RECOMMENDED LOCA TIONS FOR SMOKE ALARMS
Installing Smoke Alarms in Single-Family Residences
The National Fire Protection Association (NFP A), recommends one
Smoke Alarm on every floor, in every sleeping area, and in every bed-
room. In new construction, the Smoke Alarms must be AC power ed and
interconnected. See “Agency Placement Recommendations” for details.
For additional coverage, it is recommended that you install a Smoke
Alarm in all rooms, halls, storage ar eas, finished attics, and basements,
where temperatures normally r emain between 40˚ F (4˚ C) and 100˚ F
(38˚ C). Make sure no door or other obstruction could keep smoke fr om
reaching the Smoke Alarms.
More specifically , install Smoke Alarms:
•
On every level of your home, including finished attics and basements.
•Inside every bedroom, especially if people sleep with doors closed.
• In the hall near every sleeping area. If your home has multiple sleep-
ing areas, install a unit in each. If a hall is over 40 feet (12 meters)
long, install an alarm at each end.
•At the top of the first-to-second floor stairway , and at bottom of
basement stairway .
Specific requirements for Smoke Alarm installation vary fr om state to
state and from region to r egion. Check with your local Fire Department
for current r equirements in your area. It is recommended AC or AC/DC
units be interconnected for added protection.
4
BEDROOM
BEDROOM HALL
L IVING ROOM KITCHEN
FINISHED BASEMENT
REQUIRED TO MEET
NFP A RECOMMENDA TIONS
RECOMMENDED FOR
ADDITIONAL PROTECTION
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
K ITCHEN
L IVING ROOM
DINING ROOM
MUL TI-STOR Y RESIDENCE
SINGLE-STOR Y RESIDENCE, AP AR TMENT ,
MOBILE HOME
KEY :
E X I S T ING H OME S
SMOKE ALARMS WITH SILENCE
FEA TURES RECOMMENDED FOR
ADDITIONAL PROTECTION
BEDROOM
BEDROOM HALL
LIVING ROOM KITCHEN
FINISHED BASEMENT
BEDROOM
BEDROOM LIVING ROOM
DINING ROOM
MUL TI-STORY RESIDENCE
SINGLE-STORY RESIDENCE, AP ARTMENT ,
MOBILE HOME
EXISTING HOMES
KITCHEN
REQUIRED TO
MEET NFP A
RECOMMENDA TIONS
RECOMMENDED
FOR ADDITIONAL
PROTECTION
KEY : SMOKE ALARMS WITH SILENCE
FEA TURES RECOMMENDED FOR
ADDITIONAL PROTECTION
INTERCONNECTED AC OR
AC/DC SMOKE ALARMS
BEDROOM
BEDROOM HALL
LIVING ROOM KITCHEN
FINISHED BASEMENT
REQUIRED TO MEET
NFP A RECOMMENDA TIONS
RECOMMENDED FOR
ADDITIONAL PROTECTION
BEDROOM
BEDROOM LIVING ROOM
DINING ROOM
MU LT I -STOR Y RESIDENCE
SINGLE-STOR Y RESIDENCE, AP AR TMENT ,
MOBILE HOME
KEY :
NE W CONSTR U CTION
SMOKE ALARMS WITH SILENCE
F EA T URES RECOMMENDED FOR
ADDITIONAL PROTECTION
KITCHEN
INTERCONNECTED
AC OR AC/DC
SMOKE ALARMS
BEDROOM
BEDROOM HALL
LIVING ROOM KITCHEN
FINISHED BASEMENT
REQUIRED TO
MEET NFP A
RECOMMENDA TIONS
RECOMMENDED
FOR ADDITIONAL
PROTECTION
BEDROOM
BEDROOM LIVING ROOM
DINING ROOM
MULT I -STORY RESIDENCE
SINGLE-STORY RESIDENCE, AP ARTMENT ,
MOBILE HOME
KEY :
NEW CONSTRUCTION
SMOKE ALARMS
WITH SILENCE
FEA TURES
RECOMMENDED
FOR ADDITIONAL
PROTECTION
KITCHEN
INSTALLING SMOKE ALARMS IN MOBILE HOMES & RVS
For minimum security install one Smoke Alarm as close to each sleeping
area as possible. For more security , put one unit in each room. Many
older mobile homes (especially those built before 1978) have little or no
insulation. If your mobile home is not well insulated, or if you are unsure
of the amount of insulation, it is important to install units on inside walls
only . Smoke Alarms should be installed where temperatures normally
remain between 40˚ F (4˚ C) and 100˚ F (38˚ C). WARNING: T est units
used in RVs after the vehicle has been in storage, before every trip,
and once a week while in use. Failure to test units used in RVs as
described may remove your protection.
