Smoke detector placement

Find the Right One for You! How do you install a smoke detector? What is the correct placement of a smoke detector? Which smoke detector is best? Where is the best place to install a smoke detector?

In a typical home fire, occupants have just minutes to escape. And because smoke in one area may not reach a smoke alarm in another, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends placement of at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home (including basements), in every bedroom, and outside each sleeping area. Test the smoke detector monthly. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, test your smoke detector monthly to make sure it’s working properly.

Most smoke detectors have a one-press test button that shines a light or sounds a test alarm to let you know the detector is working properly. Installing smoke detectors makes you feel safe from a possible fire. Staying aware of their correct placement and maintenance will ensure that no smoke goes undetected in your home. Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.

Follow manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning to keep smoke alarms working well. NFPA Journal - In Compliance NFPA 7 May June. Minimum coverage for smoke alarms , as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is one smoke alarm on every level, and in every bedroom. For CO alarms , the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that CO alarms be installed on every level and in the central location outside each bedroom.

Where to install a smoke alarm detector and its positioning are as important as having this life saving device installed at all. Never position carbon monoxide detectors on the ceiling like you would smoke detectors. Carbon monoxide blends with your home’s air and does not rise.

Follow your manufacturer’s manual to properly install your detector at the right height. Remember to keep kids and pets in mind during installation. It’s important that smoke alarms be installed in the proper locations in your home.

Safety: Don’t place smoke detectors over stoves, ovens, clothes dryers or in areas where there is the potential for significant heat or steam generation. Also check with local codes for the number of alarms required for your home and their placement. Why you probably need more smoke detectors. Combination alarms offer protection from two deadly threats in one unit. Smoke detectors installed properly.

An additional alarm must be present in the area directly adjacent to the sleeping areas. The placement recommendations are intended to keep these Alarms at a reasonable distance from a fuel-burning source, and thus reduce “unwanted” alarms. Ventilate these areas as much as possible. In air streams near kitchens.

You must have a certificate of compliance that shows your smoke and CO alarms meet certain standards when you sell or transfer a home.