FAQs
About Wireless Technology & the Kidde
Wireless System
OVERVIEW
Q: What is the Kidde Wireless System?
A: The Kidde Wireless System is an interconnected system that links
smoke alarms and accessories together so that when one alarm sounds, they all
sound. This provides more warning in more places, giving families more time to
escape a fire.
Q: What products are included with the Kidde Wireless System?
A: The Kidde Wireless System currently includes three components: a
wireless battery-powered smoke alarm, an AC-powered smoke alarm and a wireless
SmokeSounder. These components work together to enable homeowners to customize
their family's fire protection system based on their individual needs.
Q: How are the alarms and accessories connected?
A: The Kidde Wireless System components communicate via radio
frequency waves, similar to other consumer products such as cell phones,
walkie-talkies and garage door openers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission
recently stated radio frequency is one of two of the most promising wireless
technologies for linking smoke alarms.
Q:Why did Kidde choose Radio Frequency over other wireless
technologies?
A: Extensive research indicated that radio frequency would most
effectively enable homeowners to quickly and easily install an interconnected
system, or expand their current system at a relatively low cost.
Q: How is the Kidde Wireless System different from a traditional
smoke alarm system?
A: Conventional smoke alarm systems must be wired into a home's
electrical system in order to be interconnected, and are usually installed
during a home's construction. To retrofit a conventional interconnected alarm
system into an existing home can involve extensive time and labor costs for
rewiring. The Kidde Wireless System provides any home with the advanced level
of protection of an interconnected system – when one alarm sounds they all
sound.
Q: How do I tell if my home has an interconnected system?
A: Testing to see if your home's smoke alarms are interconnected is
easy. Simply press the test button on one of your smoke alarms; if every alarm
in the home sounds, then your alarms are interconnected. If only the alarm
that you're testing sounds, then you do not have interconnected smoke alarms.
Keep in mind that just because a smoke alarm is hardwired doesn't mean it's
interconnected.
HOW THE KIDDE WIRELESS SYSTEM WORKS
Q: What is the furthest distance through which the units can
communicate?
A: Every home presents obstacles that can affect the transmission
efficiency of a wireless system. However, extensive field-testing has shown
that the Kidde Wireless System is very capable of transmitting in all
reasonable environments. It is always important to test wireless units after
installation to make sure they work properly.
Q: Should homeowners be concerned with this system interfering with
other wireless systems in the home?
A: No. The Kidde Wireless System transmits on a band that the
Federal Communications Commission has dedicated to industrial, scientific or
medical equipment. The band's regulations limit transmission times and power
unless a life safety alarm occurs. Therefore, the band is mostly silent.
Q: What about my neighbor's wireless systems?
A: All Kidde wireless alarms are programmed with a unique code to
prevent a neighbor's alarm system from activating other systems. There are 256
different identification settings for each alarm system.
Q: How will I know which unit initiated the alarm?
A: Kidde Wireless smoke alarms are equipped with an initiating alarm
memory. The wireless smoke alarm that first detects the hazard and initiates
the response will have a flashing green LED as well as sound an alarm. The
other smoke alarms triggered by the initiating alarm will also sound, but will
not have a green flashing LED.
Q: Do you have to change the batteries more often in a wireless smoke
alarm?
A: Kidde's battery-operated wireless smoke alarms meet UL
requirements --meaning the battery must provide power for at least one year
under normal operation. However, Kidde recommends testing the alarms monthly
and changing batteries as needed. The smoke alarms have a low battery chirp
that will signal when the battery needs to be replaced. The SmokeSounder will
verbally alert you when its battery needs to be replaced.
Q: Who will benefit most from this technology?
A: Three types of homeowners will benefit most from a wireless smoke
alarm system:
1. Families that live in homes built before 1993, or that do not have
interconnected smoke alarms. More than 84 million homes in America do not have
interconnected smoke alarms. The Kidde Wireless System allows these homes to
have the most advanced level of protection available.
2. Families whose homes have interconnected smoke alarms, but that want
more protection. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that
every home have a smoke alarm in every bedroom and on every level. But nearly
15 million American homes do not have enough smoke alarms to meet that
requirement. The Kidde Wireless System can help families expand their current
system into rooms that are now under-protected.
3. Families with children, older adults or others who may need
additional warning. Voice warnings can be more effective at waking children
who sleep through the sound of a traditional smoke alarm, and a lower
frequency tone can be more effective at waking those who cannot hear the
alarm's tone due to high frequency hearing loss [often age-related]. The Kidde
Wireless SmokeSounder has a loud voice that clearly states the danger present,
followed by a low frequency alert. It has been specifically designed to
provide additional warning for those most at risk. Furthermore a caregiver can
place the SmokeSounder in their bedroom for more warning and more time to help
their family.
