Notifier NFS-320 Operation Manual

Also see for NFS-320: Installation manual

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Notifier NFS-320 Operation Manual Manual pdf 2 page image

2 NFS-320/E/C, NFS-320SYS/E Operations Manual — P/N 52747:E1 06/16/2011Fire Alarm System LimitationsWhile a fire alarm system may lower insurance rates, it is not a substitute for fire insurance!An automatic fire alarm system—typically made up ofsmoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, audiblewarning devices, and a fire alarm control panel with remotenotification capability—can provide early warning of a develop-ing fire. Such a system, however, does not assure protectionagainst 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 therecommendations of the current edition of the National FireProtection Association Standard 72 (NFPA 72), manufacturer'srecommendations, State and local codes, and the recommen-dations contained in the Guides for Proper Use of SystemSmoke Detectors, which are made available at no charge to allinstalling dealers. These documents can be found at http://www.systemsensor.com/html/applicat.html. A study by theFederal Emergency Management Agency (an agency of theUnited States government) indicated that smoke detectorsmay not go off in as many as 35% of all fires. While fire alarmsystems are designed to provide early warning against fire,they do not guarantee warning or protection against fire. A firealarm system may not provide timely or adequate warning, orsimply may not function, for a variety of reasons:Smoke detectors may not sense fire where smoke cannotreach the detectors such as in chimneys, in or behind walls, onroofs, or on the other side of closed doors. Smoke detectorsalso 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 firemay not reach the sensing chambers of smoke detectorsbecause:• Barriers such as closed or partially closed doors, walls, orchimneys may inhibit particle or smoke flow.• Smoke particles may become “cold,” stratify, and not reachthe ceiling or upper walls where detectors are located.• Smoke particles may be blown away from detectors by airoutlets.• Smoke particles may be drawn into air returns beforereaching the detector.The amount of “smoke” present may be insufficient to alarmsmoke detectors. Smoke detectors are designed to alarm atvarious levels of smoke density. If such density levels are notcreated by a developing fire at the location of detectors, thedetectors will not go into alarm.Smoke detectors, even when working properly, have sensinglimitations. Detectors that have photoelectronic sensingchambers tend to detect smoldering fires better than flamingfires, which have little visible smoke. Detectors that have ion-izing-type sensing chambers tend to detect fast-flaming firesbetter than smoldering fires. Because fires develop in differentways and are often unpredictable in their growth, neither typeof detector is necessarily best and a given type of detectormay not provide adequate warning of a fire.Smoke detectors cannot be expected to provide adequatewarning of fires caused by arson, children playing withmatches (especially in bedrooms), smoking in bed, and violentexplosions (caused by escaping gas, improper storage offlammable materials, etc.).Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion andalarm only when heat on their sensors increases at a predeter-mined rate or reaches a predetermined level. Rate-of-riseheat detectors may be subject to reduced sensitivity over time.For this reason, the rate-of-rise feature of each detectorshould be tested at least once per year by a qualified fire pro-tection specialist. Heat detectors are designed to protectproperty, not life.IMPORTANT! Smoke detectors must be installed in thesame room as the control panel and in rooms used by the sys-tem for the connection of alarm transmission wiring, communi-cations, signaling, and/or power. If detectors are not solocated, 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 peopleif these devices are located on the other side of closed orpartly open doors or are located on another floor of a building.Any warning device may fail to alert people with a disability orthose who have recently consumed drugs, alcohol or medica-tion. Please note that:• Strobes can, under certain circumstances, cause seizuresin people with conditions such as epilepsy.• Studies have shown that certain people, even when theyhear a fire alarm signal, do not respond or comprehend themeaning of the signal. It is the property owner's responsi-bility to conduct fire drills and other training exercise tomake people aware of fire alarm signals and instruct themon the proper reaction to alarm signals.• In rare instances, the sounding of a warning device cancause temporary or permanent hearing loss.A fire alarm system will not operate without any electricalpower. If AC power fails, the system will operate from standbybatteries only for a specified time and only if the batteries havebeen properly maintained and replaced regularly.Equipment used in the system may not be technically com-patible with the control panel. It is essential to use only equip-ment listed for service with your control panel.Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from apremise to a central monitoring station may be out of serviceor temporarily disabled. For added protection against tele-phone line failure, backup radio transmission systems are rec-ommended.The most common cause of fire alarm malfunction is inade-quate maintenance. To keep the entire fire alarm system inexcellent working order, ongoing maintenance is required perthe manufacturer's recommendations, and UL and NFPA stan-dards. At a minimum, the requirements of NFPA 72 shall befollowed. Environments with large amounts of dust, dirt orhigh air velocity require more frequent maintenance. A main-tenance agreement should be arranged through the local man-ufacturer's representative. Maintenance should be scheduledmonthly or as required by National and/or local fire codes andshould be performed by authorized professional fire alarminstallers only. Adequate written records of all inspectionsshould be kept. Limit-C1-2-2007