smokes in dwelling

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Well George's time is paying off.

From the other post
georgestolz said:
Where are smoke detectors required to be installed, and where do I find this information?
NFPA 72 and various building codes have different specific requirements, but in general:
One in each bedroom (to wake people up).
One on each level, including basement.
If a ceiling on any level has an elevation change of 24", each elevation needs one. Example: Vaulted living room on same floor as 8' ceiling for back hall, den, laundry.
No closer than 3' to any cold air return or supply, or ceiling fan. Nuisance alarms due to dust attraction are common when this is done, and the sensitivity can diminish.
No closer than 4" to peak of vaulted ceiling, or wall edge. Smoke rolls in corners, bypassing detector.
No farther than 3' from peak of vaulted ceiling.
Interconnection of detectors is required.
Per 210.12, AFCI protection required.
Many smoke detectors come with instructions that mirror NFPA 72's requirements, so they could also be considered a 110.3(B) listing issue, if NFPA 72 has not been adopted in your area.

Here are some related threads, or you can search for the term "smoke detector" and find many results.

http://www.mikeholt.com/code_forum/s...ad.php?t=81410
http://www.mikeholt.com/code_forum/s...ad.php?t=78988
http://www.mikeholt.com/cgi-bin/codeforum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=005755;p=1#000 005
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Hew George how about in the immidate vicenity outside the bedroom?
Mark
 
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Shocked, edit? :confused:

Mark, if a link was already posted to the related post, why quote the whole thing? I know we're all excited about the quoting thing, but... ;)

Hew George how about in the immidate vicenity outside the bedroom?
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I have heard that, but I don't recall seeing it. At the time I heard it, I thought it was a made-up code. Perhaps someone with NFPA 72 could clear this up?
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March is "Kind Quoting Awareness" Month - Be kind, only partially rewind. :wink:
 
awhelectric said:
What is the code for smoke detectors in a dwelling?
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To answer your question there is no code for smoke detectors in the NEC. In our state (NC) it is in the building code-- I suspect it is there in other states as well.
 
combo

combo

All the Fire Dept around herre are not excepting CO/SM combo. They want 2 separate systems. They don't want the CO ring other COs. They have to be 120v but just a 2 wire not the 3 wire. I have been having a very hard time bidding jobs. I live in MA and each Fire Dept. is different.. But I have also found out NOT TO ARGUE with the Fire Dept. They are the authority having juristiction and ALWAYS win. Not like town or city inspectors
 
stickboy1375 said:
We're required to install CO's outside of bedroom areas, so I just make it a smoke/CO combo unit...
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Utah also requires that you install a CO detector on each habitable level of a dwelling unit. Here is the Utah State amendments requirements for smoke detectors and CO detectors:
R313.1 Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms. Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations:
1. In each sleeping room.
2. Outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
3. On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements and cellars 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.
All smoke alarms shall be listed and installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and the household fire warning equipment provision of NFPA 72.
R313.2 Carbon monoxide alarms. In new residential structures regulated by this code that are equipped with fuel burning appliances, carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed on each habitable level. All carbon monoxide detectors shall be listed and comply with U.L. 2034 and shall be installed in accordance with provisions of this code and NFPA 720.
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George, take a look at #2 on the list of places where smoke detectors are required. The Utah State amendment is almost the same as NFPA 72, here is what NFPA 72 says:

11.5.1.1 Smoke Detection. Where required by applicable laws, codes, or standards for the specified occupancy, approved single- and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed as follows:
(1) In all sleeping rooms
(2) Outside of each separate sleeping area, in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping rooms
(3) On each level of teh dwelling unit, including basements.
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I did leave out the exceptions for existing dwelling units in the quote from NFPA 72

Chris
 
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raider1 said:
(2) Outside of each separate sleeping area, in the immediate vicinity of teh sleeping rooms
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Raider I just looked in the 2007 NFPA72 and that line no reads
From NFPA 72 11.5.1.1(2)
Ooutside of each seprate dwelling unit sleeping area, within 6.4m (21ft) of any door to a sleeping room, the distance measured along a path of travel.

Mark

PS. sorry about the whole quote thing I wont get so happy with that from now on.
 
mark henderson said:
Raider I just looked in the 2007 NFPA72 and that line no reads
From NFPA 72 11.5.1.1(2)
Ooutside of each seprate dwelling unit sleeping area, within 6.4m (21ft) of any door to a sleeping room, the distance measured along a path of travel.

Mark

PS. sorry about the whole quote thing I wont get so happy with that from now on.
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Thanks for showing me that, I only have the 2002 NFPA 72. I like the change from "Immediate vicinity" to actually have a measured distance. It is tough to enforce something like "Immediate vicinity", is it 2 feet or 20 feet?

Don't worry about the quoting thing I think you are doing fine.

Chris
 
I guess it depends on jurisdiction.Here there must be a smoke within 10 ft of the door both within the bedroom and the entry to the bedroom.Also it must be within a 1 ft down and 3 ft from the peak of a vaulted/tray ceiling.One within 10 ft of the top of the stairs same for each landing below.3 ft from any forced air vent and bathroom door.Since we don`t have basements here none is required :)
 
This is not an NEC question, but rather a question for your building dept.
The NEC covers the wiring that powers the smokes, but not where they go.
But basically its one in every bedroom, common area and one per floor, interconnected.
In my house I have an extra in the laundry and furnace rooms.
 
dcooper said:
All the Fire Dept around herre are not excepting CO/SM combo. They want 2 separate systems.
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If the combo unit is ionization then the installation is restricted by Nicoles Law and the building Code (20') see
http://www.mass.gov/Eeops/docs/dfs/osfm/cmr/527031.doc


dcooper said:
I live in MA and each Fire Dept. is different.. They are the authority having juristiction and ALWAYS win.
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There does seem to be a hole in the state law that each Fire Chief is autonomus.

but in your case if you are using the ionization combination detectors they maybe correct in failing the installtion when located with in 20 feet of a bath or kitchen. \\at this time I still do not think that there is a combo unit on the market with photo electric smokes. I would be interested to hear different.
 
I just updated the FAQ list, while looking at the NFPA 72 online version. It is entirely my inflection on what I read, because I found it a little self-contradictory in spots. I'd appreciate any feedback on the list.

Would NFPA 72 be completely inapplicable if building codes dictated a certain set of guidelines? Would they conflict, or would 72 be more restrictive yet congruent?
 
cpal said:
but in your case if you are using the ionization combination detectors they maybe correct in failing the installtion when located with in 20 feet of a bath or kitchen. \\at this time I still do not think that there is a combo unit on the market with photo electric smokes.
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In my read of 72 this morning, I noticed a requirement ("shall") for photoelectric smokes if the detector is placed within 20' of a cooking appliance. I had thought it was a good design feature, rather than an actual requirement.

I haven't read the MA code posted above, however.

From what I've heard and seen in my state, I believe 72 is enforced without adoption, but I can't be sure of that.
 
georgestolz said:
I had thought it was a good design feature, rather than an actual requirement.
I haven't read the MA code posted above, however.
From what I've heard and seen in my state, I believe 72 is enforced without adoption, but I can't be sure of that.
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The State of MA is one of the few or maybe the only state that does not permit ionization within 20 feet of a bath or kitchen. I have been informed by atleast one multistation smoke detector manufactures rep that there was such a limited market for a combination CO and photo electric Smoke Detector that production was doubtful.
 
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