Required Locations of Smoke Alarms
Although the required number and location of smoke alarms have changed over the years most people will agree that every home should have a smoke alarm. Older homes do not have to be upgraded to the new codes unless there are major renovations as outlined in the code. Paraphrased:
- “smoke alarms shall be installed in each sleeping room”
- ” Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms”
- ” On each additional story of the building including basements but not including crawl spaces and attics.
- Shall be interconnected so they all sound off at the same time
- Shall receive their primary power from the building wiring and have a battery backup.
- They don’t want them installed less than three feet from a bathroom door or opening that has a shower or tub (unless it can’t be helped).
- Combination type smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are allowed.
Kitchen Locations
It’s not necessary to locate a smoke alarm in a kitchen as the fumes from cooking will make them sound off. So there are some rules about this.
- Keep ionization type smoke detectors 20 feet away from a permanently installed cooking appliance.
- keep ionization type smoke detectors with a alarm silencing switch 10 feet away from a permanently installed cooking appliance.
- keep photoelectric smoke alarms 6 feet away horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide is an invisible odorless gas produced by fuel burning appliances. It can be deadly so a carbon monoxide detector is a good idea anytime there are fuel burning appliances in your home or an attached garage. Currently Carbon Monoxide Detectors are required in the following situations.
- If a home has a fuel burning appliance.
- If a home has an attached garage with an opening that communicates with the dwelling unit (has a door into the garage).
Locations of Carbon Monoxide Detectors
- Carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom areas.
- Where a fuel fired appliance is located in a bedroom or attached bathroom, a carbon monoxide detector is required to be installed in the bedroom.
References 2015 IRC sections R314 and R315 (paraphrased)
Other Useful Information
Here is some additional information you might find useful.
- Propane is heavier than air.
- Natural Gas is lighter than air.
- CO is about 3% lighter than air. In addition – it is thought that since CO (carbon monoxide) is a product of combustion it will be hotter and thus lighter than the surrounding air making it rise. With this in mind the placement of a CO detector can be roughly the same as smoke alarms unless the manufacturer’s directions say differently. Typically a smoke detector is installed about a foot down from the ceiling.
Smoke alarms should be tested occasionally (once a month) and most experts indicate that it is a good idea to replace them every 10 years. If your detectors are turning yellow….then consider replacing them.
