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The Limitations of this Security System
While this system is an advanced design security system, it does not offer guaranteed protection
against burglary or other emergency. Any alarm system, whether commercial or residential, is
subject to compromise or failure to warn for a variety of reasons. For example:
• Intruders may gain access through unprotected openings or have the technical sophistication to
bypass an alarm sensor or disconnect an alarm warning device.
• Intrusion detectors (e.g. passive infrared detectors), smoke detectors, and many other sensing
devices will not work without power. Battery operated devices will not work without batteries, with
dead batteries, or if the batteries are not put in properly. Devices powered solely by AC will not
work if their AC power supply is cut off for any reason, however briefly.
• Signals sent by wireless transmitters may be blocked or reflected by metal before they reach the
alarm receiver. Even if the signal path has been recently checked during a weekly test, blockage
can occur if a metal object is moved into the path.
• A user may not be able to reach a panic or emergency button quickly enough.
• While smoke detectors have played a key role in reducing residential fire deaths in the United
States, they may not activate or provide early warning for a variety of reasons in as many as
35% of all fires, according to data published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Some of the reasons smoke detectors used in conjunction with this System may not work are as
follows. Smoke detectors may have been improperly installed and positioned. Smoke detectors
may not sense fires that start where smoke cannot reach the detectors, such as in chimneys, in
walls, or roofs, or on the other side of closed doors. Smoke detectors also may not sense a fire
on another level of a residence or building. A second floor detector, for example, may not sense
a first floor or basement fire. Moreover, smoke detectors have sensing limitations. No smoke
detector can sense every kind of fire every time. In general, detectors may not always warn
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 matches, or arson. Depending upon the nature of the fire and/or the locations of the
smoke detectors, the detector, even if it operates as anticipated, may not provide sufficient
warning to allow all occupants to escape in time to prevent injury or death.
• Passive Infrared Motion Detectors can only detect intrusion within the designed ranges as
diagrammed in their installation manual. Passive Infrared Detectors do not provide volumetric
area protection. They do create multiple beams of protection, and intrusion can only be detected
in unobstructed areas covered by those beams. They cannot detect motion or intrusion that
takes place behind walls, ceilings, floors, closed doors, glass partitions, glass doors, or windows.
Mechanical tampering, masking, painting or spraying of any material on the mirrors, windows or
any part of the optical system can reduce their detection ability. Passive Infrared Detectors sense
changes in temperature; however, as the ambient temperature of protected area approaches the
temperature range of 90° to 105° F, the detection performance can decrease.
• Alarm warning devices such as sirens, bells or horns may not alert people or wake up sleepers if
they are located on the other side of closed or partly open doors. If warning devices sound on a
different level of the residence from the bedrooms, then they are less likely to waken or alert
people inside the bedrooms. Even persons who are awake may not hear the warning if the alarm
is muffled from a stereo, radio, air conditioner or other appliance, or by passing traffic. Finally,
alarm warning devices, however loud, may not warn hearing-impaired people or waken deep
sleepers.
• Even if the system responds to the emergency as intended, however, occupants may have
insufficient time to protect themselves from the emergency situation. In the case of a monitored
alarm system, authorities may not respond appropriately.
• This equipment, like other electrical devices, is subject to component failure. Even though this
equipment is designed to last as long as 10 years, the electronic components could fail at any
time.
The most common cause of an alarm system not functioning when an intrusion or fire occurs is
inadequate maintenance. This alarm system should be tested weekly to make sure all sensors and
transmitters are working properly.
Installing an alarm system may make one eligible for lower insurance rates, but an alarm system is
not a substitute for insurance. Homeowners, property owners and renters should continue to act
prudently in protecting themselves and continue to insure their lives and property.
We continue to develop new and improved protection devices. Users of alarm systems owe it to
themselves and their loved ones to learn about these developments.
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