Costar 9RV User manual

CARBON
MONOXIDE
ALARM
OWNER’S MANUAL
Model 9RV
ATTENTION: PLEASE READ,
FOLLOW AND SAVE!

Dear New C0STAR®9RV Owner,
Congratulations as you have taken steps to
help insure the health and life safety of you and
your family. We are proud to offer you our
unique, patented CO Sensor technology that
detects CO in a manner similar to the human
body’s response. The COSTAR® 9RV provides
low cost protection from both the acute and
chronic effects of CO poisoning.
Please read this owner’s manual carefully
so you will have a better understanding of the
effects of CO poisoning and the COSTAR® 9RV
Alarm, as we work together pursuing a safer,
healthier indoor air quality for us all. To your
good health and safety,
Mark Goldstein, Ph.D.
President
Quantum Group Inc.
WARNING: Failure to replace
this product by the “REPLACE
BY DATE” printed on the alarm
cover may result in death by Carbon
Monoxide poisoning. Replace By
Date is six (6) years from date of
manufacture.
1.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This CO alarm is intended for protection
from carbon monoxide in ordinary indoor
residential areas, in recreational vehicles
(RV) and in unconditioned spaces such as
cabins, basements and attics. It is not
intended for use in Marine or industrial and
commercial applications.
2.0 PRODUCT
PrimarySensitivity Setting: Unit will alarm at
150 ppm CO within 50 minutes.
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Power: 9volt alkaline Gold Peak GP 1604AU,
Duracell MN 1604
Current Draw: Standby 20 micro-Amp.
Alarm 60 milli-Amp, Trouble 30 milli -Amp.
Operating Temperature: -40° C to +66° C (-
40° F to +150° F)
Operating Humidity: 10 to 95% RH
Horn (Sounder) Loudness: 85 db @ 10 ft (3.3
meters)
3.0 APPROVALS
Listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. to
UL standard 2034 and CSA6.19-01
CSA6.19-01
4.0 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
CO
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an insidious
poison. It is a colorless, odorless and
tasteless gas. It is a cumulative poison.
Even low levels of CO have been shown to
cause brain and other vital organ damage in
unborn infants with no effect on the mother.
The following symptoms are related to
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING and
should be discussed with ALL members of
the household:
MILD EXPOSURE
Slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue
(often described as "flu–like" symptoms)
MEDIUM EXPOSURE
Severe throbbing headache, drowsiness,
confusion, fast heart rate
EXTREME EXPOSURE
Unconsciousness, convulsions, cardio
respiratory failure, death
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Many cases of reported CARBON
MONOXIDE POISONING indicate that
while victims are aware they are not well,
they become so disoriented they are unable
to save themselves by either exiting the
building or calling for assistance. Also,
young children and household pets may be
the first affected.
Your CO alarm is designed to detect the
toxic CO fumes that result from incomplete
combustion, such as those emitted from
appliances, furnaces, fireplaces and auto
exhaust. A CO Alarm is NOT A
SUBSTITUTE for other combustible gas,
fire or smoke alarms. This carbon
monoxide alarm is designed to detect
carbon monoxide gas from ANY source of
combustion.
CAUTION:
This alarm will only indicate the presence
of carbon monoxide gas at the sensor.
Carbon monoxide gas may be present in
other areas.
CAUTION:
This product is intended for use in ordinary
indoor locations of family living units. It is
not designed to comply with Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
commercial or industrial standards.
Individuals with medical problems may
consider using warning devices that provide
audible and visual signals for carbon
monoxide concentrations under 30 ppm.
5.0 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF THE
ALARM SOUNDS
WARNING: Activation of
this device indicates the presence of
carbon monoxide (CO) which can KILL
YOU. If alarm sounds:
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For Users in the United States, follow the
protocol in steps 1 through 4 below
1Operate reset/silence button;
2 Call your emergency services
(____ - ______) [fire department
or 911];
3Immediately move to fresh air –
outdoors or by an open
door/window. Do a head count to
check that all persons are
accounted for.Do not reenter the
premises nor move away from the
open door/window until the
emergency services responders
have arrived, the premises have
been aired out, and your alarm
remains in its normal condition.
4After following steps 1-3, if your
alarm reactivates within a 24 hour
period, repeat steps 1-3 and call a
qualified technician (____ -
______) to investigate for sources
of CO from fuel burning
equipment and appliances, motor
vehicles or other sources and
inspect for proper operation of
this equipment. If problems are
identified during this inspection,
have the equipment serviced
immediately.Note any
combustion equipment not
inspected by the technician and
consult the manufacturers’
instructions or contact the
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manufacturers directly for more
information about CO safety and
this equipment. Make sure that
motor vehicles are not and have
not been operating in an attached
garage or adjacent to the
residence.
For Users in the Canada, follow the protocol in
steps 1 through 2 below
1 Immediately move to fresh air –
outdoors or by an open door or
window. Check that all persons
are accounted for.Do not re-enter
the premises or move away from
the open door/window until the
emergency services responders
have arrived; the premises have
been aired out, and your alarm
remains in its normal condition.
