Kidde KN-COB-IC User Manual

Manual P/N 820-1685 Rev B 10/12 2512-7213-00

ATTENTION: Please take a few minutes to thoroughly read this
user’s guide which should be saved for future reference and
passed on to any subsequent owner.

Carbon Monoxide Alarm

User’s Guide

Models: KN-COB-IC and KN-COP-IC

KN-COB-IC

KN-COP-IC

with Digital Display

• 120V AC Wire-In

• 9V Battery Backup

• Interconnectable with other Kidde alarms

Carbon Monoxide Alarm Procedure

1) Operate the Test/Reset button;

2) Call your emergency services (Fire Department or 911);

3) Immediately move to fresh air - outdoors or by an open

door/window. Do a head count to check that all persons are
accounted for. Do not reenter the premises nor move away
from the open door/window until the emergency services
responders have arrived, the premises have been aired out, and
your alarm remains in its normal condition.

4) After following steps 1-3, if the alarm reactivates within a 24
hour period, repeat steps 1-3 and call a qualified appliance
technician to investigate sources of CO from fuel burning
equipment and appliances, and to inspect for proper operation
of equipment.

If problems are identified during this inspection, have the equip­ment serviced immediately. Note any combustion equipment not
inspected by the technician and consult the manufacturer’s instruc­tions, or contact the manufacturer’s directly for more information
about CO safety and the equipment. Make sure that motor vehicles
are not, or have not been, operating in a garage attached or adja­cent to the residence.

Never restart the source of a CO problem until it has been
corrected. Never ignore the sound of the alarm!

If the alarm is sounding, pressing the test/reset button will
terminate the alarm. If the CO condition that caused the alert
in the first place continues, the alarm will reactivate. If the
unit alarms again within six minutes, it is sensing high levels
of CO which can quickly become a dangerous situation.

WARNING:

Activation of the CO
Alarm indicates the presence of Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which can kill you.

PHONE NUMBER:

PHONE NUMBER:

What to do When the Alarm Sounds!

Welcome

Note: Many times throughout this User’s Guide, we will refer to
Carbon Monoxide as “CO”.

This Kidde carbon monoxide (CO) alarm is an important part of your
family’s home safety plan. This alarm has been designed and tested to
detect CO buildup in a residential environment. Your alarm is for use
specifically in the home. As an owner of a CO alarm, there are some
basic facts you should know about for your protection.

Many people think that CO alarms operate like smoke alarms. Like
smoke alarms, CO alarms monitor the air in your home and sound a
loud alarm to warn you of trouble. The way you respond to a CO alarm
is quite different than a smoke alarm. That’s because a house fire and a
CO problem are two distinctly different situations. If your smoke alarm
were to alarm, you would quickly be able to judge the level of danger
you were in with your senses. You can see and smell the smoke, feel the
heat, see, and possibly hear the fire burning. You can also readily see if
your smoke alarm is alarming in a non-emergency situation. Because
your sense of sight, smell, hearing and touch give you information, you
can almost instantly judge what action to take if you hear your smoke
alarm.

CO is an invisible, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating gas – completely
undetectable to your senses. That’s why it is important to your safety
that you have a CO alarm.

Important Warning Statements

IMPORTANT: This carbon monoxide alarm is designed to detect
carbon monoxide from ANY source of combustion. It is NOT
designed to detect smoke, fire, or any other gas.

WARNING: Carbon monoxide alarms are not smoke alarms.
This carbon monoxide alarm is not a substitute for installing and
maintaining an appropriate number of smoke alarms in your
home.

This carbon monoxide alarm will not sense smoke, fire, or any
poisonous gas other than carbon monoxide even though carbon
monoxide can be generated by fire. For this reason you must
install smoke alarms to provide early warning of fire and to pro­tect you and your family from fire and its related hazards.

CAUTION: This alarm will only indicate the presence of carbon
monoxide at the sensor. Carbon monoxide may be present in
other areas.

!

Important Warning Statements

WARNING: This product is intended for use in ordinary
indoor locations of family living units. It is not designed to
measure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), commercial or industrial standards. It is
not suitable for installation in hazardous locations as defined in
the National Electric Code.

The installation of this device should not be used as a substitute
for proper installation, use and maintenance of fuel burning
appliances, including appropriate ventilation and exhaust sys­tems. It does not prevent CO from occurring, nor can it solve an
existing CO problem.

WARNING: This device is designed to protect individuals from
acute effects of carbon monoxide exposure. It may not fully safe­guard individuals with specific medical conditions. If in doubt,
consult a medical practitioner.

Individuals with medical problems may consider using warning
devices which provide audible and visual signals for carbon
monoxide concentrations under 30 PPM.

This carbon monoxide alarm requires a continuous supply of elec­trical power – it will not work without power. Models without
battery backup will not operate during power failure.

This alarm has not been investigated for carbon monoxide detec­tion below 70 PPM.

Contents of This User’s Guide

1. Information About Carbon Monoxide

2. Product Features and Specifications

3. Installation Locations

4. Installation Instructions

5. Alarm Characteristics

6. KN-COB-IC Operating Characteristics

7. KN-COP-IC (with digital display) Operating Characteristics

8. Maintenance

9. Limited Warranty

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!

