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Figure 5: RECOMMENDED LOCATION TO 

MOUNT SMOKE DETECTORS IN 
ROOMS WITH SLOPED, GABLED, 
OR PEAKED CEILING 

page 2 (SD738-EI00 04/2004) 

 

 

CAUTION

 

(As required by the California State Fire Marshall) 

Early warning fire detection is best achieved by the installation of fire 

detection equipment in all rooms and areas of the household as follows: (1) A 
smoke detector installed in each separate sleeping area (in the vicinity, but 
outside of the bedrooms), and (2) Heat or smoke detectors in the living rooms, 
dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, attics, furnace rooms, closets, 
utility and, storage rooms, basements and attached garages

.” 

 
For your information, NFPA Standard 74, Section 2-4 reads as follows: 

2-4.1.1 Smoke detectors shall be installed outside of each separate sleeping 

area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and on each additional story of 
the family living unit including basements and excluding crawl spaces and 
unfinished attics.  
The provisions of 2-4.1.1 represent the minimum number of detectors 
required by this standard. It is recommended that the householder consider 
the use of additional smoke detectors for increased protection for those areas 
separated by a door from the areas protected by the required smoke 
detectors under 2-4.1.1 above. The recommended additional areas are living 
room, dining room, bedroom(s), kitchen, attic (finished or unfinished), furnace 
room, utility room, basement, integral or attached garage, and hallways not 
included in 2-4.1.1 above. However, the use of additional detectors remains 
the option of the householder.”

 We recommend complete coverage and use 

of additional smoke detectors. 

 
LOCATIONS NOT TO INSTALL YOUR SMOKE 
DETECTORS  

Nuisance alarms take place when smoke detectors are installed where they 
will not work properly. To avoid nuisance alarms, do not install smoke 
detectors in the following situations: 

 

Combustion particles are the by-products of something that is burning. 
Thus, in or near areas where combustion particles are present you do not 
install the smoke detectors to avoid nuisance alarms, such as kitchens 
with few windows or poor ventilation, garages where there may be vehicle 
exhaust, near furnaces, hot water heaters, and space heaters. 

 

Do not install smoke detectors less than 20 feet (6 meters) away from 
places where combustion particles are normally present, like kitchens. If 
a 20-foot distance is not possible, e.g. in a mobile home, try to install the 
detector as far away from the combustion particles as possible, 
preferably on the wall. To prevent nuisance alarm alarms, provide good 
ventilation in such places. 

IMPORTANT:

 

For any reason, do not disable the detector to avoid 

nuisance alarms. 

 

When air streams passing by kitchens, the way how a detector can 
sense combustion particles in normal air-flow paths is graphically shown 
in Figure 6, which indicates the correct and incorrect smoke detector 
locations concerning this problem. 

 

 
 
 

Figure 6: RECOMMENDED 
SMOKE DETECTOR 
LOCATIONS TO AVOID AIR 
STREAMS WITH 
COMBUSTION PARTICLES 

 

 

 

In damp or very humid areas, or near bathrooms with showers. Moisture 
in humid air can enter the sensing chamber, then turns into droplets 
upon cooling, which can cause nuisance alarms. Install smoke detectors 
at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from bathrooms. 

 

In very cold or very hot areas, including unheated buildings or outdoor 
rooms. If the temperature goes above or below the operating range of 
smoke detector, it will not work properly. The temperature range for your 
smoke detector is 40

o

F to 100

o

F (4

o

C to 38

o

C). 

 

In very dusty or dirty areas, dirt and dust can build up on the detector’s 

sensing chamber, to make it overly sensitive. Additionally, dust or dirt 
can block openings to the sensing chamber and keep the detector from 
sensing smoke. 

 

 

Near fresh air vents or very drafty areas like air conditioners, heaters or 
fans, fresh air vents and drafts can drive smoke away from smoke 
detectors. 

 

Dead air spaces are often at the top of a peaked roof, or in the corners 
between ceilings and walls. Dead air may prevent smoke from reaching 
a detector. See Figures 4 and 5 for recommended mounting locations. 

 

In insect-infested areas. If insects enter a detector’s sensing chamber, 
they may cause a nuisance alarm. Where bugs are a problem, get rid of 
them before putting up a detector. 

 

Near fluorescent lights, electrical “noise” from fluorescent lights may 
cause nuisance alarms. Install smoke detectors at least 5 feet (1.5 
meters) from such lights. 

 

WARNING:

 

Never remove power from a DC-power operated detector to stop 

a nuisance alarm. Open a window or fan the air around the detector to get rid 
of the smoke. The alarm will turn itself off when the smoke is gone. If nuisance 
alarms persist, attempt to clean the detector as described in this User’s 
Manual. 
 

WARNING:

 

Do not stand close to the detector when the alarm is sounding. 

The alarm is loud in order to wake you in an emergency. Too much exposure 
to the horn at close range may be harmful to your hearing. 
 

INSTALLING YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR  

This smoke detector is made to be mounted on the ceiling or on the wall if 
necessary. Since this smoke detector is a single-station type, it cannot be 
linked to other detectors. 

WARNING

Do not connect this smoke detector to any other alarm or auxiliary 

device. Connecting anything else to this detector will keep it from working 
properly.  
Read “LOCATIONS TO INSTALL YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS” and 
“LOCATIONS NOT TO INSTALL YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS” section in 
this Manual first, and then decide where to install a detector. Please follow 
these steps to install your smoke detector: 
1. 

At the place where you are going to install the detector, draw a horizontal 
line six inches long. 

2.  Remove the mounting bracket from your unit by rotating it 

counterclockwise. 

3. 

Place the bracket so that the two longest slots are aligned on the line. In 
each of keyhole slots, draw a mark to locate a mounting plug and screw. 

4. 

Remove the bracket. 

5. 

Using a 3/16-inch (5mm) drill bit, drill two holes at the marks and insert 
plastic wall plugs. Put the detector away from getting plaster dust on it 
when you drill holes for mounting. 

6.  Using the two screws and plastic wall plugs (all supplied), attach the 

bracket to the wall. 

7.  Line up the side slot of the bracket and the detector. Push the detector 

onto the mounting bracket and turn it anti-clockwise to fix it into place. 
Pull outward on the detector to make sure it is securely attached to the 
mounting bracket. 

 

KEYHOLE
slot*8

 

 

 

8. 

The steps to open the detector cover and to install the battery are listed 
as follows:  

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