29.5.1.1Where required by applicable laws, codes or standards for a specific type of occupancy, approved single and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed as follows:
1) In all sleeping rooms and guest rooms
2) Outside of each separate dwelling unit sleeping area, within 6.4m (21ft) of any door to a sleeping room, the distance measured along a path of travel
3) On every level of a dwelling unit, including basements
4) On every level of a residential board and care occupancy (small facility), including basements and excluding crawl spaces and unfinished attics
5) In the living area(s) of a guest suite
6) In the living area(s) of a residential board and care occupancy (small facility)
29.5.1.2Where the area addressed in 29.5.1.1(2) is separated from the adjacent living areas by a door, a smoke alarm shall be installed in the area between the door and the sleeping room, and additional alarms shall be installed on the living area side of the door as specified by 29.5.1.1 and 29.5.1.3.
29.5.1.3In addition to the requirements of 29.5.1.1(1) through 29.5.1.1(3), where the interior floor area for a given level of a dwelling unit, excluding garage areas, is greater than 93m2 (1000ft2), smoke alarms shall be installed per 29.5.1.3.1 and 29.5.1.3.2.
29.5.1.3.1 All points on the ceiling shall have a smoke alarm within a distance of 9.1m (30ft) travel distance or shall have an equivalent of one smoke alarm per 46.5m2 (500ft2) is evaluated by dividing the total interior square footage of floor area per level by 46.5m2 (500ft2). 29.5.1.3.2 Where dwelling units include great rooms or vaulted/ cathedral ceilings extending over multiple floors, smoke alarms located on the upper floor that are intended to protect the aforementioned area shall be permitted to be considered as part of the lower floor(s) protection scheme used to meet the requirements of 29.5.1.3.1.
The installation of additional alarms of smoke, heat or CO type should result in a higher degree of protection. Adding alarms to rooms that are normally closed off from the required alarms increases the escape time because the fire does not need to build to the higher level necessary to force smoke out of the closed room to the required alarms. As a consequence, it is recommended that the householder consider the installation of additional fire protection devices. However, it should be understood that NFPA 72 does not require additional smoke alarms over and above those called for in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 where required smoke alarms are shown.
Figure 1
Figure 1: A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE LOCATED ON EVERY LEVEL OF DWELLING UNIT, INCLUDING BASEMENT, WITHIN EACH SLEEPING ROOM AND OUTSIDE SLEEPING AREAS.
Where to Locate the Required Smoke Alarms. The major threat from fire in a dwelling unit occurs at night when everyone is asleep. Persons in sleeping areas can be threatened by fires in the remainder of the unit; therefore, smoke alarms are best located in each bedroom and between the bedroom areas and the rest of the unit as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2
Figure 2: A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE LOCATED BETWEEN THE SLEEPING AREA AND THE REST OF THE DWELLING UNIT AS WELL AS IN EACH BEDROOM.
In dwelling units with more than one bedroom area or with bedrooms on more than one floor, more than one smoke alarm is required, as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3
Figure 3: IN DWELLING UNITS WITH MORE THAN ONE SLEEPING AREA, A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO PROTECT EACH SLEEPING AREA IN ADDITION TO SMOKE ALARMS REQUIRED IN BEDROOMS.
In addition to smoke alarms outside of the sleeping areas and in each bedroom, NFPA 72 requires the installation of a smoke alarm on each additional level of the dwelling unit, including the basement. These installations are shown in Figure 4. The living area smoke alarm should be installed in the living room or near the stairway to the upper lever, or in both locations. The basement smoke alarm should be installed in close proximity to the stairway leading to the floor above. Where installed on an open-joisted ceiling, the smoke alarm should be placed on the bottom of the joists. The smoke 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.
Figure 4
Figure 4: A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE LOCATED ON EACH LEVEL IN ADDITION TO EACH BEDROOM.
Are More Smoke Alarms Desirable? The required number of smoke alarms might 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, the use of additional smoke alarms for those areas for increased protection is recommended. The additional areas include the basement, bedrooms, dining room, fur- nace room, utility room, and hallways not protected by the required smoke alarms. The installation of smoke alarms in kitchens, attics (fin- ished or unfinished), or garages is not normally recommended, because these locations occasionally experience conditions that can result in improper operation.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION
NFPA 72, 2010 Edition, Chapter 29, Section 29.8.1.4(5)(b) states: “Smoke alarms installed in one- and two-family dwellings shall not remain in service longer than 10 years from the date of manufacture.” Smoke alarms should be replaced for the following reasons:
Dust, dirt, and other environmental contaminants can affect your smoke alarm over a prolonged period.
Fast changing industry consensus standards and codes on all smoke alarms make it advisable to periodically upgrade your devices 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
This smoke alarm can be mounted on a ceiling or wall with equal efficiency in either location.
Ceiling location - smoke alarm should be mounted as close as possible to the center of a hallway or room.
Wall location - locate the top of the smoke alarm not more than 12 inches from the ceiling.
Figures 1, 2, 3, & 4 are reprinted with permission from NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code®, Copyright ©2002, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02169. This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of the National Fire Protection Association on the referenced subject which is represented only by the standard in its entirety. National Fire Alarm Code® and NFPA 72® are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection
Association, Inc., Quincy, MA 02169.550-0093 Page 9-3
