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SWIFT™ Smart Wireless Integrated Fire Technology Manual — P/N LS10036-000NF-E:C 5/8/2015
Fire Alarm & Emergency Communication System Limitations
While a life safety system may lower insurance rates, it is not a substitute for life and property insurance!
An automatic fire alarm system—typically made up of smoke 
detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, audible warning 
devices, and a fire alarm control panel (FACP) with remote notifi-
cation capability—can provide early warning of a developing fire.  
Such a system, however, does not assure protection against 
property damage or loss of life resulting from a fire.  
An emergency communication system—typically made up of 
an automatic fire alarm system (as described above) and a life 
safety communication system that may include an autonomous 
control unit (ACU), local operating console (LOC), voice commu-
nication, and other various interoperable communication meth-
ods—can broadcast a mass notification message.  Such a 
system, however, does not assure protection against property 
damage or loss of life resulting from a fire or life safety event.  
The Manufacturer recommends that smoke and/or heat 
detectors be located throughout a protected premises following 
the recommendations of the current edition of the National Fire 
Protection Association Standard 72 (NFPA 72), manufacturer's 
recommendations, State and local codes, and the 
recommendations contained in the Guide for Proper Use of 
System Smoke Detectors, which is made available at no charge 
to all installing dealers.  This document can be found at http://
www.systemsensor.com/appguides/.  A study by the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (an agency of the United 
States government) indicated that smoke detectors may not go 
off in as many as 35% of all fires.  While fire alarm systems are 
designed to provide early warning against fire, they do not 
guarantee warning or protection against fire.  A fire alarm system 
may not provide timely or adequate warning, or simply may not 
function, for a variety of reasons: 
Smoke detectors may not sense fire where smoke cannot 
reach the detectors such as in chimneys, in or behind walls, on 
roofs, or on the other side of closed doors.  Smoke detectors 
also 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 fire 
may not reach the sensing chambers of smoke detectors 
because:
• Barriers such as closed or partially closed doors, walls, chim-
neys, even wet or humid areas may inhibit particle or smoke 
flow.  
• Smoke particles may become “cold,” stratify, and not reach 
the ceiling or upper walls where detectors are located.  
• Smoke particles may be blown away from detectors by air 
outlets, such as air conditioning vents. 
• Smoke particles may be drawn into air returns before reach-
ing the detector.  
The amount of “smoke” present may be insufficient to alarm 
smoke detectors.  Smoke detectors are designed to alarm at var-
ious levels of smoke density.  If such density levels are not cre-
ated by a developing fire at the location of detectors, the 
detectors will not go into alarm.  
Smoke detectors, even when working properly, have sensing 
limitations.  Detectors that have photoelectronic sensing cham-
bers tend to detect smoldering fires better than flaming fires, 
which have little visible smoke.  Detectors that have ionizing-type 
sensing chambers tend to detect fast-flaming fires better than 
smoldering fires.  Because fires develop in different ways and 
are often unpredictable in their growth, neither type of detector is 
necessarily best and a given type of detector may not provide 
adequate warning of a fire.  
Smoke detectors cannot be expected to provide adequate warn-
ing of fires caused by arson, children playing with matches 
(especially in bedrooms), smoking in bed, and violent explosions 
(caused by escaping gas, improper storage of flammable materi-
als, etc.).  
Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion and alarm 
only when heat on their sensors increases at a predetermined 
rate or reaches a predetermined level.  Rate-of-rise heat detec-
tors may be subject to reduced sensitivity over time.  For this 
reason, the rate-of-rise feature of each detector should be tested 
at least once per year by a qualified fire protection specialist.  
Heat detectors are designed to protect property, not life.  
IMPORTANT!  Smoke detectors must be installed in the same 
room as the control panel and in rooms used by the system for 
the connection of alarm transmission wiring, communications, 
signaling, and/or power.  If detectors are not so located, a devel-
oping fire may damage the alarm system, compromising its abil-
ity to report a fire.  
Audible warning devices such as bells, horns, strobes, 
speakers and displays
 may not alert people if these devices 
are located on the other side of closed or partly open doors or 
are located on another floor of a building.  Any warning device 
may fail to alert people with a disability or those who have 
recently consumed drugs, alcohol, or medication.  Please note 
that:
• An emergency communication system may take priority over 
a fire alarm system in the event of a life safety emergency.
• Voice messaging systems must be designed to meet intelligi-
bility requirements as defined by NFPA, local codes, and 
Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
• Language and instructional requirements must be clearly dis-
seminated on any local displays.
• Strobes can, under certain circumstances, cause seizures in 
people with conditions such as epilepsy.  
• Studies have shown that certain people, even when they hear 
a fire alarm signal, do not respond to or comprehend the 
meaning of the signal.  Audible devices, such as horns and 
bells, can have different tonal patterns and frequencies.  It is 
the property owner's responsibility to conduct fire drills and 
other training exercises to make people aware of fire alarm 
signals and instruct them on the proper reaction to alarm sig-
nals.  
• In rare instances, the sounding of a warning device can cause 
temporary or permanent hearing loss.  
A life safety system will not operate without any electrical 
power.  If AC power fails, the system will operate from standby 
batteries only for a specified time and only if the batteries have 
been properly maintained and replaced regularly.  
Equipment used in the system may not be technically compat-
ible with the control panel.  It is essential to use only equipment 
listed for service with your control panel.  
Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from a prem-
ises to a central monitoring station may be out of service or tem-
porarily disabled. For added protection against telephone line 
failure, backup radio transmission systems are recommended.  
The most common cause of life safety system malfunction is 
inadequate maintenance.  To keep the entire life safety system in 
excellent working order, ongoing maintenance is required per the 
manufacturer's recommendations, and UL and NFPA stan-
dards.  At a minimum, the requirements of NFPA 72 shall be fol-
lowed.  Environments with large amounts of dust, dirt, or high air 
velocity require more frequent maintenance.  A maintenance 
agreement should be arranged through the local manufacturer's 
representative.  Maintenance should be scheduled monthly or as 
required by National and/or local fire codes and should be per-
formed by authorized professional life safety system installers 
only.  Adequate written records of all inspections should be kept.  
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