First Alert BRK CO511B Carbon Monoxide Alarm — User's Manual

Complete user's manual for the First Alert BRK CO511B battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm with Wireless Interconnect, voice warning with programmable location, and dual locking/silence features.

Overview

The First Alert CO511 is a battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm with First Alert® WIRELESS INTERCONNECT technology, allowing it to communicate wirelessly with other WIRELESS INTERCONNECT alarms in the home — when one alarm sounds, they all sound. It includes an exclusive voice warning feature that announces a preprogrammed location (up to 11 locations, e.g. "Basement") so you know exactly where the alarm was triggered. Two independent locking features protect against unauthorized battery or unit removal, and two silence features let you temporarily quiet low-battery chirps or an unwanted alarm.

Key Features

• WIRELESS INTERCONNECT — automatically communicates with other compatible alarms; when one sounds, they all sound
• Exclusive voice warning with programmable location (up to 11 preset locations)
• Spread Spectrum horn tone that sweeps 2200–3400 Hz, easier for those with age-related hearing loss to hear
• RF Interconnect at 915 MHz with 65,000 security codes and 3-channel frequency hopping
• Single Button Test/Silence for testing, silencing, retesting, and clearing latching features
• Two Silence Features: temporarily silence low-battery chirp (up to 8 hours) or an unwanted alarm (several minutes)
• Two Latching Features: Alarm Latch identifies the initiating alarm; Low Battery Latch identifies which unit needs a battery
• Perfect Mount System with gasketless base and rotating mounting bracket
• End of Life signal provides audible confirmation the alarm needs replacement
• Optional locking features to prevent unauthorized battery or unit removal

Where to Install

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends installing a CO alarm centrally located outside each separate sleeping area, in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms. For added protection, install additional CO alarms in each bedroom and on every level of the home. If a bedroom hallway is longer than 40 feet (12 meters), install an alarm at both ends.

• Single-level home: at least one CO alarm near/within each sleeping area; for added protection, one at least 20 feet (6 m) from the furnace or fuel-burning heat source
• Multi-level home: at least one alarm near/within each sleeping area, plus at least one on each level (basement alarm at the top of the basement stairs); one at least 20 feet from the furnace
• Mobile homes: install CO alarms on inside walls only — uninsulated outside walls/roofs transfer heat and cold that can affect readings

Do NOT locate this alarm:

• In garages, kitchens, furnace rooms, or extremely dusty/dirty/greasy areas
• Closer than 15 feet (4.6 m) from a furnace or other fuel-burning heat source/appliance
• Within 5 feet (1.5 m) of any cooking appliance
• In areas colder than 40°F (4.4°C) or hotter than 100°F (37.8°C) — e.g. non-air-conditioned crawl spaces, unfinished attics, poorly insulated ceilings, porches, garages
• In turbulent air near ceiling fans, heat vents, air conditioners, fresh air returns, or open windows
• In direct sunlight
• In common lobbies/hallways/basements of multi-family buildings unless working alarms are also installed in each unit
• In warehouses, industrial/commercial buildings, RVs, boats, or airplanes — this alarm is designed for residential use only

Installation Steps

1. Hold the mounting bracket against the ceiling or wall with the vertical mounting slot in the 12 o'clock position; trace around the inside of the mounting slots
2. Position the unit where it won't be covered with dust while drilling
3. Drill a hole through the center of each traced outline using a 3/16" (5 mm) drill bit
4. Insert the plastic screw anchors and tap them flush with a hammer
5. Line the mounting bracket up over the anchors
6. Screw the mounting bracket to the ceiling or wall through the mounting slots with the two provided screws
7. Attach the alarm to the mounting bracket, lining up the base guides, and turn the base clockwise until it snaps into place
8. Test the alarm (see Weekly Testing)

Programming the Location (First Time / When Changing Batteries)

1. Insert 2 AA batteries. The alarm says: "Welcome, First Alert Carbon Monoxide Alarm," followed by "No location programmed" (first time) or the current programmed location (when changing batteries), then "To select location, press and hold test button now."
2. Press and hold the Test button to program or change the location; release after the alarm responds. Available locations include: Basement, Living Room, Family Room, Office, Kitchen, Dining Room, Hallway, Child's Bedroom, Master Bedroom, Guest Bedroom, Utility Room, or No Location.
3. After hearing the desired location, press and hold the Test button again to save it. The alarm confirms: "[Location] location saved," or "No location saved" if none was chosen.

Locking Features

Two independent locking features prevent unauthorized removal of the battery or the alarm itself. Tools needed: needle-nose pliers, standard flathead screwdriver.

