Kidde 918 User manual

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9 Volt Battery Operated Smoke Alarm with Battery
Powered Safety Light and “HUSH” Control (if equipped)
to temporarily silence nuisance alarms.
Thank you for purchasing this smoke alarm. It is an important
part of your family’s home safety plan. You can trust this prod-
uct to provide the highest quality safety protection. We know
you expect nothing less when the lives of your family are at
stake.
Smoke Alarm User’s Guide
Smoke Alarm Model Number
(located on back of alarm):
Date Code (located on back of alarm):
The National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) and the manufacturer
recommend replacing this alarm
ten years from the date code.
Date of Purchase:
Where Purchased:
820-0900 Rev. B
11/2006
0918-7220-03
0918 For model: 0918

This alarm detects products of combustion using the ionization
technique. It contains 0.9 microcurie of Americium 241, a radioac-
tive material (see Section 9). Distributed under U.S. NRC License
No. 32-23858-01E. Manufactured in compliance with U.S. NRC
safety criteria in 10 CFR 32.27. The purchaser is exempt from any
regulatory requirements. Do not try to repair the smoke alarm
yourself. Refer to the instructions in Section 12 for service.
WARNING! BATTERY DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE UNLESS BOTH
BATTERIES ARE PRESENT. REMOVAL OF ONE OR BOTH BAT-
TERIES WILL RENDER THE SMOKE ALARM INOPERATIVE.
IMPORTANT! READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE INSTALLA-
TION AND KEEP THIS MANUAL NEAR THE ALARM FOR
FUTURE REFERENCE.
CONTENTS OF THIS MANUAL
1 -- RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS FOR SMOKE ALARMS
2 -- LOCATIONS TO AVOID
3 -- INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
4 -- OPERATION AND TESTING
5 -- NUISANCE ALARMS
6 -- MAINTENANCE
7 -- LIMITATIONS OF SMOKE ALARMS
8 -- GOOD SAFETY HABITS
9 -- NRC INFORMATION
10 -- NFPA PROTECTION STANDARD 72
11 --
CALIFORNIA STATE FIRE MARSHAL REQUIRED INFORMATION
12 -- SERVICE AND WARRANTY
1. RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS FOR ALARMS
•Locate the first alarm in the immediate area of the bedrooms.
Try to monitor the exit path as the bedrooms are usually far-
thest from the exit. If more than one sleeping area exists,
locate additional alarms in each sleeping area.
•Locate additional alarms to monitor any stairway as stairways
act like chimneys for smoke and heat.
•Locate at least one alarm on every floor level.
•Locate an alarm in every bedroom.

•Locate an alarm in every room where electrical appliances are
operated (i.e. portable heaters or humidifiers).
•Locate an alarm in every room where someone sleeps with the
door closed. The closed door may prevent an alarm not locat-
ed in that room from waking the sleeper.
•Smoke, heat, and combustion products rise to the ceiling and
spread horizontally. Mounting the smoke alarm on the ceiling
in the center of the room places it closest to all points in the
room. Ceiling mounting is preferred in ordinary residential con-
struction.
•For mobile home installation, select locations carefully to avoid
thermal barriers that may form at the ceiling. For more details,
see MOBILE HOME INSTALLATION below.
•When mounting an alarm on the ceiling, locate it at a minimum
of 4” (10 cm) from the side wall (see FIGURE 1).
•When mounting the alarm on the wall, use an inside wall with
the top edge of the alarm at a minimum of 4” (10 cm) and a
maximum of 12” (30.5 cm) below the ceiling. (see FIGURE 1).
FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3
FIGURE 1

