly. Sources of these fires may include paper burning in a wastebasket, or a grease fire in the kitchen.

Photoelectric technology is generally more sensitive than ionization technology at detecting large particles, which tend to be produced in greater amounts by smoldering fires, which may smolder for hours before bursting into flame. Sources of these fires may include cigarettes burning in couches or bedding.
For maximum protection, use both types of Smoke Alarms on each level and in every bedroom of your home.

Key Features of the 0827 Smoke Alarm:
Tamper Resistant Lithium Battery Pack: Provides continuous power for up to 10 years. Battery Pack cannot be removed and is not replaceable.
Single Test/Silence Button: Allows you to test the Alarm or silence nuisance alarms. Testing the Alarm assures you that the unit is functioning correctly and ready to protect you and your family. The Alarm can be silenced for up to 10 minutes in the event of a nuisance alarm.
End of Life warning: The Alarm will sound a "chirp" once per minute when the Alarm reaches the end of its service life and needs to be replaced.
Blinking Power Indicator: Confirms that the Smoke Alarm is receiving power.

FIRE SAFETY TIPS

Follow safety rules and prevent hazardous situations:

1. Use smoking materials properly. Never smoke in bed.
2. Keep matches or lighters away from children;
3. Store flammable materials in proper containers;
4. Keep electrical appliances in good condition and don't overload electrical circuits;
5. Keep stoves, barbecue grills, fireplaces and chimneys grease- and debris-free;
6. Never leave anything cooking on the stove unattended;
7. Keep portable heaters and open flames, like candles, away from flammable materials;
8. Don't let rubbish accumulate.

Keep alarms clean, and test them weekly. Replace alarms immediately if they are not working properly. Smoke Alarms that do not work cannot alert you to a fire. Keep at least one working fire extinguisher on every floor, and an additional one in the kitchen. Have fire escape ladders or other reliable means of escape from an upper floor in case stairs are blocked.

BEFORE YOU INSTALL THIS SMOKE ALARM

Read "Recommended Locations for Smoke Alarms" and "Locations to Avoid for Smoke Alarms" before beginning. This unit monitors the air, and when smoke reaches its sensing chamber, it alarms. It can give you more time to escape before fire spreads. This unit can ONLY give an early warning of developing fires if it is installed, maintained and located where smoke can reach it, and where all residents can hear it, as described in this manual. This unit will not sense gas, heat, or flame. It cannot prevent or extinguish fires.

Understand The Different Type of Smoke Alarms
Battery powered or electrical? Different Smoke Alarms provide different types of protection. See "About Smoke Alarms" for details.

Know Where To Install Your Smoke Alarms
Fire Safety Professionals recommend at least one Smoke Alarm on every level of your home, in every bedroom, and in every bedroom hallway or separate sleeping area. See "Recommended Locations For Smoke Alarms" and "Locations To Avoid For Smoke Alarms" for details.

Know What Smoke Alarms Can and Can't Do
A Smoke Alarm can help alert you to fire, giving you precious time to escape. It can only sound an alarm once smoke reaches the sensor. See "Limitations of Smoke Alarms" for details.

Check Your Local Building Codes
This Smoke Alarm is designed to be used in a typical single-family home. It alone will not meet requirements for boarding houses, apartment buildings, hotels or motels. See "Special Compliance Considerations" for details.

• This unit will not alert hearing impaired residents. It is recommended that you install special units which use devices like flashing strobe lights to alert the hearing impaired residents.
• Do not connect this unit to any other alarm or auxiliary device.
  It is a single-station unit that cannot be linked to other devices. Connecting anything else to this unit may prevent it from working properly.
• This Smoke Alarm cannot detect smoke until you activate it. You must activate the unit for it to receive power from the battery pack. Failure to activate the unit will prevent the alarm from providing any warning of smoke or fire.
• The battery pack in this unit cannot be replaced—once it reaches the end of its service life, you must install a new Smoke Alarm. You must deactivate the unit before disposing of it.

• Do not install this unit over an electrical junction box. Air currents around junction boxes can prevent smoke from reaching the sensing chamber and prevent the unit from alarming. Only AC powered units are intended for installation over junction boxes.
• Do not stand too close to the unit when the alarm is sounding. It is loud to wake you in an emergency. Exposure to the horn at close range may harm your hearing.
• Do not paint over the unit. Paint may clog the openings to the sensing chamber and prevent the unit from operating properly.

