Smoke Alarms on 10' ceiling

[Charlie Bob]

I'm working on a complete remodel in an old house. The smoke alarms need to be hard wired. I have acces to the downstairs bedrooms ceilings from upstais attic. Now the ceilings downstairs are 10' tall, i know the requirements for smoke alarms placements and distances to corners and so on, but i don't recall anything about tall ceilings being a problem. ( i know it would be a pain to replace batteries but they are hard wired anyway).

If i had a choice i may put them on the walls but that's gonna be really hard and would the cost of installation considerably.

Any in-puts.?

Thanks

 

[chris1971]

IMHO, I do not see a problem installing them on a 10' ceiling. Check with the manufacturers instructions and see if they do not allow it.

 

[shepelec]

As far as batteries go, check the units manual, you might be able to install lithium batteries. They usually last about ten years before they need replacement.

 

[nhfire77]

The Firex, Kidde ones do not have a height restriction.

The main concern with smoke detector mounting height, aside from reaching it for the battery, is stratification of smoke.

There is no concern with smoke stratification with a 10' ceiling height.

 

[rodneee]

i do not know code sections but somewhere it will say smokes can't go on the wall.

 

[rcarroll]

i do not know code sections but somewhere it will say smokes can't go on the wall.

It's not anywhere in the IRC or NEC. I've never read in the instructions about wall placement. But then, it's been years since I've read smoke alarm instructions.

 

[jimport]

i do not know code sections but somewhere it will say smokes can't go on the wall.

Never seen this, but the correct areas are specified. Normally no closer than 4" to ceiling and no lower than 12" below ceiling.

 

[Ken9876]

I was at a trade show and speaking with a rep from Kidde, he told me they now have a smoke with a battery that will last the life of the unit
http://silhouette.kidde.com/

 

[220/221]

Ceiling height doesn't matter and you can wall mount as long as they are withing 12" of the ceiling. If there are multiple ceiling heights you must have one withing 12" of the highest point.

 

[rodneee]

techical foul on me

techical foul on me

i do not know code sections but somewhere it will say smokes can't go on the wall.

spoke to our inspector, i was wrong, smokes can go on the wall; but many years ago they "ADVISED" us to install them in the ceiling as per the manufacturer's specs. he also said fire protection is not under NEC. i hope VILLANOVA does better in ncaa hoops than i did on my recent post.

 

[al hildenbrand]

If i had a choice i may put them on the walls but that's gonna be really hard and would the cost of installation considerably.

I, personally, don't like the idea of wall installation of a smoke. In my State, there is a six inch wide band, six inches down from the ceiling, that the smoke is allowed to be in. Too high, and the smoke is in a dead air pocket. Too low, and the smoke doesn't get into the smoke, as it collects and builds from the ceiling down, soon enough, dangerously shortening the escape time.

There are a lot of 10 foot ceilings in the old homes that I work in.

I like the ceiling install, specifically, centered on a doorway and about 2 to 3 feet out from the wall.

The reason I like that spot is, that the door swing, in most cases, works in the smoke's favor vs. the occupants use of space. This floor area tends to stay clean of life's clutter.

When the backup battery finally needs replacement, the required stepladder is more readily set up.

 

[RICK NAPIER]

If you are using the 2010 NFPA 72 article 29.8.3.1 within 36" of the top of a peaked ceiling, 29.8.3.2 within 36" of the top of a sloped ceiling, 29.8.3.2 on a wall within 12" of the ceiling, and 29.8.3.4 within 12" of the top of a tray ceiling.

 

[danickstr]

so I guess if it is mounted on the ceiling, it can be 3' from the highest point (measured vertically) But if mounted on the wall, and the ceiling is peaked at 20 feet, it has to go within the 4-12 inches, or 19'6" for example.

 

[al hildenbrand]

so I guess if it is mounted on the ceiling, it can be 3' from the highest point (measured vertically) . . .

I don't have Rick's reference, but I'll just bet the 36" measurement is along the ceiling surface, not vertical.

 

[gadfly56]

I don't have Rick's reference, but I'll just bet the 36" measurement is along the ceiling surface, not vertical.

Measure down from the peak 4" and draw a horizontal line intersecting the sloped ceiling(s) and along the endwalls; don't mount anything above this. Measure down 36" from the peak and draw a horizontal line intersecting the sloped ceiling(s) and the endwalls. You MUST place a detector in the zone bounded above the 36" line and below the 4" line. Also observe the usual spacing requirements for 30' measured plumb to the floor and projected to the ceiling. See NFPA 72-2002 section 5.6.5.4 for more details.

 

[al hildenbrand]

I lose my bet.