Universal Security Instruments MI3050, MI5050L, MI5050, MI3050L User Manual

SECURITY INSTRUMENTS, INC.

MODEL MI3050, MI3050L

MODEL MI5050, MI5050L

SMOKE & FIRE ALARM WITH SILENCE FEATURE

AND ALARM ORIGINATION FEA TURE

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS
This smoke alarm uses an extremely small amount of a radioactive
element in the ionization chamber. Do not tamper with radioactive sealed
source or try to repair the smoke alarm yourself.

Table of Contents:

Page #

Smoke Alarm Limitations and Functions................................. 2

Recommended Location of Alarms......................................... 3

Avoid These Locations ........................................................... 4

Early Warning......................................................................... 4

Installation Instructions ........................................................... 4

Locking/Tamper Feature......................................................... 4

Mounting Instructions ............................................................. 5

Operation, T esting & Maintenance.......................................... 6

QUICK FIND® Alarm Originating Feature & Reset .................. 5

Cautions/Warnings ................................................................. 5

Battery Replacement .............................................................. 6

Develop and Practice a Plan of Escape.................................. 8

Operational Summary............................................................. 9

Warranty.................................................................Back Cover

SMOKE ALARM LIMITA TIONS AND FUNCTIONS

 There are three basic smoke alarm types: IoPhic , Ionization and Photoelectric.

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IoPhic is an ionization alarm containing a patent-pending Universal Smoke Sensing Technology.

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IoPhic

alarms are very effective at detecting fast flaming fires and also respond very quickly to
slow smoldering fires - up to 87% faster than the maximum allowable alarm limit (UL217 Smoldering
Smoke Test on 5/26/2010, Underwriters Laboratories Project #09CA38078).
Ionization smoke alarms are typically more effective at detecting fast flaming fires - fires which consume
combustible materials rapidly and spread quickly. Sources of these fires may include paper burning in a
wastebasket, or kitchen grease fires.
Photoelectric smoke alarms, on the other hand, are typically more effective at detecting slow smoldering
fires - fires which burn for hours before bursting into flame. Sources of these fires may include cigarettes
burning in couches or bedding.
Installing IoPhic smoke alarms ensures maximum detection of both types of fires from a single alarm,
while eliminating the need for a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms.
The enclosed alarm is an Ionization smoke alarm.

 SMOKE ALARMS WILL NOT WORK DURING A LOSS OF POWER. SINCE A SMOKE ALARM WILL

NOT WORK WITHOUT POWER, having an alarm(s) that works from two completely different power
sources, such as an AC direct wire with battery backup smoke alarm, can give you an extra measure of
protection in case of an AC power failure or a dead battery. Battery operated alarms cannot work if the
batteries are missing, disconnected or dead, if the wrong type of batteries are used or if the batteries are
not installed correctly. AC (only) powered alarms cannot work if the AC power is cut off for any reason. If
you are concerned about the limitations of the battery or AC power , install both types of alarms.

 USING AN IONIZATION SMOKE ALARM IN A SMOKY AREA, SUCH AS A KITCHEN, OR IN A HIGH

HUMIDITY AREA NEAR A SHOWER, CAN CAUSE NUISANCE FALSE ALARMS. IT IS PREFERABLE
TO USE PHOTOELECTRIC ALARMS IN THESE AREAS. DO NOT TURN OFF THE AC POWER TO
QUIET THE ALARM. A SMOKE ALARM WILL NOT HELP PROTECT YOU IF IT IS NOT POWERED.
Properly locate your alarm to avoid nuisance alarms.

 A SMOKE ALARM MAY NOT ALWAYS WARN YOU ABOUT FIRES CAUSED BY CARELESSNESS

AND SAFETY HAZARDS LIKE SMOKING IN BED, VIOLENT EXPLOSIONS, ESCAPING GAS,
IMPROPER STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE MATERIALS, OVERLOADED ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS,
CHILDREN PLAYING WITH MA TCHES, NA TURAL CAUSES SUCH AS LIGHTNING, OR ARSON. FIRE
PREVENTION IS YOUR BEST SAFEGUARD.

 INSTALLING SMOKE ALARMS MAY MAKE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR LOWER INSURANCE RATES, BUT

SMOKE ALARMS ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR INSURANCE. Homeowners and renters alike should
continue to insure their lives and properties.

 SMOKE ALARMS CANNOT DETECT FIRES IF THE SMOKE DOES NOT REACH THEM. Smoke from

fires may not reach the sensing chamber and set off the alarm. One alarm should be installed inside each
bedroom or sleeping area. Do not obstruct airflow around the smoke alarm or place in areas of obstructed
airflow.