OPTIONAL LOCKING FEATURE

The locking feature is designed to discourage unauthorized removal of the Alarm. It is not necessary to activate the lock in single-family households where unauthorized Alarm removal is not a concern. Tools you will need: • Needle-nose pliers or utility knife • Standard Flathead screwdriver. This locking feature uses locking pins, which are molded into the mounting bracket. Using needle nose pliers or a utility knife, remove one pin from the mounting bracket.



To permanently remove lock, insert a flathead screwdriver between the locking pin and the lock, and pry the pin out of the lock.

TO LOCK THE MOUNTING BRACKET

1. Using needle-nose pliers, detach one locking pin from mounting bracket.
2. Insert locking pin into notch on base of alarm.
3. Attach Smoke Alarm to mounting bracket.

TO UNLOCK THE MOUNTING BRACKET

1. Insert a flathead screwdriver between the mounting bracket pin and the mounting bracket.
2. Pry the Smoke Alarm away from the bracket by turning both the screwdriver and the Smoke Alarm counterclockwise (left) at the same time.

WEEKLY TESTING

• NEVER use an open flame of any kind to test this unit. You might accidentally damage or set fire to the unit or to your home. The built-in test switch accurately tests the unit's operation as required by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL).
• If the Alarm ever fails to test properly, replace it immediately. Products under warranty may be returned to the manufacturer for replacement.

DO NOT stand close to the Alarm when the horn is sounding. Exposure at close range may be harmful to your hearing. When testing, step away when horn starts sounding.

It is important to test this unit every week to make sure it is working properly. Using the test button is the recommended way to test this Smoke Alarm. Press and hold the test button on the cover of the unit until the alarm sounds (the unit may continue to alarm for a few seconds after you release the button). During testing you will hear a loud, repeating horn pattern: 3 beeps, pause, 3 beeps, pause. Red LED flashes.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE

This unit has been designed to be as maintenance free as possible, but there are a few simple things you must do to keep it working properly.

• Test it at least once a week.
• Clean the Smoke Alarm at least once a month; gently vacuum the outside of the Smoke Alarm using your household vacuum's soft brush attachment. A can of clean compressed air (sold at computer or office supply stores) may also be used. Follow manufacturer instructions for use. Test the Smoke Alarm. Never use water, cleaners or solvents since they may damage the unit.
• If the Smoke Alarm becomes contaminated by excessive dirt, dust and/or grime, and cannot be cleaned to avoid unwanted alarms, replace the unit immediately.
• Relocate the unit if it sounds frequent unwanted alarms. See "Locations to Avoid For Smoke Alarms" for details.

When the battery pack becomes weak, the Smoke Alarm unit will "chirp" about once a minute (the End of Life warning). This End of Life warning should last for 7 days, but you should replace the Smoke Alarm immediately to continue your protection.

TO PERMANENTLY DEACTIVATE THE SMOKE ALARM

Alarm is sealed. The battery pack is not replaceable. Once it reaches the end of its service life, or after 10 years—whichever comes first— you must install a new Smoke Alarm. After 10 years or after the End of Life warning sounds (whichever comes first):

1. Once you deactivate this unit, it will not detect smoke or alarm. It cannot be reactivated. You must install a new unit to continue your protection. Alarm will resist mounting to the bracket after deactivation.
2. Use a flathead screwdriver to score label along dotted line.
3. Use thumb to pull deactivation tab outward until tab snaps into place. This will discharge the battery pack and deactivate the unit.
4. Install a new Smoke Alarm immediately!

IF THIS SMOKE ALARM SOUNDS

RESPONDING TO AN ALARM
During an alarm, you will hear a loud, repeating horn pattern: 3 beeps, pause, 3 beeps, pause. Red LED flashes.

• If the unit alarms get everyone out of the house immediately.
• If the unit alarms and you are not testing the unit, it is warning you of a potentially dangerous situation that requires your immediate attention. NEVER ignore any alarm. Ignoring the alarm may result in injury or death.
• Use the Silence feature to stop an unwanted alarm (caused by cooking smoke, etc.), then open a window or fan the smoke away from the unit. The Smoke Alarm will reset automatically.

