6
6. Recommended Locations for Smoke Alarms
refer to your local state and federal laws or contact your local fire brigade to determine the minimum
installation requirements (Figure 6.1 A and Figure 6.1 b ).
recommended locations
•
In every room where someone sleeps with the door closed. The closed door may prevent an alarm located outside
from waking the sleeper.
•
In the immediate area of bedrooms and the exit path from all sleeping areas (Figure 6.1 A).
•
In stairways, as stairways act like chimneys for smoke and heat.
•
In any room where large electrical appliances are operated (e.g., portable heaters or humidifiers).
•
If a hallway or room is more than 9.1m long put alarms at both ends.
•
For maximum household protection see Figure 6.1 C.ordinary residential construction.
things to consider:
•
Smoke from a fire will rise to the ceiling and spread horizontally.
•
Mounting the smoke alarm in the centre of the ceiling places it closest to all points in the room.
•
When mounting an alarm on the ceiling, locate it at a minimum of 30cm from the side wall (Figure 6. 2A).
•
For sloped, peaked or cathedral ceilings the alarm should be placed between 500mm and 1500mm from the highest
point of the ceiling (Figure 6.2A and 6.2B).
•
Smoke alarms in rooms with ceiling slopes greater than 1m in 8m horizontally, should be located on the high side of
the room (Figure 6. 2 A ).
For Wall mounting:
When mounting the alarm on the wall, use an interior wall with the top edge of the alarm at a minimum of 10cm and a
maximum of 30cm below the ceiling (Figure 6.2 A).