1. Information About Carbon Monoxide

General Carbon Monoxide Information

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless poison gas that
can be fatal when inhaled. CO inhibits the blood’s capacity to carry oxy­gen.

Periodically review this user's guide and discuss your CO alarm emer­gency procedure with all the members of your family. Never ignore a CO
alarm. A true alarm is an indication of potentially dangerous levels of
CO. CO alarms are designed to alert you to the presence of CO before
an emergency – before most people would experience symptoms of CO
poisoning, giving you time to resolve the problem calmly.

Determine if anyone in the household is experiencing symptoms of CO
poisoning. Many cases of reported CO poisoning indicate that while
victims are aware they are not well, they become so disoriented they are
unable to save themselves by either exiting the building or calling for
assistance. Also, young children and household pets may be the first
affected. You should take extra precautions to protect high-risk persons
from CO exposure because they may experience ill effects from CO at
levels that would not ordinarily affect a healthy adult.

Symptoms of CO Poisoning

The following common symptoms are related to CO poisoning and
should be discussed with ALL members of the household.

Mild Exposure:

Slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue (often described as
“flu-like” symptoms).

Medium Exposure:

Severe throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate.

Extreme Exposure:

Unconsciousness, convulsions, cardio-respiratory failure, death.

If you experience even mild symptoms of CO poisoning, consult your
doctor immediately!

1. Information About Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide PPM Levels

(model KN-COP-IC with digital display only)

Model KN-COP-IC is equipped with a digital display that shows levels of
CO (displayed in PPM – parts per million). Learn the difference between
dangerous, high, mid and low levels.

Dangerous Levels:

When someone is experiencing symptoms of CO poisoning and CO
readings are generally above 100 PPM. Anytime someone is experiencing
the symptoms of CO poisoning this should be treated as an emergency.
See “What to do When the Alarm Sounds” (inside front cover).

High Levels:

Generally above 100 PPM, with no one experiencing symptoms. This
should be treated as an urgent situation. See “What to do When the
Alarm Sounds” (inside front cover).

Mid Levels:

Generally between 50 PPM to 100 PPM. This should be cause for
concern and should not be ignored or dismissed. See “What to do
When the Alarm Sounds” (inside front cover).

Low Levels:

Generally below 50 PPM. Kidde recommends you take action to
eliminate the source of CO. See “What to do When the Alarm Sounds”
(inside front cover).

IMPORTANT: Model KN-COB-IC does not have a digital display and
does not display carbon monoxide levels in PPM. If the alarm
sounds, it should be treated as a potentially serious condition. See

“What to do When the Alarm Sounds” (inside front cover).

Possible Sources of Carbon Monoxide

Inside your home, appliances used for heating and cooking are the most
likely sources of CO. Vehicles running in attached garages can also
produce dangerous levels of CO.

CO can be produced when burning any fossil fuel, such as gasoline,
propane, natural gas, oil and wood. It can be produced by any fuel­burning appliance that is malfunctioning, improperly installed, or not
ventilated correctly, such as:

• Automobiles, furnaces, gas ranges/stoves, gas clothes dryers, water
heaters, portable fuel burning space heaters and generators,
fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and certain swimming pool heaters.

1. Information About Carbon Monoxide

• Blocked chimneys or flues, back drafts and changes in air pressure,
corroded or disconnected vent pipes, loose or cracked furnace
exchangers.

• Vehicles and other combustion engines running in an open or closed
garage, attached or near a home.

• Burning charcoal or fuel in grills and hibachis in an enclosed area.

Conditions That Can Produce Carbon Monoxide

The following conditions can result in transient CO situations:

• Excessive spillage or reverse venting of fuel-burning appliances caused
by outdoor ambient conditions, such as, wind direction and/or veloci­ty, including high gusts of wind, heavy air in the vent pipes
(cold/humid air with extended periods between cycles).

• Negative pressure resulting from the use of exhaust fans.

• Simultaneous operation of several fuel-burning appliances competing
for limited internal air.

• Vent pipe connections vibrating loose from clothes dryers, furnaces, or
water heaters.

• Obstructions in, or unconventional, vent pipe designs which can
amplify the above situations.

• Extended operation of unvented fuel-burning devices (range, oven,
fireplace, etc.).

• Temperature inversions which can trap exhaust gases near the ground.

• Vehicle idling in an open or closed garage, or near a home.

To be safe, know the possible sources of CO in your home. Keep fuel­burning appliances and their chimneys and vents in good working condi­tion. Learn the early symptoms of exposure, and if you suspect CO poi­soning, move outside to fresh air and get emergency help. Your first line
of defense is an annual inspection and regular maintenance of your
appliances. Contact a licensed contractor or call your local utility compa­ny for assistance.

Information About Carbon Monoxide Alarms –
What They Can and Cannot Do:

CO alarms provide early warning of the presence of CO, usually before a
healthy adult would experience symptoms. This early warning is possible,
however, only if your CO alarm is located, installed and maintained as
described in this guide.