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: Test 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.
This equipment should be installed in accordance with NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 72 and 101. National Fire Protection Association, One Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269-9101. Additional local build- ing and regulatory codes may apply in your area. Always check com- pliance requirements before beginning any installation.
AGENCY PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
NFPA 72 (National Fire Code)
Smoke Alarms shall be installed in each separate sleeping room, outside each 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, Alarms shall be so arranged that operation of any one Alarm shall cause the operation of all Alarms within the dwelling.
Smoke Detection-Are More Smoke Alarms Desirable? The required number of Smoke Alarms might not provide reliable early warning pro- tection 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 the base- ment, 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 nor- mally recommended, as these locations occasionally experience condi- tions that can result in improper operation.
California State Fire Marshal (CSFM)
Early warning detection is best achieved by the installation of fire detec- tion 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 rooms, din- ing rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, finished attics, furnace rooms, closets, utility and storage rooms, basements, and attached garages.
LOCATIONS TO AVOID FOR SMOKE ALARMS
For best performance, it is recommended you AVOID installing Smoke Alarms in these areas:
•Where 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 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.
•In air streams near kitchens. Air currents 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 bathrooms with showers. Keep units at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from showers, saunas, dishwashers, etc.
•Where the temperatures are regularly 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 areas. Drafts can blow smoke away from the unit, preventing 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 fluorescent lights. Electrical “noise” can interfere with the sensor.
•In “dead air” spaces. “Dead air” spaces may prevent smoke from reaching the Smoke Alarm.
Avoiding Dead Air Spaces
“Dead air” spaces may prevent smoke from reaching the Smoke Alarm. To 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 hor- izontally. Additional Smoke 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.
ABOUT SMOKE ALARMS
Battery (DC) operated Smoke Alarms: Provide protection even when electricity fails, provided the batteries are fresh and correctly installed. Units are easy to install, and do not require professional installation.
AC powered Smoke Alarms: Can be interconnected so if one unit senses smoke, all units alarm. They do not operate if electricity fails. AC with battery (DC) back-up:will operate if electricity fails, provided the batteries are fresh and correctly installed. AC and AC/DC units must be installed by a qualified electrician.
Smoke Alarms for Solar or Wind Energy users and battery backup power systems: AC powered Smoke Alarms should only be operated with true or pure sine wave inverters. Operating this Smoke Alarm with most battery-powered UPS (uninterruptible power supply) products or square wave or “quasi sine wave” inverters will damage the Alarm.
If you are not sure about your inverter or UPS type, please consult with the manufacturer to verify.
Smoke Alarms for the hearing impaired: Special purpose Smoke Alarms should be installed for the hearing impaired. They include a visu- al alarm and an audible alarm horn, and meet the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Can be interconnected so if one unit senses smoke, all units alarm.
All these Smoke Alarms are designed to provide early warning of fires if located, installed and cared for as described in the user’s manual, and if smoke reaches them. If you are unsure which type of Smoke Alarm to install, refer to Chapter 2 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 72 (National Fire Alarm Code) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code). National Fire Protection Association, One Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269-9101. Local building codes may also require specific units in new construction or in different areas of the home.
