Industry Safety Standards
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)
For your information, the National Fire Protection Association’s Standard 72, reads as follows:
Smoke Detection. Where required by applicable laws, codes, or standards for the specified occupancy, approved single- and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed as fol- lows: (1) In all sleeping rooms Exception: Smoke alarms shall not be required in sleeping rooms in existing one- and two- family dwelling units. (2) Outside of each separate sleeping area, in immediate vicinity of the sleeping rooms. (3) On each level of the dwelling unit, including basements Exception: In existing one- and two-family dwelling units, approved smoke alarms powered by batteries are permitted.
Smoke Detection–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, it is recommended that the house- holder consider the use of additional smoke alarms for those areas for increased protection. The additional areas include the 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.
California State Fire Marshall
Early warning fire detection is best achieved by the installa- tion of fire detection 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 the bed- rooms), heat or smoke detectors in the living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, attics, furnace rooms, closets, utility and storage rooms, basements and attached garages.
