background image

agencY placeMent recoMMendatIons

nFpa 72 Chapter 29

“For your information, the 

national Fire alarm and Signaling Code

NFPA 72, reads as follows:”

29.5.1* Required Detection.

29.5.1.1*

 Where required by other governing laws, codes, or standards

for a specific type of occupancy, approved single and multiple-station 

smoke alarms shall be installed as follows:
(1)*In all sleeping rooms and guest rooms
(2)* Outside of each separate dwelling unit sleeping area, within 21 ft 

(6.4 m) of any door to a sleeping room, with the distance measured 

along a path of travel

(3) On every level of a dwelling unit, including basements
(4)  On every level of a residential board and care occupancy (small

facility), including basements and excluding crawl spaces and

unfinished attics

(5)*In the living area(s) of a guest suite
(6)  In the living area(s) of a residential board and care occupancy

(small facility)

California State Fire Marshal (CSFM)

Early warning detection is best achieved by the installation of fire 

detection equipment in all rooms and areas of the household as 

follows: A Smoke Alarm installed in each separate sleeping area (in the 

vicinity, but outside bedrooms), and Heat or Smoke Alarms in the living 

rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, finished attics, 

furnace rooms, closets, utility and storage rooms, basements, and 

attached garages.

locatIons to avoId For sMoke alarMs

For best performance, AVOID installing Smoke Alarms in these areas:

Where combustion particles are produced. Combustion particles

form when something burns. Areas to avoid include poorly ventilat-

ed kitchens, garages, and furnace rooms. Keep units at least 20 feet

(6 meters) from the sources of combustion particles (stove, furnace,

water heater, space heater) if possible. In areas where a 20-foot

(6 m) distance is not possible – in modular, mobile, or smaller

homes, for example – it is recommended the Smoke Alarm be

placed as far from these fuel-burning sources as possible. The

placement recommendations are intended to keep these Alarms at

a reasonable distance from a fuel-burning source, and thus reduce

“unwanted” alarms. Unwanted alarms can occur if a Smoke Alarm

is placed directly next to a fuel-burning source. Ventilate these

areas as much as possible.

In air streams near kitchens. Air currents can draw cooking smoke

into the sensing chamber of a Smoke Alarm near the kitchen.

In very damp, humid or steamy areas, or directly near bathrooms

with showers. Keep units at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from

showers, saunas, dishwashers, etc.

Where the temperatures are regularly below 40˚ F (4.4˚ C) or above

100˚ F (37.8˚ C), including unheated buildings, outdoor rooms,

porches, or unfinished attics or basements.

In very dusty, dirty, or greasy areas. Do not install a Smoke Alarm

directly over the stove or range. Clean a laundry room unit frequently

to keep it free of dust or lint.

Near fresh air vents, ceiling fans, or in very drafty areas. Drafts can

blow smoke away from the unit, preventing it from reaching the

sensing chamber.

In insect infested areas. Insects can clog openings to the sensing

chamber and cause unwanted alarms.

Less than 12 inches (305 mm) away from fluorescent lights.

Electrical “noise” can interfere with the sensor.

In “dead air” spaces. “Dead air” spaces may prevent smoke from

reaching the Smoke Alarm.

Avoiding Dead Air Spaces

“Dead air” spaces may prevent smoke from reaching the Smoke Alarm. 

To avoid dead air spaces, follow the installation recommendations below.

On ceilings, 

install Smoke Alarms as close to the center of the ceiling

as possible. If this is not possible, install the Smoke Alarm at least  

4 inches (102 mm) from the wall or corner.

For wall mounting

 (if allowed by building codes), the top edge of Smoke

Alarms should be placed between 4 inches (102 mm) and 12 inches (305 

mm) from the wall/ceiling line, below typical “dead air” spaces.

On a peaked, gabled, or cathedral ceiling,

 install the first Smoke

Alarm within 3 feet (0.9 meters) of the peak of the ceiling, measured  

horizontally. Additional Smoke Alarms may be required depending 

on the length, angle, etc. of the ceiling’s slope. Refer to NFPA 72 for 

details on requirements for sloped or peaked ceilings.

5

aBoUt sMoke alarMs

Battery or DC operated Smoke alarms: 

Provide protection even

when electricity fails, provided the batteries or battery packs are fresh  

and correctly installed or activated. Units are easy to install, and do not 

require professional installation.

•  Always use the exact batteries specified by this User’s Manual. 

DO NOT use rechargeable batteries. Clean the battery contacts 

and also those of the device prior to battery installation. Install

batteries correctly with regard to polarity (+ and -).

• Please dispose of or recycle used batteries properly, following 

any

 

local

 

regulations.

 

Consult

 

your

 

local

 

waste

 

management

 

authority

 

or

 

recycling

 

organization

 

to

 

find

 

an

 

electronics

 

recycling

 

facility

 

in

 

your

 

area.

 

DO

 

NOT

 

DISPOSE

 

OF

 

BATTERIES

 

IN

 

FIRE.

 

BATTERIES

 

MAY

 

ExPLODE

 

OR

 

LEAK.

• Keep battery out of reach of children. In the event a battery is

 

swallowed,

 

immediately

 

contact

 

your

 

poison

 

control

 

center, 

your

 

physician,

 

or

 

the

 

National

 

Battery

 

Ingestion

 

hotline

 

as 

serious injury may occur.

aC powered Smoke alarms: 

Can be interconnected so if one unit

senses smoke, all units alarm. They do not operate if electricity fails. 

AC with battery (DC) back-up: 

will operate if electricity fails, provided

the batteries are fresh and correctly installed. AC and AC/DC units 

must be installed by a qualified electrician.

Smoke Alarms for Solar or Wind Energy users and battery backup 

power systems:

 AC powered Smoke Alarms should only be operated

with true or pure sine wave inverters. Operating this Smoke Alarm with 

most battery-powered UPS (uninterruptible power supply) products or 

square wave or “quasi sine wave” inverters 

will damage the alarm

If you are not sure about your inverter or UPS type, please consult with 

the manufacturer to verify.

Continued...

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

HALL

LIVING ROOM

KITCHEN

FINISHED BASEMENT

REQUIRED TO MEET 

NFPA RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED FOR 

ADDITIONAL PROTECTION

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

KITCHEN

LIVING ROOM

DINING ROOM

MULTI-STORY RESIDENCE

SINGLE-STORY RESIDENCE, APARTMENT, 

MOBILE HOME

KEY:

EXISTING HOMES

SMOKE ALARMS WITH SILENCE

FEATURES RECOMMENDED FOR 

ADDITIONAL PROTECTION

INTERCONNECTED AC OR 

AC/DC SMOKE ALARMS

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

HALL

LIVING ROOM

KITCHEN

FINISHED BASEMENT

REQUIRED TO MEET 

NFPA RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED FOR 

ADDITIONAL PROTECTION

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

LIVING ROOM

DINING ROOM

MULTI-STORY RESIDENCE

SINGLE-STORY RESIDENCE, APARTMENT, 

MOBILE HOME

KEY:

NEW CONSTRUCTION

SMOKE ALARMS WITH SILENCE

FEATURES RECOMMENDED FOR 

ADDITIONAL PROTECTION

KITCHEN

Reviews: