Universal Security Instruments MICN109, MICN102, MICN102L, MICN109L User Manual

MODEL MICN102, MICN102L
IONIZATION SMOKE ALARM,
CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM AND
NATURAL GAS ALARM
WITH BATTERY BACKUP
AND SILENCE FEATURE

MODEL MICN109, MICN109L
IONIZATION SMOKE ALARM,
CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM AND
NATURAL GAS ALARM
WITH BATTERY BACKUP
AND SILENCE FEATURE

THANK YOU for purchasing this combination alarm. It is designed to detect smoke, carbon monoxide
and natural gas (methane) which reaches the sensor. It is not designed to detect fire, heat, flames or
any other gas. This manual includes important information regarding where to install the alarm, how
to operate, maintenance, testing and product features. It also includes tips and information which
could help protect you and your family.

PLEASE READ AND SAVE!

T able of Contents:

Page #

What You Should Know About CO.......................................... 2

What You Should Know About Natural Gas............................ 2

Basic Safety Information......................................................... 3

Recommended Location of Alarms......................................... 4

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

How to Install .......................................................................... 5

Operation & Alarm Characteristics..........................................6

What To Do If The Alarm Sounds ........................................... 7

Silence Feature ...................................................................... 7

Testing & Maintenance ...........................................................8

Battery Replacement .............................................................. 8

CO & Natural Gas Alarm Limitations....................................... 9

Operational Summary........................................................... 11

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

ALARM LIMITATIONS AND FUNCTIONS

 This Combination Ionization Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO)/Natural Gas alarm requires constant

120 VAC power to operate properly.

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



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





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 a Smoke, CO and Natural Gas 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.

 CO/NATURAL GAS alarms are designed to detect carbon monoxide and natural gases from any source

of combustion or natural gas leakage that reaches their sensor.

 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 meet s 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 THA T IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE HOUSEHOLD WHO
ARE CAPABLE OF ASSISTING OTHERS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE 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.

 COMBINATION CO/NATURAL GAS/SMOKE ALARMS HAVE A LIMITED LIFE. The Combination CO/

Natural Gas/Smoke alarm should be replaced immediately if it is not operating properly. You should
always replace a Combination CO/Natural Gas/Smoke alarm after 7 years.

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

HAS BEEN EVALUATED AND FOUND SUITABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CO

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an insidious poison. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. It is a
cumulative poison. Even low levels of CO have been shown to cause brain and other vital organ
damage in unborn infants with no effect on the mother.

The following symptoms are related to CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING and should be discussed

ALL members of the household:

with

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, cardiorespiratory failure, death.
Many cases of reported CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING indicate that victims are aware they

are not well, but they become so disoriented that they are unable to save themselves by either
exiting the building or calling for assistance. Young children and household pets may be the first
affected.

Your combination alarm is designed to detect the toxic CO fumes that result from incomplete
combustion, such as those emitted from appliances, furnaces, fireplaces and auto exhaust.

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

IMPORT ANT CONSIDERATIONS

YOUR COMBINATION SMOKE, CO AND NATURAL GAS ALARM HAS BEEN DESIGNED WITH
AN END-OF-SERVICE LIFE ALARM WHICH WILL SOUND AFTER APPROXIMATELY 7 YEARS
OF OPERATION FROM INITIAL POWER UP.

NOTE: MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF THIS ALARM 7 YEARS AFTER
DA TE OF INSTALLATION.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT NATURAL GAS

Natural gas is a fossil fuel which consists primarily of methane. This common energy source is often
used for cooking, home heating and water heating. Natural gas is typically supplied through a main
utility line connected to your home. It is a highly flammable chemical compound. Although it happens
rarely, a natural gas leak can sometimes occur inside the home. This can be dangerous because it
increases the risk of explosion and fire.

Natural gas is odorless and colorless. When Mercaptan is added to natural gas as an odorant, it can
then be detected by smell. Although it can vary greatly, the typical level for detection of the gas by
smell is 25% of the lower explosion limit (LEL). People who have a diminished sense of smell may
not be able to rely on this safety mechanism. Therefore, installation of this alarm can be an important
tool to help protect you and your family. This alarm is calibrated to sound before 20% LEL Therefore,

it is possible that you may smell gas before the alarm is activated. If you are not sure which
gas your home uses, contact your utility company .

Natural gas (methane) is typically supplied through a main utility line connected to your home.
Early warning is best achieved by the installation of alarms on all floors and areas of the household.

WHERE THIS ALARM SHOULD BE INSTALLED

• Install an alarm inside each bedroom where the occupant closes the door while sleeping.

• An alarm should be installed in any family living unit containing a fuel-burning appliance or fireplace

or having an attached garage.

• An alarm should be centrally located outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate
vicinity of the bedrooms. Where bedrooms are separated and audibility of the alarm to occupants
within the bedroom area could be seriously impaired, more than one alarm could be needed.

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• Locate the first combination 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 combination alarms in each sleeping area. If a hall is more than 40 feet
(12 meters) long, install a combination 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 combination 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 smoke alarms or combination alarms 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 or combination alarms in any new construction home.