Q: Why should a homeowner choose wireless over traditional smoke
alarms?
A: A family has only three minutes from the time the first smoke
alarms sounds to escape a house fire. The sooner you hear the smoke alarm, the
more time you have to escape. If smoke alarms are not interconnected, a family
on the second floor may not hear the alarm beeping on the first floor. The
Kidde Wireless System links smoke alarms together so that when one alarm
sounds, they all sound, providing more warning in more places, and giving a
family more time to escape.
INSTALLING THE KIDDE WIRELESS SYSTEM
Q: How does the cost of the Kidde Wireless System relate to that of a
hardwired interconnected system?
A: New homes must have interconnected smoke alarms, and the cost of
wiring that system is incorporated into the overall construction cost of the
home. However, families that want to add a traditional, hardwired,
interconnected system to an existing home will incur substantial costs due to
the time and labor for rewiring. The CPSC has stated that wireless technology
is a lower cost alternative to installing interconnected smoke alarms when
retrofitting is involved.
Q: How easy is this product to install?
A: Installation is relatively simple. The battery-powered alarms can
be installed in any room in a matter of minutes – no wiring required. You
simply screw the mounting bracket into the ceiling just as you would a
traditional smoke alarm. The AC– powered smoke alarm can be used to extend an
existing interconnected system or to upgrade hardwired alarms into a wireless
interconnected system. The adaptors sold with the unit make it simple to
replace existing hardwired units with wireless smoke alarms. The SmokeSounder
simply plugs into any electrical outlet anywhere in the bedroom or other room.
Its battery backup feature offers protection during power outages.
Q: Are all of these products UL-Listed?
A: Both smoke alarms are UL listed to the UL217 smoke alarm
standard. The SmokeSounder's power supply is also UL listed.
Q: Why is the SmokeSounder a critical part of my home fire safety
system?
A: On average, a family will have three minutes from the time a
smoke alarm activates to escape a house fire. Due to the lower frequency and
voice warning, a SmokeSounder, in conjunction with a Kidde wireless smoke
alarm, provides additional means of notifying individuals, particularly
children and older adults, in the event of a fire.
Q: Does the lower frequency mean it is not as loud?
A: No, it means that the SmokeSounder's pitch is lower than the
pitch of a traditional smoke alarm. The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
states that the sound of a traditional smoke alarm -- about 3500-4000 Hz --
may be too high to awaken those with high-frequency hearing loss. The Consumer
Product Safety Commission reports that lowering an alarm's frequency to less
than 2000 Hz may make the sound more audible for a larger percentage of older
adults. The Kidde SmokeSounder has a frequency of 1000 Hz.
Q: Does the SmokeSounder detect smoke or fire?
A: The SmokeSounder will not detect smoke or fire. It must be used
in conjunction with one of the wireless smoke alarms.
AVAILABILITY/LIFESPAN
Q: When will the Kidde Wireless system be in stores?
A: June 2005. Eventually, you will be able to find it wherever Kidde
products currently are sold. Fire experts recommend a smoke alarm in every
bedroom and on every floor. For example, for a family with two children, in a
two-story home with three bedrooms, the need for wireless units might vary
widely. Here are some wireless upgrade possibilities.
Q:What are my upgrade options?
Situation A: Battery-powered smoke alarms on each level of the home.
Purchase a Kidde Wireless Smoke Alarm to replace each current smoke alarm, and
additional Kidde Wireless Smoke Alarms for bedrooms that need protection. For
extra warning, plug a SmokeSounder into an electrical outlet in both
children's rooms, and perhaps the master bedroom.
Situation B: Hardwired smoke alarms on each level of the home. Purchase
one Kidde Wireless AC-powered Smoke Alarm for every current smoke alarm and
replace each. In addition, purchase Kidde Wireless battery-powered smoke
alarms for installation in bedrooms and other rooms that need protection. For
extra warning, plug a SmokeSounder into an electrical outlet in both
children's rooms, and perhaps the master bedroom.
Situation C: Hardwired, Interconnected smoke alarms . Purchase only one
Kidde Wireless AC-powered smoke alarm and use it to replace only one existing
smoke alarm. The wireless smoke alarm acts as a bridge between the home's
current system and Kidde Wireless products. You may then purchase additional
Kidde Wireless battery-powered smoke alarms for bedrooms that need protection.
For extra warning, plug a SmokeSounder into an electrical outlet in both
children's rooms, and perhaps the master bedroom.
Q: What is the lifespan of Kidde Wireless products?
A: 10 years