• Locate the first alarm in the immediate
area of the sleeping rooms. Try to monitor
the exit path as the sleeping rooms are
usually farthest from the exit. If more than
one sleeping area exists, locate additional
alarms in each sleeping area (See figure 3).
• 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 sleeping room.
• Locate an alarm in every room where elec-
trical 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 mount-
ing is preferred in ordinary residential con-
struction.
• For mobile home installation, select loca-
tions carefully to avoid thermal barriers
that may form at the ceiling. For more
details, see MOBILE HOME INSTALLATION
below.
• When mounting an alarm on the ceiling,
locate it at a minimum of 4” (10 cm) from
the side wall (see figure 1).
• When mounting the alarm on the wall, use
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 ceil-
ing (see figure 1).
1. Recommended Locations for Smoke Alarms
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 2
ANYWHERE ALON
G
THI
S
BOLD
S
URFACE
1
2”
(300mm)
FIGURE 4
