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6. 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.
• For all alarm locations, be sure to choose a flat, solid surface for mounting, with no holes
or gaps under the mounting bracket.
• Smoke alarms must be tested regularly to make sure the battery and the alarm
circuits are in good operating condition.
• Smoke alarms cannot provide an alarm if smoke does not reach the alarm.
Therefore, smoke alarms may not sense fires starting in chimneys, within walls, on
roofs, on the other side of a closed door or other obstructions.
• If the alarm is located outside the bedroom or on a different floor, it may not wake up
a sound sleeper.
• The use of alcohol or drugs may also impair one’s ability to hear the smoke alarm.
For optimal detection, a smoke alarm should be installed in each sleeping area on
every level of a home.
This alarm is not intended to alert hearing impaired individuals.
* Reference National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 72
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