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Proper Placement of Your Smoke Alarm
For the highest standard of protection, you should install a smoke or heat alarm in every room of your
home. Site smoke alarms in accordance with BS 5839 : Part 6. For the minimum level of protection, there
should be at least one smoke alarm on each level of the dwelling (e.g., one in the hallway of a bungalow,
one on the ground floor and the upstairs landing of a two-storey house, etc.). If there are long hallways,
even the minimum standard may necessitate additional interconnected smoke alarms. Where a higher stan-
dard of protection is required, or where the fire risk justifies it, additional smoke or heat alarms should be
installed in some or all rooms of the property. This may be necessary if the dwelling does not comply with
modern fire safety standards, or if there are other factors to be considered, such as the presence of young
children, elderly or disabled people, smokers, the use of portable heaters or solid fuel fires during the night,
or the use of electric blankets, particularly by elderly people.
FOR BEST PROTECTION, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU INSTALL A SMOKE ALARM IN
EVERY ROOM.
In addition, it is recommended that all smoke alarms be interconnected.
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL HELP YOU SITE YOUR SMOKE ALARMS SAFELY:
Typical Single Storey Dwelling (Bungalow or Flat)
• Install a smoke alarm in the hallway between the bedrooms and the living room or kitchen, close to the living
room, but no more than 3m from bedroom doors. No door to a room should be further than 7.5m from the
nearest smoke alarm. This may require additional smoke alarms. Where there are rooms (other than bed-
rooms or toilets) on either side of a bedroom, a smoke alarm should be sited midway between the doors to
these rooms. For the highest level of protection, install smoke or heat alarms in all other rooms, except bath-
rooms or toilets.
FIGURE 1:
Siting of Smoke Alarms (For Minimum Protection): Single Storey Dwellings
Typical Two-Storey House
•
At least one smoke alarm should be located on the ground floor between the staircase and any rooms in
which a fire might start. An additional interconnected smoke alarm should be installed on the first floor
landing, within 3m of bedroom doors. No doors to other rooms should be further than 7.5m from the
nearest smoke alarm. This may require additional smoke alarms. Where there are rooms (other than
bathrooms or toilets) on either side of a bedroom, a smoke alarm should be sited midway between the
doors to these rooms. For the highest level of protection, install smoke or heat alarms in all other rooms,
except bathrooms or toilets.
BEDROOM BEDROOM
BEDROOM
KITCHEN
BATHROOM
ROOM
DINING
LOUNGE
VATORY
CONSER-
MORE THAN 7.5m
SECOND
SMOKE
ALARM
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
KITCHEN
BATHROOM
ROOM
DINING
LOUNGE
VATORY
CONSER-
EQUAL
EQUAL
BEDROOM BEDROOM
BEDROOM
KITCHEN
BATHROOM
ROOM
DINING
LOUNGE
VATORY
CONSER-
NOT MORE
THAN 7.5m
NOT LESS
THAN 3OOmm
GARAGE
KITCHEN
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
LIVING
ROOM
- DENOTES HEAT ALARM
- DENOTES SMOKE ALARM REQUIRED
FOR MINIMUM PROTECTION
- DENOTES ADDITIONAL SMOKE ALARM
FIGURE 2: Siting of Smoke Alarms (For Minimum Protection): Two Storey Dwellings
111-281 English new 7/25/01 4:24 PM Page 2
