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.
Figure 1: A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE LOCATED BETWEEN THE SLEEPING AREA AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY LIVING UNIT.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Figure 4: RECOMMENDED SMOKE ALARM MOUNTING
LOCATIONS | Pg. |
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