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Figure 4: RECOMMENDED SMOKE ALARM MOUNTING
LOCATIONS
alarm requirements for fire protection in buildings not
defined as "households."
Installing smoke alarms may make you eligible for
lower insurance rates, but smoke alarms are not a
substitute for insurance. Home owners and renters
should continue to insure their lives and property.
PLACEMENT OF SMOKE ALARMS
THIS EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL FIRE
PROTECTION ASSOCIATION'S STANDARD 72 (National
Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy,
MA 02269).
For your information, the National Fire Protection
Association's Standard 72, reads as follows:
"Smoke detectors shall be installed outside of each
separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the
bedrooms and on each additional story of the family living
unit including basements and excluding crawl spaces and
unfinished attics. In new construction, a smoke detector
shall be installed in each sleeping room."
Where to Locate the Required Smoke Detectors in
Existing Construction: The major threat from fire in a
family living unit is at night when everyone is asleep. The
principal threat to persons in sleeping areas comes from
fires in the remainder of the unit; therefore, a smoke
alarm(s) is best located between the bedroom areas and
the rest of the unit. In units with only one bedroom area
on one floor, the smoke alarms should be located as
shown in Figure 1.
Are More Smoke Detectors Desirable? The required
number of smoke alarms may not provide reliable early
warning protection for those areas separated by a door
from the areas protected by the required smoke alarms.
For this reason, it is recommended that the householder
consider the use of additional smoke alarms for those
areas for increased protection. The additional areas
include: basement, bedrooms, dining room, furnace room,
utility room and hallways not protected by the required
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
improper operation.
Figures 2: IN FAMILY LIVING UNITS WITH MORE THAN
ONE SLEEPING AREA, A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE
PROVIDED TO PROTECT EACH SLEEPING AREA IN
ADDITION TO ALARMS REQUIRED IN BEDROOMS.
Figure 3: A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE LOCATED ON
EACH STORY.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION
We recommend replacing your alarm(s) every ten
(10) years; why:
· Dust, dirt, and other environmental contaminants can
affect your alarm over a prolonged period.
· Fast changing industry consensus standards and codes
on all alarms make it advisable to periodically upgrade
your alarm to maximize life safety.
· Assurance that your smoke alarm needs are kept
abreast with the constantly improving electronic
technology.
· Smoke alarms are recognized as one of the lowest cost
ways to protect dwelling inhabitants against the danger
of fire(s). It makes good common sense to periodically
replace and update your smoke alarm that contributes
so much to life safety.
MOUNTING LOCATION
· Wall location-locate the top of the alarm at least 4
inches and not more than 12 inches from the ceiling.
Observe alarm for proper top/bottom orientation (test
knob is near bottom of unit).
Pg. 7-3
In family living units with more than one bedroom area or
with bedrooms on more than one floor, more than one
smoke alarm will be needed, as shown in Figure 2.
In addition to smoke alarms outside of the sleeping areas,
NFPA 72 requires the installation of a smoke alarm on
each additional story of the family living unit, including the
basement. These installations are shown in Figure 3.
The living area smoke alarms should be installed in the
living room or near the stairway to the upper level, or in
both locations. The basement smoke alarm should be
installed in close proximity to the stairway leading to the
floor above. When installed on an open joisted ceiling, the
alarm should be placed on the bottom of the joists. The
alarm should be positioned relative to the stairway so as
to intercept smoke coming from a fire in the basement
before the smoke enters the stairway.
Where to Locate the Required Smoke Alarms in New
Construction. All of the smoke alarms specified for
existing construction are required, and, in addition, a
smoke alarm is required in each bedroom.
Figure 1: A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE LOCATED
BETWEEN THE SLEEPING AREA AND THE REST OF
THE FAMILY LIVING UNIT.