• Put smoke alarms at both ends of a bedroom hallway or large
room if the hallway or room is more than 30 ft (9.1 m) long.
• Install Smoke Alarms on sloped, peaked or cathedral ceilings at
or within 3 ft (0.9m) of the highest point (measured horizontal-
ly). NFPA 72 states: “Smoke alarms in rooms with ceiling slopes
greater than 1 ft in 8 ft (.3m in 2.4m) horizontally shall be
located on the high side of the room.” NFPA 72 states: “A row
of alarms shall be spaced and located within 3 ft (0.9m) of the
peak of the ceiling measured horizontally” (see figure 3).
MOBILE HOME INSTALLATION
Modern mobile homes have been designed and built to be energy
efficient. Install smoke alarms as recommended above (refer to
RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS and figures 1 and 2).
In older mobile homes that are not well insulated compared to
present standards, extreme heat or cold can be transferred from
the outside to the inside through poorly insulated walls and roof.
This may create a thermal barrier which can prevent the smoke
from reaching an alarm mounted on the ceiling. In such units,
install the smoke alarm on an inside wall with the top edge of the
alarm at a minimum of 4” (10 cm) and a maximum of 12” (30.5
cm) below the ceiling (see figure 1).
If you are not sure about the insulation in your mobile home, or if
you notice that the outer walls and ceiling are either hot or cold,
install the alarm on an inside wall. For minimum protection, install
at least one alarm close to the bedrooms. For additional protec-
tion, see SINGLE FLOOR PLAN in figure 2.
WARNING: TEST YOUR SMOKE ALARM OPERATION AFTER RV
OR MOBILE HOME VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN STORAGE, BEFORE
EACH TRIP AND AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK DURING USE.
2. LOCATIONS TO AVOID
• In the garage. Products of combustion are present when you
start your automobile.
• Less than 4” (10cm) from the peak of an “A” frame type ceil-
ing.
• In an area where the temperature may fall below 40º F or rise
above 100º F, such as garages and unfinished attics.
• In dusty areas. Dust particles may cause nuisance alarm or fail-
ure to alarm.
