• Locate the first alarm in the immediate area of the bedrooms. Try to
monitor the exit path as the bedrooms are usually farthest from the
exit. If more than one sleeping area exists, locate additional alarms in
each sleeping area (See Image 1A and 1B).
• Locate additional alarms to monitor any stairway as stairways act like
chimneys for smoke and heat.
• Locate at least one alarm on every floor level.
• Locate an alarm in every bedroom.
• Locate an alarm in every room where electrical appliances are
operated (i.e. portable heaters or humidifiers).
• Locate an alarm in every room where someone sleeps with the door
closed. The closed door may prevent an alarm not located in that
room from waking the sleeper.
• Smoke, heat, and combustion products rise to the ceiling and spread
horizontally. Mounting the smoke alarm on the ceiling in the center of
the room places it closest to all points in the room. Ceiling mounting
is preferred in ordinary residential construction.
• When mounting an alarm on the ceiling, locate it at a minimum of 10
cm (4”) from the side wall (see Image 2A).
• When mounting the alarm on the wall, use an inside wall with the top
edge of the alarm at a minimum of 10 cm (4”) and a maximum of
30.5 cm (12”) below the ceiling (see Image 2A).
• Put smoke alarms at both ends of a bedroom hallway or large room if
the hallway or room is more than 9.1 m (30 ft) long.
1. Recommended Locations for Smoke Alarms
DINING
ROOM
LIVING
ROOM
Required Smoke Alarms
Ionization Type Smoke Alarm with
Hush
®
Control or Photoelectric Type
Smoke Alarms for Additional Protection
KITCHEN
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
LIVING
ROOM
KITCHEN
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
HALL
BASEMENT
IMAGE 1A
IMAGE 1B
SINGLE FLOOR PLAN
MULTIPLE FLOOR PLAN