• Install a smoke alarm in every room and on every level of the home. Smoke
may not reach the smoke alarm for many reasons. For example, if a fire starts in
a remote part of the home, on another level, in a chimney, wall, roof, or on the
other side of a closed door, smoke may not reach the smoke alarm in time to
alert household members. A smoke alarm will not promptly detect a fire EXCEPT
in the area or room in which it is installed.
• Interconnected smoke alarms installed in every room and on every level of
the household offers maximum protection. We recommend interconnecting
smoke alarms so that when one smoke alarm senses smoke and sounds its alarm,
all others will sound as well. Do not interconnect smoke alarms from one individual
family living unit to another. Do not connect this smoke alarm to any other type of
alarm or auxiliary device.
• Smoke alarms may not alert every household member every time. The
alarm horn is loud in order to alert individuals of a potential danger. However,
there may be limiting circumstances where a household member may not hear
the alarm (i.e. outdoor or indoor noise, sound sleepers, drug or alcohol usage,
the hearing impaired, etc.). If you suspect that this smoke alarm may not alert a
household member, install and maintain specialty smoke alarms. Household
members must hear the alarm’s warning sound and quickly respond to it to
reduce the risk of damage, injury, or death that may result from fire. If a house-
hold member is hearing impaired, install special smoke alarms with lights or
vibrating devices to alert occupants.
• Smoke alarms can only sound their alarms when they detect smoke.
Smoke alarms detect combustion particles in the air. They do not sense heat,
flame, or gas. This smoke alarm is designed to give audible warning of a devel-
oping fire. However, many fires are fast-burning, explosive, or intentional.
Others are caused by carelessness or safety hazards. Smoke may not reach
the smoke alarm QUICKLY ENOUGH to ensure safe escape.
• Smoke alarms have limitations. This smoke alarm is not fool-proof and is not
warranted to protect lives or property from fire. Smoke alarms are not a substitute
for insurance. Homeowners and renters should insure their lives and property. In
addition, it is possible for the smoke alarm to fail at any time. For this reason,
you must test the smoke alarm weekly and replace every 10 years.
SMOKE ALARM PLACEMENT
It is recommended to achieve complete coverage protection by installing a
smoke alarm in every room of your home.
At a minimum, smoke alarms shall be installed outside of each separate sleeping
area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and on each additional storey of the
family living unit including basements and excluding crawl spaces and unfinished
attics. Any home requires a minimum of two smoke alarms.
FOR BEST PROTECTION, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU
INSTALL A SMOKE ALARM IN EVERY ROOM
In addition, it is recommended that all smoke alarms be interconnected.
Typical Efficiency
Home (Apartment)
•
Install a smoke alarm on the ceiling or wall
closest to the sleeping area. Install a
KITCHEN
SLEEPING
LIVING
AREA
smoke alarm with False Alarm Control in
AREA
the kitchen/living area.
Typical Single Storey Home
DINING ROOM KITCHEN
BEDROOMBEDROOM
•
Install a smoke alarm on the ceiling or wall
inside each bedroom and in the hallway
outside each separate sleeping area. If a
bedroom area hallway is more than 9 m
LIVING ROOM
BEDROOM
long, install a smoke alarm at each end.
DINING
FAMILY ROOM KITCHEN
BEDROOM
ROOM
FIREPLACE
BEDROOM
Typical Two-Storey Home
•
Install a smoke alarm on the ceiling or wall
inside each bedroom and in the hallway
BEDROOM
outside each separate sleeping area.
If a bedroom area hallway is more than 9
m long, install a smoke alarm at each end.
BEDROOM
•
Install a smoke alarm at the top
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
of a first-to-second floor stairwell.
LIVING
GARAGE
KITCHEN
ROOM
Key
• Smoke Alarm
Δ Smoke Alarm with False Alarm Control
2