and on each additional story of the family living unit
including basements and excluding crawl spaces and
unfinished attics. In new construction, a smoke alarm
shall be installed in each sleeping room.
Smoke Detection - Are More Smoke Alarms Desirable?
The required number of smoke alarms might not pro-
vide reliable early warning protection for those areas
separated by a door from the areas protected by the
required smoke alarms. For this reason, it is recom-
mended that the householder consider the use of addi-
tional smoke alarms for those areas for increased pro-
tection. The additional areas include the basement, bed-
rooms, dining room, furnace room, utility room, and hall-
ways not protected by the required smoke alarms. The
installation of smoke alarms in kitchens, attics (finished
or unfinished), or garages is not normally recommend-
ed, as these locations occasionally experience condi-
tions that can result in improper operation.
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: A smoke alarm
installed in each separate sleeping area (in the vicinity,
but outside the bedrooms), heat or smoke detectors in
the living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hall-
ways, attics, furnace rooms, closets, utility and storage
rooms, basements and attached garages.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) rec-
ommends the use of at least one CO Alarm per house-
hold, located near the sleeping area.
Industry Safety Standards
31
ing fire drills at night. Ensure that small children hear
the alarm and wake when it sounds.They must wake
up in order to execute the escape plan. Practice allows
all occupants to test your plan before an emergency.
You may not be able to reach your children. It is impor-
tant they know what to do. Know two ways out of
every room (door & window) and identify a meeting
place outside the home where everyone will gather
once they have exited the residence. When two people
have reached the meeting place, one should leave to
call 911 while the second person stays to account for
additional family members.
Establish a rule that once you’re out, you never
reenter under any circumstance!
Fire Prevention
Never smoke in bed, or leave cooking food unattended.
Teach children never to play with matches or lighters!
Train everyone in the home to recognize the alarm
pattern, voice message warning and to leave the home
using their escape plan when it’s heard.
Know how to do Stop, Drop and Roll if clothes catch
on fire, and how to crawl low under smoke. Install and
maintain fire extinguishers on every level of the home
and in the kitchen, basement and garage. Know how to
use a fire extinguisher prior to an emergency. Second
level and higher occupied rooms with windows, should
have an escape ladder.
NFPA
(National Fire Protection Association)
For your information, the National Fire Protection
Association’s Standard 72, reads as follows:
Smoke alarms shall be installed outside of each separate
sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms
Fire Safety Information
30
Industry Safety Standards