2 Call your emergency services (
___ - _______) [fire department
or 911]; If “service” signal
sounds (RED LED flashes and
horn beeps every 30 seconds);
contact the manufacturer for
troubleshoot-ing and/or
instructions to return the unit:
Quantum Group Inc, Customer
Service: 1-800-432-5599
5.1 Never disconnect the battery to silence an
alarm. The alarm will automatically sense
when the level of CO in the air falls below
the danger level. You should stay outside
the residence, RVor unconditioned area in
fresh air until the alarm is silenced. When
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the alarm sounds, do not stand too close to
the alarm. The sound produced by the
alarm is loud because it is designed to
awaken a person in an emergency.
Prolonged exposure to the alarm at a close
distance may be harmful to your hearing.
6.0 DEVELOPING YOUR OWN CO
SAFETY PLAN
This CO alarm can quickly alert you to the
presence of CO — it cannot prevent toxic
CO emissions. Please note that there are
hazards against which CO detection may
not be effective, such as gas leaks or
explosions. The ultimate responsibility for
protection against toxic CO fumes rests
solely on you.
Installing CO detectors is just the first step
in protecting your family from toxic CO
poisoning. We also suggest that you create
an effective, comprehensive safety program
as outlined below.
6.1 Install CO detectors properly following the
instructions in this manual.
6.2 Develop a family escape plan and practice it
with your entire family, especially small
children.
–Draw a floor plan of your home and find
two ways to exit from each room. There
should be one way to get out of each
bedroom without opening the door.
–Teach children what the CO alarm
signal means and how they must exit the
residence by themselves if necessary.
–Decide on a meeting place a safe
distance from your house and make sure
all children understand where they
should go and wait if there is a
dangerous CO condition.
–Conduct CO safety drills at least every 6
months to make sure that everyone,
even small children, know what to do in
order to escape safely.
–Know where to go to call the Fire
Department from outside your
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residence, recreational vehicle or
unconditioned area. .
7.0 IMPORTANT: WHAT YOUR CO
ALARM CAN AND CANNOT DO
This CO alarm is designed for use within a
single residential living unit, recreational
vehicle or unconditioned areas. It is
designed to detect carbon monoxide (CO)
entering its sensing chamber. It does not
sense combustible gas (such as natural gas,
propane or (butane), heat, smoke or flames.
When properly located, installed, and
maintained, this CO alarm is designed to
provide early warning of developing
poisonous CO conditions at a reasonable
cost. This alarm monitors the air, and when
it senses CO, it activates its built-in alarm. It
can provide precious time for you and your
family to escape from your residence before
CO can seriously injure or kill. However,
such an early warning is possible only if the
alarm is located, installed, and maintained
as specified in the Owner’s Manual
8.0 INSTALLING THE COSTAR®9RV
One of the most important considerations in
any CO alarm system is the location of the
alarms. Statistics of the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) show that
most of the fatal CO occurrences happen at
night while people are sleeping and/or
while they are in the garage. Early warning
of CO is best achieved by the correct
installation of CO alarms.
8.1 RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
If bedroom doors are usually closed at
night, alarms should be placed in each
bedroom as well as in the common hallway
between them. CO alarms may not sense
CO on a different level of a residence or
building. For example, a second floor alarm
may not sense a CO leak on the first floor or
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in the basement. Therefore, alarms should
be placed on every level of a residence or
building. If the alarm is located outside of
abedroom, it may not wake up a sound
sleeper, especially if the bedroom door is
closed or only partly open. If the alarm is
located on a different level of the residence
than the bedrooms, it is even less likely to
wake up people sleeping in the bedroom.
Installing CO alarms may qualify you for
lower homeowner’s insurance rates, but CO
alarms are not a substitute for insurance.
Homeowners and renters should continue to
insure their lives and property.
Figure 1: Recommended CO alarm protection for multi-
level residence and Recreational Vehicle.
Please note that COSTAR® 9RV is the only retail
alarm approved for “Unconditioned Space” such
as the garage, RV, Basement and attic.
Figure 2: Recommended CO alarm protection for Single-
floor residence
Figure 3: Recommended CO alarm wall mounting location
is 5 to 6 feet from floor
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8.2 RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
INSTALLATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
Figure 4: Suggested Mounting Locations for RVs
9.0 ALARM MOUNTING LOCATIONS
This CO alarm may be mounted on the wall
or ceiling.
WALL LOCATION: Locate the top of the
alarm at least 5-6’ feet from the floor.
CEILING LOCATION: Alarm should be
mounted as close as possible to the center of
ahallway or room. If this is not possible, the
edge of the alarm should be at least 4 inches
from any wall
9.1 LOCATIONS TO AVOID:
Nuisance alarms are caused by placing units
where they will not operate properly. To avoid
nuisance alarms, do not place units:
– Within 5 feet (1.5m) of any cooking
appliance or furnace.
–Near an open window or door, because the
fresh air entering the opening may delay
CO from reaching the alarm.
–In damp or very humid areas or next to
bathrooms with showers. Install detectors
at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from
bathrooms.
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