1.Recommended Locations for Smoke Alarms
•Put smoke alarms at both ends of a hallway or large room if the hall- way or room is more than 30 ft (9.1 m) long. For large rooms, one smoke alarm is recommended for every 500 square feet of floor space.
•In homes that are not well insulated, extreme heat or cold can be transferred from the outside to the inside through poorly insulated walls and roof. This may create a thermal barrier which can prevent the smoke from reaching an alarm mounted on the ceiling. If you are not sure about the insulation in your home, or if you notice that the outer walls and ceiling are either hot or cold, install the alarm on an inside wall. In such homes, install the smoke alarm with the top edge of the alarm at a minimum of 4” (10 cm) and a maximum of 12” (30.5 cm) below the ceiling (see figure 1).
•Install Smoke Alarms on sloped, peaked or cathedral ceilings at or within 3ft (0.9m) of the highest point (measured horizontally). NFPA 72 states: “Smoke alarms in rooms with ceiling slopes greater than 1 ft in 8 ft (.3m in 2.4 m) horizontally shall be located on the high side of the room.” NFPA 72 states: “A row of detectors shall be spaced and located within 3 ft (0.9m) of the peak of the ceiling measured horizontally” (see figure 2).
•Install Smoke Alarms on
Mobile Home Installation
Modern mobile homes have been designed and built to be energy effi- cient. Install smoke alarms as recommended above (refer to RECOM- MENDED LOCATIONS and Figures 1 and 2). In older mobile homes that are not well insulated compared to present standards, extreme heat or cold can be transferred from the outside to the inside through poorly insulated walls and roof. This may create a thermal barrier which can prevent the smoke from reaching an alarm mounted on the ceiling. In such units, install the smoke alarm on an inside wall with the top edge of the alarm at a minimum of 4” (10cm) and a maximum of 12” (30.5cm) below the ceiling (see figure 1).
If you are not sure about the insulation in your mobile home, or if you notice that the outer walls and ceiling are either hot or cold, install the alarm on an inside wall. For minimum protection, install at least one alarm close to the sleeping rooms. For additional protection, see SINGLE FLOOR PLAN in figure 2.
2.Locations To Avoid
•In the garage. Products of combustion are present when you start your automobile.
•Less than 4” (10cm) from the peak of an “A” frame type ceiling.
•In an area where the temperature may fall below 40ºF or rise above 100ºF, such as garages and unfinished attics; this should also include electrical boxes exposed to these environments.
•In dusty areas. Dust particles may cause nuisance alarm or failure to alarm.
•In very humid areas. Moisture or steam can cause nuisance alarms.
•In
•Smoke alarms should not be installed within 3 ft (.9m) of the following: the door to a kitchen, the door to a bathroom containing a tub or shower, forced air supply ducts used for heating or cooling, ceiling or whole house ventilating fans, or other high air flow areas.
•Kitchens. Normal cooking may cause nuisance alarms. If a kitchen alarm is desired, it should have an alarm silence feature or be a photo- electric type.
•Near fluorescent lights. Electronic “noise” may cause nuisance alarms.
•Smoke alarms are not to be used with detector guards unless the combination (alarm and guard) has been evaluated and found suitable for that purpose.
WARNING: TEST YOUR SMOKE ALARM OPERATION AFTER RV OR MOBILE HOME VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN STORAGE, BEFORE EACH TRIP AND AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK DURING USE.
