Welcome to Knight School

IDP-Fire-CO

CO is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless toxic gas that results from the incomplete burning

combustion of fossil fuels. Because CO is virtually impossible to detect without an combustion of fossil fuels. Because CO is virtually impossible to detect without an

electronic sensing device, it is often referred to as the silent killer

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When carbon monoxide is inhaled, it enters the blood stream and attaches to hemoglobin,

reducing the ability of blood to carry oxygen to the vital organs by preventing the oxygen reducing the ability of blood to carry oxygen to the vital organs by preventing the oxygen

atom from attaching to hemoglobin.

CO is absorbed in the blood stream over 200 times faster than oxygen, which turns the

blood a cherry red color and takes a long time for the body to get rid of CO.

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The health effects of CO depends on a few things. First is the concentration of the CO gas,

the length of exposure, as well as each individual’s overall health. People exposed to CO the length of exposure, as well as each individual’s overall health. People exposed to CO

report having flu like symptoms such as a headache, fatigue, nausea or dizziness. Although

these symptoms exist there is no fever.

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Here is a basic guideline of typical symptoms when exposed to CO. Notice that at 1000

ppm you could become unconscious in just after 1 hourppm you could become unconscious in just after 1 hour

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There are many sources that CO can be found in, however here are some of the most

common sources. Heating systems are the highest at 55%

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common sources. Heating systems are the highest at 55%

Between 2003 and 2010 Non fire CO incidents have almost double. These incidents were

more common during the winter months and in residential properties.

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more common during the winter months and in residential properties.

It is important to point out that CO devices are designed to activate before life threatening levels of

CO are reached. CO are reached.

UL 2034 covers single and multiple station alarms. These devices are self contained and are not

intended to be connected to a control panel.

UL 2075 is the standard for system connected detectors that are connected to a control unit such as

a FACP or a security panel.

Both of these UL standards set the requirement for ppm and time

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CO detectors monitor the amount of CO in the air over a specific time period. There are 3

common sensing technologies. The life span is approximately 6-10 years depending on common sensing technologies. The life span is approximately 6-10 years depending on

each manufacture

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Let’s take a look at each of the three sensing technologies. The Biomimetic sensor monitors

infrared light that passes through a disk of synthetic hemoglobin that darkens in the infrared light that passes through a disk of synthetic hemoglobin that darkens in the

presence of CO. As CO concentrations increase, the light is absorbed then triggering an

alarm condition.

Metal oxide semiconductor is heated with an electric current at regular intervals. When

the metal oxide reaches operating temperature, changing its resistance in the presence of

CO gas, it triggers an alarm condition

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Platinum/acid combination promotes the reaction between CO and the oxygen in the air

which produces an electric current. When CO is present over time the current changes which produces an electric current. When CO is present over time the current changes

and an alarm sounds

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Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the 3 sensing technologies

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Like most electronic devices we have to take into consideration the environment

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CO detector reliability has been questioned in the past. This is mainly due to one incident

that occurred in December 1994 when the city of Chicago’s Fire Department responded to that occurred in December 1994 when the city of Chicago’s Fire Department responded to

over 1,800 CO false alarms in a 24 hour period. The cause of these false alarms was a

thermal weather inversion that trapped cold air under a layer of warm air that prevented

pollutants like automobile exhaust to escape into the atmosphere

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As a result, UL embarked on two important projects. The first happened in 1998 when UL

updated their 2034 standard. In addition to changing the alarm thresholds, UL added a updated their 2034 standard. In addition to changing the alarm thresholds, UL added a

false alarm resistant requirement to prevent nuisance alarms. This change required no

alarm below 30 ppm until after 30 days and no alarm below 70 ppm until after 1 hour

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The weight of CO is almost identical to air. NFPA 720 states that each alarm or detector

shall be located on the wall, ceiling or other location as specified by the manufactureshall be located on the wall, ceiling or other location as specified by the manufacture

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How does CO disperse?” This is best answered by the FPRF study. This study was

conducted in 2007 by Hughes and Associates at the request of NFPA 720 technical conducted in 2007 by Hughes and Associates at the request of NFPA 720 technical

committee.

