Figure 2: IN FAMILY LIVING UNITS WITH MORE THAN ONE SLEEPING
AREA, A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO PROTECT EACH
SLEEPING AREA IN ADDITION TO ALARMS REQUIRED IN BEDROOMS.
as to intercept smoke coming from a fire in the basement before the smoke
enters the stairway.
dwelling inhabitants against the danger of fire(s). It makes good common
sense to periodically replace and update your smoke alarm that contributes
so much to life safety.
MOUNTING LOCATION
This smoke alarm can be mounted on a ceiling or wall with equal efficiency
in either location.
·
Ceiling locationalarm should be mounted as close as possible to the cen-
ter of a hallway or room. If this is not possible, the edge of the alarm should
be at least 4 inches from any wall.
·
Wall locationlocate the top of the alarm at least 4 inches and not more
than 12 inches from the ceiling. Observe alarm for proper top/bottom orien-
tation (test knob is near bottom of unit).
Figure 1: A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE LOCATED BETWEEN THE
SLEEPING AREA AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY LIVING UNIT.
Where to Locate the Required Smoke Alarms in New Construction.
All of
the smoke alarms specified for existing construction are required, and, in addi-
tion, a smoke alarm is required in each bedroom.
Are More Smoke Detectors Desirable?
The required number of smoke
alarms may not provide reliable early warning protection for those areas sepa-
rated by a door from the areas protected by the required smoke alarms. For
this reason, it is recommended that the householder consider the use of addi-
tional smoke alarms for those areas for increased protection. The additional
areas include: basement, bedrooms, dining room, furnace room, utility room
and hallways not protected by the required smoke alarms. The installation of
smoke alarms in kitchens, attics (finished or unfinished), or garages is not
normally recommended, as these locations occasionally experience conditions
that can result in improper operation.
Figure 3: A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE LOCATED ON EACH STORY.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION
We recommend replacing your alarm(s) every ten (10) years; why:
·
Dust, dirt, and other environmental contaminants can affect your alarm over
a prolonged period.
·
Fast changing industry consensus standards and codes on all alarms make
it advisable to periodically upgrade your alarm to maximize life safety.
·
Assurance that your smoke alarm needs are kept abreast with the constantly
improving electronic technology.
·
Smoke alarms are recognized as one of the lowest cost ways to protect
Figure 4: RECOMMENDED SMOKE ALARM MOUNTING LOCATIONS
Figure 5: RECOMMENDED SMOKE ALARM LOCATION IN ROOMS WITH
SLOPED, GABLED, OR PEAKED CEILINGS.
The placement of the alarm is critical if maximum speed of fire detection is
desired. Thus, a logical location for an alarm is the center of the ceiling. At
this location, the alarm is closest to all areas of the room.
WHERE SMOKE ALARMS SHOULD BE PUT IN
MOBILE HOMES
In mobile homes built after about 1978 that were designed and insulated to
be energy-efficient, smoke alarms should be installed as described in the sec-
tion above.
In older mobile homes that have little or no insulation compared to todays
standards, uninsulated metal outside walls and roofs can transfer heat and
cold from outdoors, making the air right next to them hotter or colder than the
rest of the inside air. These layers of hotter or colder air can prevent smoke
from reaching a smoke alarm. Therefore, put smoke alarms in such units only
on inside walls, between 4 and 12 inches (10 and 30 cm) from the ceiling. If
you are not sure about the insulation level in your mobile home, or if you notice
that the walls or ceiling are unusually hot or cold, put the alarm on an inside
wall.
Minimum protection requires one alarm as close to the sleeping area as
possible. For better protection, put one alarm in each room, but first read the
Locations to Avoid.