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF FIRE

• Don't panic; stay calm. Follow your family escape plan.
• Get out of the house as quickly as possible. Don't stop to get dressed or collect anything.
• Feel doors with the back of your hand before opening them. If a door is cool, open it slowly. Don't open a hot door. Keep doors and windows closed, unless you must escape through them.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth (preferably damp). Take short, shallow breaths.
• Meet at your planned meeting place outside your home, and do a head count to make sure everybody got out safely.
• Call the Fire Department as soon as possible from outside. Give your address, then your name.
• Never go back inside a burning building for any reason.
• Contact your Fire Department for ideas on making your home safer.

Alarms have various limitations. See "Limitations of Smoke Alarms" for details.

USING THE SILENCE FEATURE
The Silence Feature can temporarily quiet an unwanted alarm for up to 10 minutes. To use this feature, press the "Test/Silence" button. The Alarm remains functional. The LED will flash every 10 seconds (for up to 10 minutes) to remind you the alarm has been silenced. The flashing LED will stop when the unit returns to normal operation.

The Silence Feature does not disable the unit—it makes it temporarily less sensitive to smoke. For your safety, if smoke around the unit is dense enough to suggest a potentially dangerous situation, it will stay in alarm, or may re-alarm quickly. If you do not know the source of the smoke, do not assume it is an unwanted alarm. Not responding to an alarm can result in property loss, injury or death.

IF YOU SUSPECT A PROBLEM

Smoke Alarms may not operate properly because of a dead or weak battery pack, a build-up of dirt, dust or grease on the Smoke Alarm cover, or installation in an improper location. Clean the Smoke Alarm as described in "Regular Maintenance," and test the Smoke Alarm again. If it fails to test properly when you use the test button, or if the problem persists, replace the Smoke Alarm immediately.

• If you experience frequent non-emergency alarms (like those caused by cooking smoke), try relocating the Smoke Alarm.
• If the alarm sounds when no smoke is visible, try cleaning or relocating the Smoke Alarm. The cover may be dirty.
• If the alarm no longer sounds during testing, replace the Smoke Alarm! If the Smoke Alarm was properly activated, and had previously alarmed during testing, the battery pack is at the end of its service life. (See "Regular Maintenance.")
• If the alarm will not silence when you use the Silence feature, DO NOT IGNORE THE ALARM! This indicates a potentially dangerous situation.
• If the Smoke Alarm "chirps" about once a minute (for more than 30 minutes), Replace the Smoke Alarm! (See "Regular Maintenance.") This is the End of Life warning.

DO NOT TRY FIXING THE ALARM YOURSELF—THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY!

RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS FOR SMOKE ALARMS

More specifically, install Smoke Alarms:

• On every level of your home, including finished attics and basements.
• Inside every bedroom, especially if people sleep with the door partly or completely closed.
• In the hall near every sleeping area. If your home has multiple sleeping areas, install a unit in each. If a hall is over 40 feet (12 meters) long, install an alarm at each end.
• At the top of the first-to-second floor stairway, and at bottom of basement stairway.

Specific requirements for Smoke Alarm installation vary from state to state and from region to region. Check with your local Fire Department for current requirements in your area. It is recommended AC or AC/DC units be interconnected for added protection.

AGENCY PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

NFPA 72 Chapter 29
"For your information, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, NFPA 72, reads as follows:"
29.5.1* Required Detection.
29.5.1.1* Where required by other governing laws, codes, or standards for a specific type of occupancy, approved single and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed as follows:

1. *In all sleeping rooms and guest rooms
2. * Outside of each separate dwelling unit sleeping area, within 21 ft (6.4 m) of any door to a sleeping room, with the distance measured along a path of travel
3. On every level of a dwelling unit, including basements
4. On every level of a residential board and care occupancy (small facility), including basements and excluding crawl spaces and unfinished attics
5. *In the living area(s) of a guest suite
6. In the living area(s) of a residential board and care occupancy (small facility)

(Reprinted with permission from NFPA 72^®, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Copyright © 2010 National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of the National Fire Protection Association, on the referenced subject which is represented only by the standard in its entirety), (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code^® and NFPA 72^® are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Inc., Quincy, MA 02269).