CO dispersion occurs via two different ways. The first is by HVAC systems the second

occurs by natural forces HVAC systems are not present. The study goes on to say that

whenever a ventilation system is present and operating it will dominate the flow of CO in

the building and result in a well-stirred environment

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CO can enter the building from outdoor sources such as vehicles left idling in garages or

outside the building by the fresh air intake. Combustion devices such as gas powered outside the building by the fresh air intake. Combustion devices such as gas powered

construction or maintenance tools when they are brought into the building

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As we can see on this U.S. map of carbon monoxide alarm legislation. The blue shaded

states have passed regulations and the dark gray shaded states currently have no carbon states have passed regulations and the dark gray shaded states currently have no carbon

monoxide regulations. For more information you can also view an interactive map at

www.systemsensor.com

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In buildings with HVAC systems, one CO detector per HVAC zone is an appropriate level of

protectionprotection

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In general CO detectors are to be installed on the ceiling in the same room as permanently

installed fuel-burning appliances, centrally located on every occupied level and in every installed fuel-burning appliances, centrally located on every occupied level and in every

HVAC zone of the building. Always check with local AHJ

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Let’s compare the installation requirements of the Oregon Residential Specialty Code with

the requirements that are in NFPA 720. Stated that every sleeping area requires a CO the requirements that are in NFPA 720. Stated that every sleeping area requires a CO

detector

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Notification of CO alarms for sleeping areas, require at least 75db measured at the pillow

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The Silent Knight IDP-FIRE-CO is an addressable fire and CO detector. It combines four

separate sensing elements in one unit – Photo, CO, infrared, and heat – to sense multiple separate sensing elements in one unit – Photo, CO, infrared, and heat – to sense multiple

components of a fire. This approach enables enhanced sensitivity to a real fire with

heightened immunity to nuisance alarms

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The detector’s electrochemical sensing cell creates a separate signal for CO detection. The

IDP-FIRE-CO can be used with the B200S intelligent sounder base. This can generate both a IDP-FIRE-CO can be used with the B200S intelligent sounder base. This can generate both a

Temp 3 pattern for fire and a Temp 4 pattern for CO alarm.

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The only visible device is the IDP-FIRE-CO installed in the sounder base. Previously, to meet

the same requirements, a CO detector, Photo detector with base, and mini horn would the same requirements, a CO detector, Photo detector with base, and mini horn would

be visible. With just one device, the appearance of any room is improved. This multi-

functional device eliminates the need for a separate CO detector, Photo detector, mini

horn, monitor modules and all of the associated wiring and junction boxes. It also

eliminates additional addresses consuming points on the SLC loop. There is only one

device to wire, one junction box, and one address a much more cost effective system

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The IDP-FIRE-CO and B200S intelligent sounder base requires 4 wires, 2 for the SLC, and 2

for Aux power / Sounder base Sync. for Aux power / Sounder base Sync.

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Here is a list of where you might see CO detectors installed

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?

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To test the IDP-FIRE-CO first enter the walk test mode through FACP Annunciator then test

the photo co and heat as each individual alarm has to be tested and the FACP reset the photo co and heat as each individual alarm has to be tested and the FACP reset

between alarms. To test a multi-criteria device you need to use a multi-stimulus tester.

Go to testifire.com for additional information

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The Testifire 2000 is a 3 in 1 detector tester. Its design enables fast and efficient testing of

smoke, heat or CO detectors and is the proper unit to test a multi-criteria detector such as smoke, heat or CO detectors and is the proper unit to test a multi-criteria detector such as

the IDP-FIRE-CO. This is a UL certified tester combined in one unit. You can test single,

simultaneous or sequentially and it will provide clean air to clear the detector. It has

replaceable smoke or CO capsule for ease and is cost effective. For more information on

this tester go testifier.com

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