Smoke Detector Location

[brennan]

You can put the smoke 4" from the wall.
3' from an air register.
Just make sure you don't exceed 21' spacing.
If you wall mound the sd in needs to be between 4" and 12" from the ceiling.

 

[billsnuff]

mfg smoke spec

mfg smoke spec

several diagrams

http://www.systemsensor.com/html/guides/A05-1003.pdf

 

[wbalsam1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by George Stolz
16' of the pillow?

then you can't get a final until the bed is made up?

16 feet from the pillow is about as logical as:

• The GES may not be more than 21 feet from the septic tank so as to minimize electrolysis associated with egesta
• Family birdcage must be bonded to the nearest receptacle outlet
• etc.

:grin::grin:

 

[celtic]

16' of the pillow?

16 feet from the pillow is about as logical as.....

:grin::grin:

Let's not get into how logical some codes are

 

[knothole]

In our area, if the SD is on the ceiling, it needs to be within 3 ft of the door and if on the wall, it has to be within 12" of the ceiling. then there has to be one in the hallway outside the bedrooms.

 

[peter d]

I always install per the instructions that come with the smoke alarm.

But Stickboy already mentioned that. Echo...echo....echo......

 

[GUNNING]

Call up the local fire marshal. I did just the other day about Smoke/CO detectors. In ICC its if you have any fossil fuel devices in the house (I'm paraphrasing now) you need a CO detector within 10' of all sleeping areas. Im shoppig for those Combination Smoke/CO devices now.
Follow the directions on the package but around here it's also 3 feet from air source (vent or fan blade). One in each sleeping area, one outside sleeping area, in stairways, on each floor, over panel. The commercial applications are limited for out of the box smoke detectors. Sometimes needing a FACP for specific notification and alarm purposes or not enough devices allowed. If ya need more than the number of listed devices in series then you have to go with a FACP installation.

Something so simple as a smoke detector, can get so complicated. There are many different standards. Check with the locals to see what rules they are currently allowed to follow.

IF you don't have any carved in stone so to speak, there is always the ol Stick em Up on the wall type. They are great till they fall off the wall or the battery goes dead and around here are OK if its not new or substantially changed construction (by definition). Its not what a good electrician does, but its allowed. here. for now. kinda. They melt to unrecognizable glob of plastic when exposed to extreme heat source, historically.

 

[ptonsparky]

I watched a local news clip about one of the area fire depts putting up battery smoke alarms in homes. They were installing them in that dead air space at the ceiling and wall. They did appreciate the phone call to at least "read the directions" for placement.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Smoke alarm myths

Smoke alarm myths

If there is confusion about codes in our industry, this is one area of the industry where I see a lot of confusion...I believe the root of the cause is that most do not read the codes/instructions/know local codes.


This is exactly one of the topics we are discussing locally in our jurisdiction with the "powers to be". We are in the process of getting the multiple jurisdictions to try and have "1 code" for all of us to adhere to. I will keep you abreast of the progress...we are hoping to have most of the issues resolved within the next 6 months.

 

[wbalsam1]

If there is confusion about codes in our industry, this is one area of the industry where I see a lot of confusion...I believe the root of the cause is that most do not read the codes/instructions/know local codes.

I fail to see the cause for the "confusion" you speak of other than, as you say, not reading and understanding the "code".

This is exactly one of the topics we are discussing locally in our jurisdiction with the "powers to be". We are in the process of getting the multiple jurisdictions to try and have "1 code" for all of us to adhere to. I will keep you abreast of the progress...we are hoping to have most of the issues resolved within the next 6 months.

They all do have one "code" for their multiple jurisdictions. It's the Residential Code of New York State. I know you know this, Pierre. Are the municipalities you're speaking of debating going with a "more restrictive local standard" (MRLS) for smoke alarms?

Here's our Rule as it stands today. I don't have a problem with it. I think it makes a lot of sense as written:

New York State Smoke Alarm Rules
?R313
Smoke Alarms​

R313.1 Smoke alarms. Smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations:
1. In each sleeping room.
2. Outside each sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
3. On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwellings or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.

When more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed.

Exception: Interconnection is not required where smoke alarms are permitted to be battery operated in accordance with ?R313.1.2.
All smoke alarms shall be listed and installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and the household fire warning equipment provisions of NFPA 72.

R313.1.1 Existing buildings undergoing repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition or relocation shall be provided with smoke alarms as required by Appendix J.

R313.1.2 Power source. In new construction, the required smoke alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring when such wiring is served from a commercial source, or an on-site electrical power system and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection. Smoke alarms shall be permitted to be battery operated when installed in buildings without commercial power or an on-site electrical power system or in buildings that undergo repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition or relocation in accordance with Appendix J.
:smile:

 

[iwire]

In my area each FD seems to have a different read on the rules.

 

[peter d]

In my area each FD seems to have a different read on the rules.

Yes, there is no uniformity to enforcement whatsoever. And in the case of life safety stuff, you have install per "inspectors preference" even if he's making a rule up or interpreting the code wrong.

 

[iwire]

Just last Wed I was in RI and noticed an oil burner thermal cut out switch located above a gas fire unit heater. It sure looked like an addition to the original wiring after an inspector asked for it. :roll:

 

[peter d]

Just last Wed I was in RI and noticed an oil burner thermal cut out switch located above a gas fire unit heater. It sure looked like an addition to the original wiring after an inspector asked for it. :roll:

What a surprise. :roll: We all know that firomatic is going to be very effective on that gas unit heater. :roll:

 

[wbalsam1]

In my area each FD seems to have a different read on the rules.

In New York, our Fire Code has the same provisions at FCNYS ?907.2.10

 

[wbalsam1]

Yes, there is no uniformity to enforcement whatsoever. And in the case of life safety stuff, you have install per "inspectors preference" even if he's making a rule up or interpreting the code wrong.

This is a huge problem for us in New York, too. Basically it's due to the State's inability to afford and conduct oversight of building and electrical officials.

 

[peter d]

This is a huge problem for us in New York, too. Basically it's due to the State's inability to afford and conduct oversight of building and electrical officials.

In my case, I was singling out the enforcement of fire codes. Electrical inspections tend to be uniform because the NEC is less gray than many of the fire codes. As I said, you literally have to know what the inspectors preference is in each town and city before installing a fire alarm system around here.

 

[wbalsam1]

In my case, I was singling out the enforcement of fire codes. Electrical inspections tend to be uniform because the NEC is less gray than many of the fire codes. As I said, you literally have to know what the inspectors preference is in each town and city before installing a fire alarm system around here.

Must be incredibly hard to bid a job from town to town, what with all the indigenous information one would have to acquire.

 

[peter d]

Must be incredibly hard to bid a job from town to town, what with all the indigenous information one would have to acquire.

Generally what ends up happening is that you include "X" number of extra devices in the bid for the inevitable surprises. However, usually you schedule a meeting with the fire marshall to walk through the building to "see what he wants" before you bid the job.

 

[Security101]

We have an issue with the AHJ requesting "hush feature" within 30' of the kitchen - and any carbon fuel appliances...

In small homes these seem to be all of them!

Jim