2. RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS OF ALARMS
2.1: Heat alarms give an audible warning when the temperature at the alarm reaches 73°C. Heat alarms are ideal
for kitchens, garages, cellars, boiler rooms, attics and other areas where there are normally high levels of
fumes, smoke or dust which preclude the use of smoke alarms due to the risk of false alarms. For normalsized
bungalows, two-story houses, flats and maisonettes, the PSA recommends that the minimum level of protec-
tion should comprise smoke alarms in the hallways and staircases. This minimum standard necessitates one
smoke alarm in the hallway of a typical bungalow or one smoke alarm on each level of a two-story house.
Heat alarms should not be used in these circulation areas. If there are, for example, long hallways, even the
minimum standard may necessitate additional interconnected smoke alarms. If, however, the design of the
dwelling does not comply with modern fire safety standards, or if factors such as the presence of several
young children, elderly occupants or disabled people, or smokers, the use of portable heaters or solid fuel fires
during the night, or the use of electric blankets, particularly by the elderly, PSA advises that additional detec-
tion devices, installed within rooms, may be necessary.
BEDROOM
ATTIC
BEDROOM
HEAT ALARM
IONISATION SMOKE ALARM
PHOTOELETRIC SMOKE ALARM
KITCHEN
LIVING ROOM
GARAGE
UTILITY/
LAUNDRY
2.2: The most favourable mounting location for a Heat
Alarm is on the ceiling and in the centre of the room.
At this location, the alarm is closest to all areas
of the room.
EXCEPTION : When the mounting surface
might become considerably warmer or
cooler than the room, such as a poorly
insulated ceiling, below an unfinished attic,
or an exterior wall. In these cases the alarm
should be mounted on an inside wall.
2.1: If the alarm cannot be located in the centre
of the room, an off-centre location can be
used on the ceiling. When off-centre
mounting an alarm on the ceiling, locate it
at a minimum of 300mm from the side wall (see diagram A)
2.4: If a ceiling mounting location is not possible, the next logical location for mounting
Heat Alarm is on the side wall. When mounting the alarm on the wall, use an inside
wall with the top edge of the alarm at a minimum of 300mm and a maximum of
600mm below the ceiling. (see diagram A)
Diagram A
2.5: When mounting the alarm on a sloping
ceiling, it should not exceed 1500mm away
from the apex. The spacing of additional alarms, if
any, should be based on a horizontal distance
measurement, not a measurement along the slope
of the ceiling (see diagram“B”)
Areas for
Heat Alarms
Diagram B
1004-7201-01(HA240)_V2:_ 2010.9.2 9:20 AM Page 2