AGENCY PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
NFPA 72 (National Fire Code) Chapter 11
“For your information, the National Fire Pr otection Association's
Standard 72, reads as follows:”
“11.5.1 One- and T wo-Family Dwelling Units.”
“11.5.1.1 Smoke Detection. Where requir ed by applicable laws, codes, or
standards for the specified occupancy , approved single- and multiple-
station Smoke Alarms shall be installed as follows: (1) In all sleeping
rooms Exception: Smoke Alarms shall not be r equired in sleeping rooms
in existing one- and two-family dwelling units. (2) Outside of each
separate sleeping area, in immediate vicinity of the sleeping rooms.
(3) On each level of the dwelling unit, including basements Exception: In
existing one- and two family dwelling units, approved Smoke Alarms
powered by batteries are permitted.”
“A.11.8.3 Are Mor e Smoke Alarms Desirable? The r equir ed number
of Smoke Alarms might not provide r eliable early warning protection
for those areas separated by a door from the ar eas protected by the
requir ed Smoke Alarms. For this reason, it is recommended that the
householder consider the use of additional Smoke Alarms for those
areas for increased pr otection. The additional areas include the base-
ment, bedrooms, dining room, furnace room, utility r oom, and hallways
not protected by the requir ed Smoke Alarms. The installation of Smoke
Alarms in kitchens, attics (finished or unfinished), or garages is not
normally recommended, as these locations occasionally experience
conditions that can result in impr oper operation.”
California State Fire Marshal (CSFM)
Early warning detection is best achieved by the installation of fire
detection equipment in all rooms and areas of the household as follows:
A Smoke Alarm installed in each separate sleeping area (in the vicinity ,
but outside bedrooms), and Heat or Smoke Alarms in the living r ooms,
dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, finished attics, furnace
rooms, closets, utility and storage r ooms, basements, and attached
garages.
LOCA TIONS TO AVOID FOR SMOKE ALARMS
For best perfor mance, it is recommended you A VOID installing
Smoke Alarms in these areas:
•Wher e combustion particles are produced. Combustion particles
form when something burns. Areas to avoid include poorly ventilated
kitchens, garages, and furnace rooms. Keep units at least 20 feet
(6 meters) from the sources of combustion particles (stove, furnace,
water heater , space heater) if possible. In areas where a 20-foot
(6 meter) distance is not possible – in modular , mobile, or smaller
homes, for example – it is recommended the Smoke Alarm be
placed as far from these fuel-burning sources as possible. The
placement recommendations are intended to keep these Alarms at
a reasonable distance from a fuel-burning source, and thus r educe
“unwanted” alarms. Unwanted alarms can occur if a Smoke Alarm is
placed directly next to a fuel-burning sour ce. Ventilate these areas
as much as possible.
• In air streams near kitchens. Air curr ents can draw cooking smoke
into the sensing chamber of a Smoke Alarm near the kitchen.
• In very damp, humid or steamy areas, or directly near bathr ooms with
showers. Keep units at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from showers,
saunas, dishwashers, etc.
• Where the temperatur es are r egularly below 40˚ F (4˚ C) or above
100˚ F (38˚C), including unheated buildings, outdoor rooms, porches,
or unfinished attics or basements.
• In very dusty , dirty , or greasy areas. Do not install a Smoke Alarm
directly over the stove or range. Keep laundry room Smoke Alarms
free of dust or lint.
• Near fresh air vents, ceiling fans, or in very drafty ar eas. Drafts can
blow smoke away from the unit, pr eventing it from reaching the
sensing chamber .
• In insect infested areas. Insects can clog openings to the sensing
chamber and cause unwanted alarms.
• Less than 12 inches (305mm) away from fluor escent lights. Electrical
“noise” can interfere with the sensor.
• In “dead air” spaces. “Dead air” spaces may prevent smoke fr om
reaching the Smoke Alarm.
Avoiding Dead Air Spaces
“Dead air” spaces may prevent smoke from r eaching the Smoke Alarm.
T o avoid dead air spaces, follow the installation recommendations below .
On ceilings, install Smoke Alarms as close to the center of the ceiling as
possible. If this is not possible, install the Smoke Alarm at least 4 inches
(102 mm) from the wall or corner .
For wall mounting (if allowed by building codes), the top edge of Smoke
Alarms should be placed between 4 and 12 inches (102 and 305 mm)
from the wall/ceiling line, below typical “dead air” spaces.
On a peaked, gabled, or cathedral ceiling, install the first Smoke Alarm
within 3 feet (0.9 meters) of the peak of the ceiling, measured horizontally .
Additional Smoke Alarms may be required depending on the length,
angle, etc. of the ceiling's slope. Refer to NFP A 72 for details on require-
ments for sloped or peaked ceilings.