SMD-426, SMD-427
D-302758
9
3.2 Where to Install Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors should be installed in accordance with
the NFPA Standard 74 (National Fire Protection
Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169). For
complete coverage in residential units, smoke detectors
should be installed in all rooms, halls, storage areas,
basements and attics in each family living unit. Minimum
coverage is one detector on each floor and one in each
sleeping area and attics in each family living unit. For
maximum protection, a smoke detector should be located
outside primary sleeping areas or on each level of your
home. Here are a few useful tips for you:
•
Install a smoke detector in the hallway outside every
separate bedroom area, as in Figure 5. Two detectors are
required in homes with two bedroom areas, as in Figure 6.
•
Install a smoke detector on every floor of a multi-floor
home or apartment, as shown in Figure 7.
•
Install a minimum of two detectors in any household.
•
Install a smoke detector inside every bedroom.
•
Install smoke detectors at both ends of a bedroom hallway if
the hallway is more than 12 meters (40 feet) long.
Figure 5.
Locations for Placing Smoke Detectors in a Single
Residence with only One Sleeping Area
•
Install a smoke detector inside every room where one
sleeps with the door partly or completely closed, since
smoke could be blocked by the closed door and a hallway
alarm may not wake up the sleeper if the door is closed.
Figure 6.
Locations for Placing Smoke Detectors in Single-
Floor Residence with More than One Sleeping Area.
Figure 7.
Placing Smoke Detectors in a Multi-Floor
Residence
•
Install basement detectors at the bottom of the basement
stairwell.
•
Install second-floor detectors at the top of the first-to-
second floor stairwell.
•
Be sure no door or other obstruction blocks the path of
smoke to the detector.
•
Install additional detectors in your living room, dining
room, family room, attic, utility and storage rooms.
•
Install smoke detectors as close to the center of the
ceiling as possible. If this is not practical, put the
detector on the ceiling, at least 10 cm (4 inches) away
from any wall or corner, as shown in Figure 8.
•
If ceiling mounting is not possible and wall mounting is
permitted by your local and state codes, locate the
detectors between 10 - 15 cm (4 - 6 inches) from the
ceiling, also see Figure 8.
•
If some of your rooms have sloped, peaked, or gabled
ceilings, try to mount detectors 0.9 meter (3 feet)
measured horizontally from the highest point of the
ceiling as shown in Figure 9.
Figure 8.
Recommended Best
and Acceptable Locations to
Mount Smoke Detectors
Figure 9.
Recommended
Location to Mount Smoke
Detectors in Rooms with
Sloped, Gabled or
Peaked Ceiling
CAUTION
(As required by the 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:
(1) A smoke detector installed in each separate sleeping
area (in the vicinity, but outside the bedrooms), and (2)
Heat or smoke detectors in the living rooms, dining rooms,
bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, attics, furnace rooms,
closets, utility and storage rooms, basements and attached
garages."
3.3 Where Not to Install Smoke Detectors
False alarms occur when smoke detectors are installed
where they will not work properly. To avoid false alarms,
do not install smoke detectors in the following situations:
•
Combustion particles are by-products of something
burning. Do not install smoke detectors in or near areas
where combustion particles are present, such as
kitchens with few windows or poor ventilation, garages
where there may be vehicle exhaust, near furnaces, hot
water heaters and space heaters.
•
Do not install smoke detectors less than 6 meters (20
feet) away from places where combustion particles are
normally present, like kitchens. If a 20-foot distance is
not possible, try to install the detector as far away from
the combustion particles as possible, preferably on the
wall. To prevent false alarms, provide good ventilation in
such places.
IMPORTANT:
Never try to avoid false alarms by
disabling the detector.
•
Do not mount smoke detectors in the path of fresh air
intake. The flow of fresh air in and out can drive smoke
away from the smoke detector; thus reducing its
efficiency. Figure 10 indicates the correct and incorrect
locations concerning this problem.
•
Near paint thinner fumes.