Sloped Ceilings (Peaked Ceilings):
Smoke alarms or combination alarms 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 combination alarms 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 combination alarms 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 or combination 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 smoke alarms or combination alarms inside each bedroom and in the hallway outside each separate
sleeping area.

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In general, install combination Smoke, CO and Gas Alarms:

• WHERE YOU CAN HEAR THE ALARM FROM ALL SLEEPING AREAS.

• In or near bedrooms and living areas or wherever you suspect a smoke, gas or CO exposure is

likely.

• On each level of a multilevel home.

IMPORTANT!

Installation in an improper location can affect the sensitive electronic components in this alarm.
Please review WHERE THIS ALARM SHOULD NOT BE INSTALLED (see Page 6).

Not suitable for installation in hazardous locations as defined in the National Electric Code. This
alarm will detect natural gas primarily and carbon monoxide secondarily. Natural gas events will
always take precedence over carbon monoxide events. The word "gas" will be used to specifically
refer to natural gas.

When on AC power , this alarm is designed to act as a continuous monitor . It is not designed for use
as a short-term testing device to perform a quick check for the presence of CO or gas.

BASIC SAFETY INFORMATION

• This combination Smoke, Carbon Monoxide and Natural Gas alarm has separate alarms. This
alarm is not designed to detect any other gas. Carbon monoxide and natural gas may be present
in other areas. The Smoke, CO and Natural Gas Alarm will only indicate the presence of CO or
natural gas which reaches the sensor.

• Do not paint the alarm. Paint may clog the openings to the sensing chambers and prevent the
unit from operating properly.

• 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.

Make sure the alarm is not receiving excessively noisy power. Examples of noisy power
could be major appliances on the same circuit, power from a generator or solar power, light
dimmer on the same circuit or mounted near fluorescent lighting. Excessively noisy power
may cause damage to your alarm.

Find the pair of self-adhesive labels included with this Smoke,CO and Gas Alarm.

• On each label, write in the phone number of your emergency responder (such as 911) and a
qualified appliance technician.

• Place one label near the Smoke, CO and Gas Alarm and the other label in the "fresh air" location
you plan to go to if the alarm sounds.

This alarm cannot be operated from power derived from a square wave, modified square wave or
modified sine wave inverter. These types of inverters are sometimes used to supply power in of f-grid
installations, such as solar or wind derived power sources. These power sources may produce high
peak voltages which will damage the alarm.

This unit should receive continuous electrical power. (The battery is meant for emergency
backup only.) Choose an outlet where it can't be accident ally unplugged or switched off by
children. Keep small children away from the unit. Teach them not to play with it or unplug it.
Explain what the alarms mean.

Do not install this alarm into an electrical circuit controlled by a dimmer or switch or ground
fault circuit interrupter.

When testing the alarm, have someone else check that the alarm can be heard easily from the
sleeping areas. The unit should be located where it can wake you if it alarms at night.

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RECOMMENDED PLACEMENT:

NOTE: For any location, make sure no door or other obstruction could prevent the smoke, carbon

monoxide or gas from reaching the alarm.

WHERE THIS ALARM SHOULD NOT BE INSTALLED

To avoid causing damage to the unit, to provide optimum protection, and to prevent
unnecessary alarms. Do NOT locate this alarm:

• In garages, kitchens, crawl spaces and unfinished attics. Avoid extremely dusty, dirty or greasy
areas. Installation in these areas could lead to nuisance alarms, may expose the sensor to
substances which could damage or contaminate it, or the alarm may not be heard by people in
other areas of the home, especially if they are sleeping.

• In the garage, vehicle exhaust can contain some carbon monoxide. These levels are higher
when the engine is first started. Within hours of starting a vehicle and backing it out of the garage,
the levels present over time can activate the alarm and become a nuisance.

• In the kitchen, some gas appliances can emit a short burst of CO or gas upon startup. This is
normal. If your CO and Gas Alarm is installed too close to these appliances, it may alarm often
and become a nuisance.

• Keep alarms at least 20 feet (6m) from the sources or combustion particles (stove, furnace,
water heater, space heater), if possible. In areas where a 20 foot (6m) dist ance is not possible (in
modular, mobile or smaller homes for example), it is recommended the 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 reduce "unwanted"
alarms. Unwanted alarms can occur if an alarm is placed directly next to a fuel-burning source.
Ventilate these areas as much as possible. If you must install the alarm near a cooking or

heating appliance, install at least 5 feet (1.5m) from appliance.

• Curtains or heavy furniture may prevent CO or gas from reaching the sensor.

• Less than 12 inches (306mm) away from fluorescent lights. Electrical noise can interfere with the

sensor.

• In extremely humid areas. This alarm should be at least 10 feet (3m) from a bath or shower,
sauna, humidifier, vaporizer , dishwasher, laundry room, utility room or other source of high humidity .

• In very cold or very hot environments or in unheated buildings or outdoor rooms where the
temperature can go below or above the operating range of the alarm. Temperature limits for
proper operation are 40

o

to 100oF (4.4o to 37.8oC).

• In turbulent air, such as near ceiling fans, heat vents, air conditioners, fresh air returns or open
windows. Blowing air may prevent CO from reaching the sensors.

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