•Put smoke alarms at both ends of a bedroom hallway or large
room if the hallway or room is more than 30 feet (9.1 m) long.
• Install Smoke Alarms on sloped, peaked or cathedral ceilings at
or within 3 ft (0.9m)of the highest point (measured horizontally).
NFPA 72 states: “Smoke alarms in rooms with ceiling slopes
greater than 1 foot in 8 feet (.3m in 2.4m) horizontally shall be
located on the high side of the room.” NFPA 72 states: “A row
of alarms shall be spaced and located within 3 ft (0.9m) of the
peak of the ceiling measured horizontally” (see FIGURE 3).
MOBILE HOME INSTALLATION
Modern mobile homes have been designed and built to be energy
efficient. Install smoke alarms as recommended above (refer to
RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS and FIGURES 1 and 2).
In older mobile homes that are not well insulated compared to
present standards, extreme heat or cold can be transferred from
the outside to the inside through poorly insulated walls and roof.
This may create a thermal barrier which can prevent the smoke
from reaching an alarm mounted on the ceiling. In such units,
install the smoke alarm on an inside wall with the top edge of the
alarm at a minimum of 4” (10 cm) and a maximum of 12” (30.5
cm) below the ceiling (see FIGURE 1).
If you are not sure about the insulation in your mobile home, or if
you notice that the outer walls and ceiling are either hot or cold,
install the alarm on an inside wall. For minimum protection, install
at least one alarm close to the bedrooms. For additional protec-
tion, see SINGLE FLOOR PLAN in FIGURE 2.
WARNING: TEST YOUR SMOKE ALARM OPERATION AFTER R.V.
OR MOBILE HOME VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN STORAGE, BEFORE
EACH TRIP AND AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK DURING USE.
2. LOCATIONS TO AVOID
• In the garage. Products of combustion are present when you
start your automobile.
•Less than 4” (10cm) from the peak of an “A” frame type ceil-
ing.
•In an area where the temperature may fall below 40ºF or rise
above 100ºF, such as garages and unfinished attics.
• In dusty areas. Dust particles may cause nuisance alarm or fail-
ure to alarm.

• In very humid areas. Moisture or steam can cause nuisance
alarms.
• In insect-infested areas.
• Smoke alarms should not be installed within 3 ft (.9m) of the fol-
lowing: the door to a kitchen, the door to a bathroom containing
a tub or shower, forced air supply ducts used for heating or cool-
ing, ceiling or whole house ventilating fans, or other high air flow
areas.
• Kitchens. Normal cooking may cause nuisance alarms. If a
kitchen alarm is desired, it should have an alarm silence feature
or be a photoelectric type.
• Near fluorescent lights. Electronic “noise” may cause nuisance
alarms.
• Smoke alarms are not to be used with detector guards unless
the combination (alarm and guard) have been evaluated and
found suitable for that purpose.
3. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
CAUTION: THIS UNIT IS SEALED. THE COVER IS NOT
REMOVABLE!
FIGURE 6
When wall
mounting, the
“A” line should
be horizontal
and the “UP FOR
WALL MOUNT-
ING” arrow must
be pointing up.
AA
AA
Alignment
Marks
Install Remove
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 7
When
mounting in
a hallway,
the “A” line
should be
parallel with
the hallway.

1. Remove the mounting plate from the back of the alarm by
holding the mounting plate and twisting the alarm in the direc-
tion indicated by the “OFF” arrow on the alarm cover.
2. To insure aesthetic alignment of the alarm with the hallway or
wall, the “A” line on the mounting plate should be parallel with
the hallway when ceiling mounting or horizontal when wall
mounting.
3. After selecting the proper smoke alarm location as described in
Section 1, attach the mounting plate to the ceiling as shown in
Figure 4. For wall mounting see Figure 5. Place mounting plate
on the wall. Be sure the “UP FOR WALL MOUNTING “ text and
arrow are facing up. Use the screws and anchors provided to
secure the mounting plate. (use 3/16” drill bit for anchors).
4. Battery installation instructions are provided on the inside of the
battery door for Safety Light and Smoke Alarm use. To ensure
proper installation of the Safety Light and Smoke Alarm battery
follow the instructions.
5. When installing the battery, press the battery reminder fingers
down into the battery compartment and install the battery (see
Figure 6).
CAUTION! IF THE BATTERY REMINDER FINGERS ARE NOT
HELD DOWN IN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT BY THE
BATTERIES, THE BATTERY DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE, AND THE
UNIT WILL NOT ATTACH TO TO THE MOUNTING BRACKET.
6.Alignment marks are provided on the edge of the trim plate and
the alarm. After installing the mounting plate, place the alarm
on the mounting plate with the alignment marks lined up. Twist
the alarm in the direction indicated by the “ON” arrow on the
alarm cover (see Figure 7) until it locks in place.
7.USING TAMPER RESIST LOCKING PIN: To make your smoke
alarm tamper resistant, a locking pin
has been provided in the bag with
the screws and anchors. Using this
pin will help deter children and oth-
ers from removing the alarm from
the mounting plate. To use the pin,
insert it into the hole in the side of
the alarm after the alarm has been
installed on the mounting plate (see Figure 8).
Tamper Resist
Locking Pin
FIGURE 8

