Privacy Policy

Our Commitment to Privacy

FACP Manuals is committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and protect your information. This Privacy Policy explains our data practices for our fire alarm control panel manual repository, AI assistant, and community features.

Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account with us, we collect:

• Email address (required for account creation and communication)
• Username (for account identification and community features)
• Display name (optional, for public profile display)
• Password (encrypted and securely stored)
• Account creation date

AI Interaction Data

When you use our TroubleShooter AI assistant (also known as "Ask AI" or "Ask TroubleShooter AI"), we collect:

• Questions and queries submitted to the AI
• Conversation history (linked to your account if logged in, or session-based if anonymous)
• AI responses generated for your queries
• Issue reports on AI responses (inaccuracy, wrong source, outdated)
• Usage frequency, timing, and rate limit tracking
• Source manuals referenced in responses

Community Data

When you participate in our community features, we collect:

• Posts, comments, and reactions you create
• Points earned and badges achieved
• Leaderboard rankings and contribution statistics
• Moderation actions (if applicable)

Usage Information

To improve our service and understand how users interact with our platform, we collect:

• Pages visited and time spent on site
• Search queries and filters used
• Downloads and manual interactions
• Browser type and version
• Device information (mobile, desktop, screen resolution)
• General geographic location (country/region level)

Submitted Content

When you contribute to our platform, we collect:

• Manual submissions and associated metadata
• Community posts and comments
• Profile information you choose to share
• Communication with our support team

How We Use Your Information

Essential Service Operations

• Account Management: Creating and maintaining your user account
• Authentication: Verifying your identity when you log in
• Content Delivery: Providing access to manuals and documentation
• AI Services: Processing your queries and generating relevant responses
• Security: Protecting against spam, abuse, and unauthorized access

Service Improvement

• Analytics: Understanding user behavior to improve site functionality
• AI Enhancement: Improving AI response accuracy and coverage
• Search Enhancement: Improving search algorithms and results
• Performance Optimization: Monitoring and improving site speed and reliability
• Feature Development: Identifying areas for new features and improvements

Communication

• Service Updates: Important announcements about the platform
• Security Alerts: Notifications about account security issues
• Community Notifications: Updates about your contributions and interactions (if enabled)
• Support: Responding to your questions and technical issues

Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We only share your information in the following limited circumstances:

Public Information

Some information is public by design:

• Your username and display name (on contributions and community posts)
• Publicly submitted content (manuals, comments, posts)
• Public profile information you choose to display
• Contribution statistics, badges, and leaderboard rankings (if you choose to display them)

Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our platform:

Legal Compliance

We may disclose information when required by law, such as:

• Responding to valid legal requests (subpoenas, court orders)
• Protecting our rights and property
• Ensuring user safety and preventing fraud or abuse
• Complying with applicable laws and regulations

AI Data Processing

Our TroubleShooter AI assistant processes data in specific ways:

Vector Embeddings

We process manual content to create vector embeddings (mathematical representations) stored in our database. These embeddings:

• Enable semantic search functionality
• Power our AI assistant's ability to find relevant information
• Do not contain personally identifiable information
• Are derived from publicly available manual content

Query Processing

When you submit a question to TroubleShooter:

• Your query is converted to an embedding for semantic matching
• Relevant manual excerpts are retrieved from our database
• Google Gemini AI generates a response based on retrieved content
• The query, response, and sources are logged for quality improvement

Data Retention

• Logged-in users: AI conversation history is retained and accessible in your account
• Anonymous users: Session data is retained for 30 days for analytics
• Aggregated data: Anonymized usage patterns may be retained indefinitely

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: All data transmitted to and from our site is encrypted using SSL/TLS
• Password Security: Passwords are hashed using strong cryptographic algorithms
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
• Regular Updates: We keep our systems updated with the latest security patches
• Monitoring: We monitor for suspicious activity and unauthorized access attempts
• Database Security: Row Level Security (RLS) policies protect database access

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We encourage you to use strong, unique passwords for your account.

Your Rights and Choices

Account Control

• Access: View and update your account information through your profile settings
• Correction: Update incorrect or outdated information
• Deletion: Request account deletion (some content may remain for legal/operational reasons)
• Export: Request a copy of your personal data
• AI History: View and delete your AI conversation history

Communication Preferences

• Opt out of non-essential emails through your account settings
• Manage community notification preferences
• Control badge and achievement notifications

Analytics Opt-Out

You can opt out of analytics tracking by:

• Using browser settings to disable cookies
• Installing analytics-blocking browser extensions
• Enabling "Do Not Track" in your browser settings

Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience. For detailed information about our cookie practices, please see our Cookie Policy.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic site functionality and security
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our site
• Authentication Cookies: Keep you logged in securely
• AI Session Cookies: Track conversation context within a session

Children's Privacy

FACP Manuals is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

International Users

FACP Manuals operates from the United States. If you are accessing our service from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States.

By using our service, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and the application of United States privacy laws.

GDPR Rights (EU Users)

If you are located in the European Union, you have additional rights:

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on this page
• Updating the "Last updated" date
• Sending email notifications for significant changes (if you have an account)
• Displaying prominent notices on our website

Your continued use of our service after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We will respond to your privacy-related inquiries within 30 days.