7. Recommended Locations For Smoke Alarms
• Locate smoke alarms in all sleeping areas. Try to monitor the exit path as the bedrooms are usually farthest
from the exit. If more than one sleeping area exists, locate additional alarms in each sleeping area.
• Locate additional alarms in stairways, because stairways act like chimneys for smoke and heat.
• Locate at least one alarm on every floor level.
• Locate an alarm in every bedroom.
• Locate an alarm in every room where electrical appliances are operated (i.e. portable heaters or humidifiers).
• Locate an alarm in every room where someone sleeps with the door closed. The closed door may prevent
an alarm not located in that room from waking the sleeper.
• Smoke, heat, and combustion products rise to the ceiling and spread horizontally. Mounting the smoke
alarm on the ceiling in the center of the room places it closest to all points in the room. Ceiling mounting is
preferred in ordinary residential construction.
ACCEPTABLE
ACCEPTABLE
TOP OF DETECTOR
TOP OF ALARM
ACCEPTABLE HERE
ACCEPTABLE HERE
Note: measurements shown
Note: measurements shown
are to the closest edge
are to the closest edge
of the detector.
of the alarm.
10
ANYWHERE ALONG
ANYWHERE ALONG
THIS BOLD SURFACE
THIS BOLD SURFACE
Locations permitted for smoke
alarms and smoke detectors
Figure 7-A
Locations permitted for smoke
alarms and smoke detectors
on tray-shaped ceilings.
on tray-shaped ceilings.