NOTE: THE TAMPER RESIST PIN WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED
IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE BATTERIES. USE LONG NOSE PLI-
ERS TO PULL THE PIN OUT OF THE HOLE. IT IS NOW POSSI-
BLE TO REMOVE THE ALARM FROM THE MOUNTING PLATE.
8. After installation, test your alarm by depressing and holding
down the test button for several seconds. This should sound
the alarm.
4. OPERATION AND TESTING
OPERATION: The smoke alarm is operating once fresh batteries are
installed and testing is complete. When the smoke alarm ioniza-
tion chamber senses products of combustion, the horn will sound
a loud (85db) temporal alarm until the sensing chamber is cleared
of smoke particles.
HUSH CONTROL ( if equipped): The “HUSH” feature has the capa-
bility of temporarily desensitizing the alarm circuit for approximate-
ly 7 minutes. This feature is to be used only when a known alarm
condition, such as smoke from cooking, activates the alarm. The
smoke alarm is desensitized by pushing the “HUSH” button on the
smoke alarm cover. If the smoke is not too dense, the alarm will
silence immediately and “chirp” every 30 -40 seconds for approxi-
mately 7 minutes. This indicates that the alarm is in a temporarily
desensitized condition. The smoke alarm will automatically reset
after approximately 7 minutes and sound the alarm if particles of
combustion are still present. The “HUSH” feature can be used
repeatedly until the air has been cleared of the condition causing
the alarm. Pushing the test/reset button on the alarm will end the
hush period.
NOTE: DENSE SMOKE WILL OVERRIDE THE HUSH CONTROL
FEATURE AND SOUND A CONTINUOUS ALARM.
CAUTION: BEFORE USING THE ALARM HUSH FEATURE, IDEN-
TIFY THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE AND BE CERTAIN A SAFE
CONDITION EXISTS.
SAFETY LIGHT: The model 0918 has a Safety Light feature. When
the smoke alarm ionization chamber senses smoke, the 85 db
horn will sound and the Safety Light will illuminate until the sens-
ing chamber is cleared of smoke particles.
NOTE: THE SAFETY LIGHT IS NOT INTENDED TO SATISFY THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVED ILLUMINATION UNDER VAR-
IOUS LOCAL CODES. VERY THICK AND/OR DENSE SMOKE
MAY OBSCURE THE LIGHT.

LED INDICATOR: This smoke alarm is equipped with a red LED indi-
cator. The red LED is located under the test button and has two
modes of operation.
Standby Condition The red LED will flash every 30-40 seconds
to indicate that the smoke alarm is
operating properly.
Alarm Condition When the alarm senses products of
combustion and goes into alarm, the red
LED will flash rapidly (one flash per second).
The rapid flashing LED and temporal alarm
will continue until the air is cleared.
TESTING: Test by pushing the test button on the cover and hold it
down for a minimum of 5 seconds. This will sound the alarm if
the electronic circuitry and horn and battery are working. When
the alarm sounds, the Safety Light will illuminate. If the alarm does
not sound, the unit has defective batteries or other failure. DO
NOT use an open flame to test your alarm, you could damage the
alarm or ignite combustible materials and start a structure fire.
TEST THE ALARM WEEKLY TO ENSURE PROPER OPERATION. Erratic
or low sound coming from your alarm may indicate a defective
alarm, and it should be returned for service (see Section 12).
5. NUISANCE ALARMS
Smoke alarms are designed to minimize nuisance alarms.
Cigarette smoke will not normally set off the alarm, unless the
smoke is blown directly into the alarm. Combustion particles from
cooking may set off the alarm if the alarm is located close to the
cooking area. Large quantities of combustible particles are gener-
ated from spills or when broiling. Using the fan on a range hood
which vents to the outside (non-recirculating type) will also help
remove these combustible products from the kitchen.
(If equipped) Model 0918 has a “HUSH” button that is extremely
useful in a kitchen area or other areas prone to nuisance alarms.
For more information, refer to Section 4 OPERATION AND TESTING.
If the alarm does sound, check for fires first. If a fire is discovered,
get out and call the fire department. If no fire is present, check to
see if one of the reasons listed in Section 2 may have caused the
alarm.