• Lock the battery compartment: only after batteries are installed and the alarm has been tested. Using needle-nose pliers, detach one locking pin from the mounting bracket, then push it through the hole near the battery door latch on the back of the alarm.
• Unlock the battery compartment: remove the alarm from the bracket, insert a flathead screwdriver under the head of the locking pin, and gently pry it out of the lock.
• Lock the mounting bracket: detach a locking pin from the bracket and insert it through the hole on the back of the alarm; when attached, the pin's head fits into a notch on the bracket.
• Unlock the mounting bracket: insert a flathead screwdriver into the rectangular cut-out on the bracket nearest the locking pin, then pry the alarm away while turning it counterclockwise.

What You'll See and Hear

UL2034 Required Alarm Points

• Exposed to 400 ppm of CO: alarm must sound between 4 and 15 minutes
• Exposed to 150 ppm of CO: alarm must sound between 10 and 50 minutes
• Exposed to 70 ppm of CO: alarm must sound between 60 and 240 minutes
• Designed not to alarm at a constant 30 ppm for 30 days

Underwriters Laboratories UL2034 standard. Audible alarm: 85 dB minimum at 10 feet (3 meters). The unit is not formulated to detect CO levels below 30 ppm typically.

If Your CO Alarm Sounds

1. Operate the Test/Silence button
2. Call your emergency services, fire department, or 911
3. Immediately move everyone to fresh air — outdoors or by an open door/window. Do a head count. Do not re-enter until emergency responders arrive and the premises have been aired out and the alarm returns to normal.
4. If the alarm reactivates within 24 hours after following the above steps, repeat them and call a qualified appliance technician to inspect fuel-burning equipment and appliances for sources of CO

Symptoms of CO poisoning: Mild exposure — slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue ("flu-like" symptoms). Medium exposure — throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate. Extreme exposure — convulsions, unconsciousness, heart and lung failure. Exposure to CO can cause brain damage or death. If you experience symptoms, evacuate and call 911 or the fire department immediately.

Regular Maintenance

• Test the alarm at least once a week
• Clean at least once a month with a vacuum's soft brush attachment or clean compressed air; never use water, cleaners, or solvents
• If contaminated by excessive dirt/dust/grime and can't be cleaned, replace immediately
• Relocate the unit if it sounds frequent unwanted alarms
• Replacement batteries: two standard AA batteries (Duracell MN1500 or equivalent); do not use rechargeable batteries
• Replace the CO Alarm every 7 years from the date of installation; the unit provides an audible End-of-Life signal at that time

How to Protect Your Family from CO Poisoning

• Clean chimneys and flues yearly; keep them free of debris for proper airflow; never cap or cover a chimney in a way that blocks airflow
• Test and maintain all fuel-burning equipment annually — many gas/oil and HVAC companies offer inspections for a nominal fee
• Make regular visual inspections of fuel-burning appliances for excessive rust or scaling; check burner/pilot flame color — it should be blue, not yellow (yellow indicates incomplete combustion)
• Keep furnace blower doors closed; use vents/fans on fuel-burning appliances; ensure appliances vent to the outside
• Never grill or barbecue indoors, in garages, or on screened porches
• Check for exhaust backflow — inspect draft hoods for backdrafting, and check furnace heat exchangers for cracks
• Check adjoining spaces/shared walls (e.g. attached garages) for CO sources
• If you suspect CO is escaping into your home, open windows/doors slightly to reduce CO levels

General Limitations of CO Alarms

• Alarms may not be heard by everyone, especially outside the bedroom, by sound sleepers, or those who have used drugs/alcohol; not intended for the hearing impaired
• Not a substitute for a smoke alarm — it does not sense smoke or fire
• Not a substitute for life insurance — does not guarantee protection from CO poisoning
• Only senses CO that reaches the sensor; CO may be present in other areas or on other levels of the home not covered by a single alarm
• Has a limited service life and must be tested weekly; parts can fail at any time
• Not intended for OSHA-regulated industrial/commercial CO monitoring applications

Regulatory / Certification

Model CO511. Complies with Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Standard UL2034 for single- and multiple-station carbon monoxide alarms. FCC ID: not listed on this excerpt — see full manual. Distributed by BRK Brands, Inc., a subsidiary of Newell Brands Inc. (NYSE: NWL). First Alert® is a registered trademark of The First Alert Trust. Consumer Affairs: 1-800-323-9005, www.firstalert.com.

Limited Warranty

BRK Brands, Inc. warrants this product to be free from defects in material and workmanship for seven years from the date of purchase. BRK will repair or replace the product or component at its option. This warranty does not cover normal wear, misuse, improper voltage, disassembly, unauthorized repair, or Acts of God (fire, flood, hurricanes, tornadoes), nor batteries included with the unit. For warranty service, contact Consumer Affairs at 1-800-323-9005 (have your model number and date of purchase ready) rather than returning the product to the retailer.