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Single Storey Dwelling
If the Home is on one level (a bungalow or mobile home for
example) you should put the first Smoke Alarm in a corridor or
hallway between the sleeping and living areas. Place it as near to
the living area as possible, but make sure you can hear it loudly
enough to wake a person in the bedrooms. (for example, see
figure 3).
Single Storey Dwelling with Recommended Protection
Bedroom
Kitchen
Figure 3
Dining
Bedroom
Bedroom
If the bungalow is very large and the corridor or hallway is more
than say 15 metres (50 ft) long, one Smoke Alarm will not be
sufficient. This is because no matter where it is located it will be
more than 7.5 metres from potential fires.
In houses with more than one sleeping area, Smoke Alarms
should be placed between each sleeping area and the living area.
Multi Storey Dwellings
If the home is on more than one level the best place for the first
Smoke Alarm is in the downstairs hallway near the stairs. This is
because smoke is likely to be detectable in the hallway before it
reaches the upstairs landing and bedrooms. The second Smoke
Alarm should be upstairs, because the downstairs Smoke Alarm
is unlikely to detect the smoke from a fire in a bedroom upstairs
(see figure 2). Both Smoke Alarms should be interconnetcted.
Maximum Protection
For maximum protection you should put individual Smoke Alarms
in all the rooms where fire is most likely to break out (apart from
the locations to avoid, mentioned below). Ensure that they are all
interconnected. The living room is the most likely place for a fire
to start at night, followed by the kitchen and then the dining room.
You should also consider putting Smoke Alarms in any bedrooms
where fires might occur, for instance, where there is an electrical
appliance such as an electric blanket or heater, or where the
occupant is a smoker. You could also consider putting Smoke
Alarms in any rooms where the occupant is unable to respond
very well to a fire starting in the room, such as an elderly or sick
person or a very young child.
Checking you can hear the Smoke & Heat Alarms
With the Alarm sounding in its intended location, check you are
able to hear it in each bedroom with the door closed, above the
sound of the radio. The radio should be set to a reasonably loud
conversation level. If you can't hear it over your radio the chances
are that it wouldn't wake a person.
5
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