6. MAINTENANCE
ALARM REMOVAL
IF TAMPER RESIST PIN HAS BEEN USED, REFER TO TAMPER
RESIST LOCKING PIN IN SECTION 3 FOR PIN REMOVAL
INSTRUCTIONS.
To replace the batteries or the lamp, remove the alarm from the
trim ring by rotating the alarm in the direction of the “OFF” arrow
on the cover (see Section 3, Figure 7).
BATTERY INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL
To replace or install the batteries you must first remove the alarm
from the trim ring by following the ALARM REMOVAL instructions
at the beginning of this section. After alarm has been removed,
you can open the battery door and install or replace the battery.
Battery installation instructions are provided on the inside of the
battery door.
When installing the battery, press the battery reminder finger
down into the battery compartment and install the battery (see
Figure 9).
CAUTION! IF BOTH BATTERY REMINDER FINGERS ARE NOT
HELD DOWN IN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT BY THE
BATTERIES, THE BATTERY DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND THE
ALARM WILL NOT ATTACH TO THE TRIM RING.
The Model 0918 Smoke Alarm uses two (2) 9 volt batteries. This
smoke alarm is powered by a 9V lithium battery (carbon zinc and
alkaline batteries may also be used). A fresh battery should last
for one year under normal operating conditions. This alarm has a
low battery monitor circuit which will cause the alarm to “chirp”
approximately every 30 - 40 seconds for a minimum of seven (7)
days when the smoke alarm battery gets low. The chirp will be
accompanied by a flash of the Safety Light. Replace both batteries
when this condition occurs.
USE ONLY THE FOLLOWING 9 VOLT BATTERIES FOR SMOKE
ALARM BATTERY REPLACEMENT.
FIGURE 9

Carbon-zinc type EVEREADY 216 OR 1222; GOLD PEAK 1604P
OR 1604S
Alkaline type ENERGIZER 522; DURACELL MN1604,
MX1604; GOLD PEAK 1604A; PANASONIC
6AM6, 6AM-6, 6AM-6PI, 6AM6X, AND 6LR61 (GA)
Lithium type ULTRALIFE U9VL-J
The SAFETY LIGHT portion is powered by one (1) 9V alkaline bat-
tery. Under normal (standby) conditions, the battery should last at
least one year and provide 15 minutes of pulsating light when the
alarm is sounding.
NOTE: WEEKLY TESTING IS REQUIRED! IF THE SAFETY LIGHT
APPEARS DIM DURING REGULAR TESTING, REPLACE BOTH
BATTERIES IMMEDIATELY.
USE ONLY THE FOLLOWING 9 VOLT BATTERIES FOR FOR
SAFETY LIGHT BATTERY REPLACEMENT.
ENERGIZER 522; DURACELL MN1604,MX1604; GOLD PEAK
1604A
PANASONIC 6AM6, 6AM-6, 6AM-6PI, 6AM6X, AND 6LR61(GA)
WARNING!! BE SURE TO FOLLOW BATTERY INSTALLATION
INSTRUCTIONS PRINTED ON THE INSIDE OF THE BATTERY
DOOR AND USE ONLY THE BATTERIES SPECIFIED. USE OF
DIFFERENT BATTERIES MAY HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT
ON THE SMOKE ALARM.
LAMP REPLACEMENT: The Safety Light uses a 6.3 volt 250mA
fuse type lamp which has an average life of 50 hours. If the
Safety Light does not operate with a fresh alkaline battery, replace
the lamp. To replace the lamp, remove the alarm from trim ring
by following the ALARM REMOVAL instructions at the beginning
of this section. Open the battery door and remove both batteries
from the unit. Grip the lamp holder with your thumb and finger
(see Figure 10) and pull out the lamp holder assembly (see Figure
10A). Slide the old lamp out of the lamp holder and replace it
with a new lamp (see Figure 10B).
FIGURE 10 FIGURE 10A FIGURE 10B