LOCATIONS TO AVOID FOR SMOKE ALARMS

For best performance, AVOID installing Smoke Alarms in these areas:

• Where combustion particles are produced. Combustion particles form when something burns. Areas to avoid include poorly ventilated kitchens, garages, and furnace rooms. Keep units at least 20 feet (6 meters) from the sources of combustion particles (stove, furnace, water heater, space heater) if possible. In areas where a 20-foot (6 m) distance is not possible – in modular, mobile, or smaller homes, for example – it is recommended the Smoke Alarm be placed as far from these fuel-burning sources as possible. The placement recommendations are intended to keep these Alarms at a reasonable distance from a fuel-burning source, and thus reduce "unwanted" alarms. Unwanted alarms can occur if a Smoke Alarm is placed directly next to a fuel-burning source. Ventilate these areas as much as possible.
• In air streams near kitchens. Air currents can draw cooking smoke into the sensing chamber of a Smoke Alarm near the kitchen.
• In very damp, humid or steamy areas, or directly near bathrooms with showers. Keep units at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from showers, saunas, dishwashers, etc.
• Where the temperatures are regularly below 40˚ F (4.4˚ C) or above 100˚ F (37.8˚ C), including unheated buildings, outdoor rooms, porches, or unfinished attics or basements.
• In very dusty, dirty, or greasy areas. Do not install a Smoke Alarm directly over the stove or range. Clean a laundry room unit frequently to keep it free of dust or lint.
• Near fresh air vents, ceiling fans, or in very drafty areas. Drafts can blow smoke away from the unit, preventing it from reaching the sensing chamber.
• In insect infested areas. Insects can clog openings to the sensing chamber and cause unwanted alarms.
• Less than 12 inches (305 mm) away from fluorescent lights. Electrical "noise" can interfere with the sensor.
• In "dead air" spaces. "Dead air" spaces may prevent smoke from reaching the Smoke Alarm.

ABOUT SMOKE ALARMS

Battery or DC operated Smoke Alarms: Provide protection even when electricity fails, provided the batteries or battery packs are fresh and correctly installed or activated. Units are easy to install, and do not require professional installation.

• Always use the exact batteries specified by this User's Manual. DO NOT use rechargeable batteries. Clean the battery contacts and also those of the device prior to battery installation. Install batteries correctly with regard to polarity (+ and -).
• Please dispose of or recycle used batteries properly, following any local regulations. Consult your local waste management authority or recycling organization to find an electronics recycling facility in your area. DO NOT DISPOSE OF BATTERIES IN FIRE. BATTERIES MAY EXPLODE OR LEAK.

• Keep battery out of reach of children. In the event a battery is swallowed, immediately contact your poison control center, your physician, or the National Battery Ingestion hotline at 202-625-3333 as serious injury may occur.

AC powered Smoke Alarms: Can be interconnected so if one unit senses smoke, all units alarm. They do not operate if electricity fails.
AC with battery (DC) back-up: will operate if electricity fails, provided the batteries are fresh and correctly installed. AC and AC/DC units must be installed by a qualified electrician.
Smoke Alarms for Solar or Wind Energy users and battery backup power systems: AC powered Smoke Alarms should only be operated with true or pure sine wave inverters. Operating this Smoke Alarm with most battery-powered UPS (uninterruptible power supply) products or square wave or "quasi sine wave" inverters will damage the Alarm. If you are not sure about your inverter or UPS type, please consult with the manufacturer to verify.
Smoke Alarms for the hearing impaired: Special purpose Smoke Alarms should be installed for the hearing impaired. They include a visual alarm and an audible alarm horn, and meet the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Can be interconnected so if one unit senses smoke, all units alarm.

