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110-1013B.QXD
6/8/01
ALL TYPES OF SMOKE ALARMS HAVE LIMITATIONS. ANY OF
THE PARTS OF THE SMOKE ALARM COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME.
YOU MUST TEST YOUR SMOKE ALARM WEEKLY TO ENSURE
PROPER OPERATION. NO TYPE OF SMOKE ALARM CAN SENSE
EVERY KIND OF FIRE OR SMOKE EVERY TIME.
Ionisation smoke alarms respond quickly to small invisible smoke particles, but
may be less sensitive to the larger particles that can be generated by slow,
smouldering fires. Optical smoke alarms are more sensitive to certain types of
fires, such as slow, smouldering fires that produce large visible smoke particles.
The relevant British Standard, BS 5839 : Part 6, advises that either type
of smoke alarm is generally suitable, but that, in general, optical smoke
alarms should be installed in circulation spaces, such as hallways and
landings. Optical smoke alarms also should be installed in areas in which
a likely cause of fire is ignition of furniture or bedding by a cigarette.
Ionisation smoke alarms may be the more appropriate type for insatlla-
tion in rooms, such as the living or dining room, where a fast-burning fire
may present a greater danger to occupants than a smouldering fire.
However, a secondary issue is avoidance of false alarms. The most common
cause of these is smoke and fumes from the kitchen. Since optical smoke
alarms are less responsive to cooking fumes, the smoke alarm nearest to the
kitchen normally should be an optical smoke alarm. Optical smoke alarms are
more prone to false alarms from steam or very dense tobacco smoke. In rooms
where people smoke a lot, ionisation smoke alarms may be more appropriate.
A SMOKE ALARM MAY NOT ALWAYS WARN YOU ABOUT FIRES
CAUSED BY CARELESSNESS OR SAFETY HAZARDS LIKE SMOKING
IN BED, VIOLENT EXPLOSIONS, ESCAPING GAS, IMPROPER STOR-
AGE OF FLAMMABLE MATERIALS, OVER-LOADED ELECTRICAL CIR-
CUITS, NATURAL CAUSES SUCH AS LIGHTNING, CHILDREN PLAYING
WITH MATCHES, AND ARSON. Fire prevention is your best safeguard.
SMOKE ALARMS ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR INSURANCE. Homeowners
and tenants alike should continue to insure their life and property.
3. WHERE YOU SHOULD SITE SMOKE ALARMS:
For the highest standard of protection, you should install a smoke or heat
alarm in every room of your home. Site smoke alarms in accordance with BS
5839 : Part 6. For the minimum level of protection, there should be at least
one smoke alarm on each level of the dwelling (e.g., one in the hallway of a
bungalow, one on the ground floor and the upstairs landing of a two-storey
house, etc.). If there are long hallways, even the minimum standard may
necessitate additional interconnected smoke alarms. Where a higher standard
of protection is required, or where the fire risk justifies it, additional smoke or
heat alarms should be installed in some or all rooms of the property. This may
be necessary if the dwelling does not comply with modern fire safety stan-
dards, or if there are other factors to be considered, such as the presence of
young children, elderly or disabled people, smokers, the use of portable
heaters or solid fuel fires during the night, or the use of electric blankets, par-
ticularly by elderly people.
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.
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL HELP YOU SITE YOUR
SMOKE ALARMS SAFELY:
Typical Single Storey Dwelling (Bungalow or Flat)
• Install a smoke alarm in the hallway between the bedrooms and the living room
or kitchen, close to the living room, but no more than 3m from bedroom doors.
No door to a room should be further than 7.5m from the nearest smoke alarm.
This may require additional smoke alarms. Where there are rooms (other than
bedrooms or toilets) on either side of a bedroom, a smoke alarm should be sited
midway between the doors to these rooms. For the highest level of protection,
install smoke or heat alarms in all other rooms, except bathrooms or toilets.
BEDROOM BEDROOM
BEDROOM BEDROOM
SECOND
SMOKE
ALARM
DINING
ROOM
FIGURE 1: Siting of Smoke Alarms (For Minimum Protection): Single Storey Dwellings
11:51 AM
Page 2
BATHROOM
KITCHEN
NOT MORE
THAN 7.5m
CONSER-
VATORY
LOUNGE
BEDROOM
DINING
ROOM
NOT LESS
THAN 3OOmm
BATHROOM
KITCHEN
MORE THAN 7.5m
CONSER-
VATORY
LOUNGE
BEDROOM
DINING
ROOM
BEDROOM
BATHROOM
KITCHEN
EQUAL
EQUAL
CONSER-
VATORY
LOUNGE
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
2
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