Filter
Top Products
INSTALLATION
WHERE TO INSTALL THIS ALARM
Minimum coverage for Smoke Alarms, as recommended by the
National Fir
e Protection Association (NFPA), is one Smoke Alarm on
every floor
, in every sleeping area, and in every bedroom (See
“Regulatory Information For Smoke Alarms” for details on the NFPA
r
ecommendations).
For CO Alarms, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
r
ecommends that a CO Alarm should be centrally located outside of
each separate sleeping ar
ea in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
For added protection, install additional CO Alarms in each separate
bedr
oom, and on every level of your home.
NOTE: For added protection, install an additional Smoke/CO Alarm at least
15 feet (4.6 meters) away from the furnace or fuel burning heat source
wher
e possible. In smaller homes or in manufactured homes where this
distance cannot be maintained, install the Alarm as far away as possible
from the furnace or other fuel burning source. Installing the Alarm closer
than 15 feet (4.6 meters) will not harm the Alarm, but may incr
ease the
frequency of unwanted alarms.
In general, install combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alar
ms:
•
In the hall near every sleeping area. If your home has multiple
sleeping ar
eas, install a unit in each. If a hall is more than 40 feet
(12 meters) long, install a unit at each end.
• On every level of your home, including finished attics and basements.
•
Inside every bedroom, especially if people sleep with the door partly
or completely closed.
• At the top of first-to-second floor stairs.
•
At the bottom of the basement stairs.
•
For additional coverage, install Alarms in all rooms, halls, and storage
areas, where temperatures normally remain between 40˚ F and 100˚F
(4˚ C and 38˚ C).
Recommended Placement
• When installing on the wall, the top edge of Smoke Alarms should
be placed between 4 inches (102 mm) and 12 inches (305 mm) from
the wall/ceiling line.
• When installing on the ceiling, place the Alarm as close to the center
as possible.
• In either case, install at least 4 inches (102 mm) from where the
wall and ceiling meet. See “Avoiding Dead Air Spaces” for more
information.
NOTE: For any location, make sure no door or other obstruction could
keep carbon monoxide or smoke fr
om r
eaching the Alarm.
Installing Smoke/CO Alarms in Mobile Homes
For minimum security install one Smoke/CO 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 ar
e
unsur
e of the amount of insulation, it is important to install units on
inside walls only.
S
UGGESTED AREAS FOR INSTALLING
SMOKE ALARMS, CO ALARMS, AND COMBO UNITS
SMOKE ALARM WITH
SILENCE FEATURE
CO ALARMS
BOTH, OR COMBINATION
SMOKE/CO ALARMS
SMOKE ALARMS
K
EY:
Suggested locations are based on
NFPA recommendations (NFPA 72
for Smoke Alarms and NFPA 720 for
Carbon Monoxide Alarms). Always
refer to national and local codes
before beginning any installation.
In new construction AC and AC/DC smoke alarms MUST
be interconnected to meet NFPA recommendations.
3
WHERE THIS ALARM SHOULD NOT BE INST
ALLED
Do NOT locate this Smoke/CO Alar
m:
•
In garages, furnace rooms, crawl spaces and unfinished attics. Avoid
extr
emely dusty, dirty or greasy areas.
•
Where combustion particles are produced. Combustion particles
form when something bur
ns. Areas to avoid include poorly ventilated
kitchens, garages, and furnace rooms. Keep units at least 20 feet
(6 meters) fr
om 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 r
ecommended the Smoke Alarm be
placed as far fr
om these fuel-burning sources as possible. The
placement recommendations are intended to keep these Alarms at
a r
easonable distance from a fuel-burning source, and thus reduce
“unwanted” alarms. Unwanted alarms can occur if a Smoke Alarm is
placed directly next to a fuel-burning source. Ventilate these areas
as much as possible.
•
Within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of any cooking appliance. In air streams
near kitchens. Air curr
ents can draw cooking smoke into the smoke
sensor and cause unwanted alarms.
• In extremely humid areas. This Alarm should be at least 10 feet
(3 meters) from a shower, sauna, humidifier, vaporizer, dishwasher,
laundry r
oom, utility room, or other source of high humidity.
•
In direct sunlight.
• In turbulent air, like near ceiling fans or open windows. Blowing air
may pr
event CO or smoke from reaching the sensors.
•
In areas where temperature is colder than 40˚ F (4˚ C) or hotter than
100˚ F (38˚ C). These areas include non-airconditioned crawl spaces,
unfinished attics, uninsulated or poorly insulated ceilings, porches,
and garages.
• In insect infested areas. Insects can clog the openings to the sensing
chamber
.
•
Less than 12 inches (305 mm) away from fluorescent lights.
Electrical “noise” can interfere with the sensor.
• In “dead air” spaces. See “Avoiding Dead Air Spaces”.
AVOIDING DEAD AIR SPACES
“Dead air” spaces may prevent smoke from reaching the Smoke/CO
Alarm. To avoid dead air spaces, follow installation recommendations
below.
On ceilings, install Smoke/CO Alarms as close to the center of the
ceiling as possible. If this is not possible, install the Smoke/CO 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/CO Alarms should be placed between 4 inches (102 mm) and
12 inches (305 mm) from the wall/ceiling line, below typical “dead air”
spaces.
On a peaked, gabled, or cathedral ceiling, install first Smoke/CO
Alarm within 3 feet (0.9 meters) of the peak of the ceiling, measured
horizontally. Additional Smoke/CO Alarms may be required depending
on the length, angle, etc. of the ceiling's slope. Refer to NFPA 72 for
details on requirements for sloped or peaked ceilings.