SPECIAL COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS

This Smoke Alarm is suitable for use in apartments, condominiums, townhouses, hospitals, day care facilities, health care facilities, boarding houses, group homes and dormitories provided a primary fire detection system already exists to meet fire detection requirements in common areas like lobbies, hallways, or porches. Using this Smoke Alarm in common areas may not provide sufficient warning to all residents or meet local fire protection ordinances/regulations.
This Smoke Alarm alone is not a suitable substitute for complete fire detection systems in places housing many people—like apartment buildings, condominiums, hotels, motels, dormitories, hospitals, health care facilities, nursing homes, day care facilities, or group homes of any kind. It is not a suitable substitute for complete fire detection systems in warehouses, industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and special-purpose non-residential buildings which require special fire detection and alarm systems. Depending on the building codes in your area, this Smoke Alarm may be used to provide additional protection in these facilities.
In new construction, most building codes require the use of AC or AC/ DC powered Smoke Alarms only. In existing construction, AC, AC/DC, or DC powered Smoke Alarms can be used as specified by local building codes. Refer to NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), local building codes, or consult your Fire Department for detailed fire protection requirements in buildings not defined as "households".

LIMITATIONS OF SMOKE ALARMS

Smoke Alarms have played a key role in reducing deaths resulting from home fires worldwide. However, like any warning device, Smoke Alarms can only work if they are properly located, installed, and maintained, and if smoke reaches them. They are not foolproof.
Smoke alarms may not waken all individuals.
Practice the escape plan at least twice a year, making sure that everyone is involved – from kids to grandparents. Allow children to master fire escape planning and practice before holding a fire drill at night when they are sleeping. If children or others do not readily waken to the sound of the smoke alarm, or if there are infants or family members with mobility limitations, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in fire drill and in the event of an emergency. It is recommended that you hold a fire drill while family members are sleeping in order to determine their response to the sound of the smoke alarm while sleeping and to determine whether they may need assistance in the event of an emergency.
Smoke Alarms cannot work without power.
DC operated units cannot work if the battery pack is missing, deactivated, or dead, or if the battery pack was not activated correctly. AC units cannot work if the AC power is cut off for any reason (open fuse or circuit breaker, failure along a power line or at a power station, electrical fire that burns the electrical wires, etc.). If you are concerned about the limitations of DC or AC power, install both types of units.
Smoke Alarms cannot detect fires if the smoke does not reach the Alarms.
Smoke from fires in chimneys or walls, on roofs, or on the other side of closed doors may not reach the sensing chamber and set off the alarm. That is why one unit should be installed inside each bedroom or sleeping area—especially if bedroom or sleeping area doors are closed at night—and in the hallway between them.
Smoke Alarms may not detect fire on another floor or area of the dwelling.
For example, a stand-alone unit on the second floor may not detect smoke from a basement fire until the fire spreads. This may not give you enough time to escape safely. That is why recommended minimum protection is at least one unit in every sleeping area, and every bedroom on every level of your dwelling. Even with a unit on every floor, stand-alone units may not provide as much protection as interconnected units, especially if the fire starts in a remote area. Some safety experts recommend installing interconnected AC powered units with battery back-up (see "About Smoke Alarms") or professional fire detection systems, so if one unit senses smoke, all units alarm. Interconnected units may provide earlier warning than stand-alone units since all units alarm when one detects smoke.
Smoke Alarms may not be heard.
Though the alarm horn in this unit meets or exceeds current standards, it may not be heard if:

1. the unit is located outside a closed or partially closed door,
2. residents recently consumed alcohol or drugs,
3. the alarm is drowned out by noise from stereo, TV, traffic, air conditioner or other appliances,
4. residents are hearing impaired or sound sleepers. Special purpose units, like those with visual and audible alarms, should be installed for hearing impaired residents.

Smoke Alarms may not have time to alarm before the fire itself causes damage, injury, or death, since smoke from some fires may not reach the unit immediately. Examples of this include persons smoking in bed, children playing with matches, or fires caused by violent explosions resulting from escaping gas.
Smoke Alarms are not foolproof.
Like any electronic device, Smoke Alarms are made of components that can wear out or fail at any time. You must test the unit weekly to ensure your continued protection. Smoke Alarms cannot prevent or extinguish fires. They are not a substitute for property or life insurance.
Smoke Alarms have a limited life.
The unit should be replaced immediately if it is not operating properly. You should always replace a Smoke Alarm after 10 years from date of purchase. Write the purchase date on the space provided on back of unit.

First Alert^® is a registered trademark of the First Alert Trust.
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