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4. Recommended Locations For Alarms
NOTE: If possible, it is best to locate the Coordinator in a central location of your residence,
and then use the following guidelines for RFD unit placements. See section 6 for a
definition of “Coordinator” and “RFD”.
• Check specific State legislation in your area to ensure smoke alarms are correctly located
according to local laws. Each State or Territory may differ in building codes and regulations.
PSA Products can only recommend the locations.
• Locate an alarm for each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
Try to monitor the exit path as the bedrooms are usually farthest from an exit. If more than one
sleeping area exist, then install additional alarms in the immediate vicinity of each sleeping area.
• Locate additional alarms to monitor any stairwell because stairwells act like chimneys for smoke
and heat.
• Locate at least one alarm on every floor level.
• Locate an alarm in every room where a smoker sleeps.
• 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 other combustion products rise to the ceiling and spread horizontally.
Mounting the 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 alarms on the ceiling locate it at least 300mm away from the side wall and
300mm away from any corner. (see diagram).
• When mounting alarms on a wall, use the inside wall. The recommended position is between
300mm and 500mm off the ceiling. (see diagram).
NOTE: The performance of smoke alarms mounted on walls is unpredictable and this
mounting position is not recommended when ceiling mounting can be implemented.
