Universal Security Instruments SS-775 User Manual

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MODEL SS-775/SS-776

SMOKE & FIRE ALARM
with Silence Control

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS

The smoke alarm has a recommended service life of at least 10 years under normal conditions.
The 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. Refer to instructions for repairs.

SMOKE ALARM LIMITA TIONS AND FUNCTIONS

• THERE ARE TWO BASIC SMOKE ALARM TYPES - IONIZATION AND PHOTOELECTRIC.
Ionization smoke alarms are your best overall choice for reliability and fast response time,
since they quickly sense small "invisible" smoke particles and will also sense larger "visible"
smoke particles. Photoelectric smoke alarms may respond more quickly in certain types of
fires, for example - slow smoldering fires with large "visible" smoke particles. ALL TYPES OF
SMOKE ALARMS HA VE LIMIT A TIONS. NO TYPE OF SMOKE ALARM CAN SENSE EVERY
KIND OF FIRE OR SMOKE EVERY TIME.

• WARNING - 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 .

• USING A SMOKE ALARM IN A SMOKY AREA LIKE A KITCHEN, OR IN A HIGH HUMIDITY
AREA NEAR A SHOWER, CAN CAUSE FALSE ALARMS. 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 MA Y NOT ALW AYS 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 WORK WITHOUT POWER. Battery operated units 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 units cannot work if the AC power is cut off for any
reason. If you are concerned about the limitations of battery or AC power , install both types of units .

• 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 unit should
be installed inside each bedroom or sleeping area.

• SMOKE ALARMS MAY NOT DETECT FIRE ON ANOTHER FLOOR OR AREA OF THE
HOME. Recommended minimum protection is at least one unit in every sleeping area and
every bedroom on every level of your home. Interconnected units may provide earlier warning
than stand-alone units since all units alarm when one detects smoke.

• SMOKE ALARMS MA Y NOT BE HEARD. The alarm horn in this unit meets or exceeds current
standards, but 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 stereos, TV's, air conditioners or other appliances or (4) if residents are hearing impaired
or sound sleepers.

• SMOKE ALARMS ARE NOT FOOLPROOF. You must test the unit
continued protection. Smoke alarms cannot prevent or extinguish fires.

• SMOKE ALARMS HA VE 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.

• SMOKE ALARMS ARE NOT TO BE USED WITH DETECTOR GUARDS UNLESS THE
COMBINATION HAS BEEN EVALUATED AND FOUND SUITABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE.

• CURRENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN SMOKE ALARMS MA Y NOT A WAKEN ALL SLEEPING
INDIVIDUALS AND THAT 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.

weekly to ensure your

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 out side each sleeping area in existing construction. A n
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, out side 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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