 BE AWARE OF VARIOUS SITUATIONS AGAINST WHICH THE SMOKE ALARM MAY NOT BE

EFFECTIVE. For example: (1) Fires where the victim is intimate with a flaming initiated fire; for example,
when a person's clothes catch fire while cooking; (2) Fires where the smoke is prevented from reaching
the alarm due to a closed door or other obstruction or (3) Incendiary fires where the fire grows so rapidly
that an occupant's egress is blocked even with properly located alarms.
SMOKE ALARMS MAY NOT DETECT FIRE ON ANOTHER FLOOR OR AREA OF THE HOME.
Recommended minimum protection is at least one smoke alarm in every sleeping area and every bedroom
on every level of your home. Interconnected smoke alarms may provide earlier warning than stand-alone
smoke alarms since all smoke alarms alarm when one detects smoke.

 SMOKE ALARMS MA Y NOT BE HEARD. The alarm horn in this alarm meets or exceeds current standards,

but it may not be heard if: (1) the smoke alarm 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 stereos, TV's,
air conditioners or other appliances; (4) residents are hearing impaired or (5) if residents are sleeping.
CURRENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN SMOKE ALARMS MAY NOT AWAKEN ALL SLEEPING
INDIVIDUALS AND THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE HOUSEHOLD WHO
ARE CAPABLE OF ASSISTING OTHERS TO PROVIDE ASSIST ANCE TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE
AWAKENED BY THE ALARM SOUND OR TO THOSE WHO MAY BE INCAPABLE OF SAFELY
EVACUATING THE AREA UNASSISTED.

 SMOKE ALARMS ARE NOT FOOLPROOF. You must test the smoke alarm weekly to ensure your

continued protection. Smoke alarms cannot prevent or extinguish fires.

 SMOKE ALARMS HAVE A LIMITED LIFE. The smoke alarm should be replaced immediately if it is not

operating properly. You should always replace a smoke alarm after 10 years.

 SMOKE ALARMS ARE NOT TO BE USED WITH DETECTOR GUARDS UNLESS THE COMBINATION

HAS BEEN EVALUATED AND FOUND SUITABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE.

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RECOMMENDED LOCATION OF ALARMS

• Locate the first smoke alarm in the immediate area of the bedrooms. Try to protect the escape
route as the bedrooms are usually farthest from an exit. If more than one sleeping area exists,
locate additional smoke alarms in each sleeping area. If a hall is more than 40 feet (12 meters)
long, install a smoke alarm at each end.

• Locate additional smoke alarms to protect any stairway as stairways act like chimneys for
smoke and heat.

• Locate at least one smoke alarm on every floor level.

• Locate a smoke alarm in any area where a smoker sleeps or where electrical appliances are
operated in sleeping areas.

• Smoke, heat and other combustion products rise to the ceiling and spread horizontally. Mounting
the smoke alarm on the ceiling in the center of the room places it closest to all points in the room.
Ceiling mounting is preferred in ordinary residential construction. However, in mobile homes, wall
mounting on an inside partition is preferred to avoid the thermal barrier that may form at the ceiling.

• When mounting smoke alarm on the ceiling, locate it a minimum of 4" (10cm) from a side wall or
corner (see Diagram A).

• When mounting smoke alarm on a wall, if local codes allow, use an inside wall with the top edge
of the smoke alarm a minimum of 4" (10cm) and a maximum of 12" (30.5cm) below the ceiling/
wall intersections (See Diagram A).

Existing Homes:
The NFPA requires a smoke alarm on every level and outside each sleeping area in existing construction.
An existing household with one level and one sleeping area is required to have one smoke alarm.

New Construction Homes and Manufactured Homes:
The NFPA requires AC-powered, interconnected smoke alarms to be installed inside each bedroom, outside
each bedroom area, and on every level of the home. They also require a minimum of two AC-powered,
interconnected smoke alarms in any new construction home.

Sloped Ceilings (Peaked Ceilings):
Smoke alarms or smoke detectors mounted on a peaked ceiling shall be located within 36 in. (914 mm)
horizontally of the peak, but not closer than 4 in. (102 mm) vertically to the peak.

Sloped Ceilings (Shed Ceilings):
Smoke alarms or smoke detectors mounted on a sloped ceiling having a rise greater than 1 ft. in 8 ft. (1 m
in 8 m) horizontally shall be located within 36 in. (914 mm) of the high side of the ceiling, but not closer
than 4 in. (102 mm) from the adjoining wall surface.

Tray-Shaped Ceilings:
Smoke Alarms or smoke detectors shall be installed on the highest portion of the ceiling or on the sloped
portion of the ceiling within 12 in. (305 mm) vertically down from the highest point.

Mobile Home Installation:
For minimum protection, smoke alarms should be installed in compliance with H.U.D. Manufactured Home
Construction Safety Standards, Title 24 CFR, Section 3280.208 and Section 3282. For additional protection,
see Single Story Residence smoke alarm requirements/recommendations for Existing Homes and New
Construction Homes.

Note: For mobile homes built before 1978, install smoke alarms on inside walls between 4” and 12” from
the ceiling (older mobile homes have little or no insulation in the ceiling). This is especially important if the
ceiling is unusually hot or cold.

Install a smoke alarm inside each bedroom and in the hallway outside each separate sleeping area.

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