The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends smoke detectors be installed on every floor of the home, in every bedroom, and outside every sleeping area. It’s important that no matter where the fire starts, an alarm will be there to alert occupants in time for a safe exit.
Alarms can be installed on the ceiling or on the wall, up high enough that smoke will gather around it when it rises. Be sure that a ceiling install is at least 4 inches from the wall, and a wall install is at most 12 inches from the ceiling.
Bedrooms
The NFPA requires a smoke alarm in all sleeping rooms and guest rooms. Be sure to install them away from interferences like windows and air vents.
Kitchens
Kitchens have a lot of opportunities for nuisance alarms from cooking appliances, so it’s best to have an alarm with advanced technology that can tell the difference between food and a real fire, like USI’s 2-in-1 Smoke and Fire Alarm. Be sure to install them at least ten feet away from stoves and other appliances.
Hallways
Hallways are crucial places for smoke alarms, especially in the space outside of bedrooms and sleeping areas. The NFPA requires an alarm within 21 feet of each sleeping area. If there are several rooms off one hallway, the detector should be placed in a central area located between those doors.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are not ideal locations for smoke alarms, as Photoelectric and Ionization detectors can be triggered by steam from the shower, causing nuisance alarms. Detectors are better placed in the hallway outside of the bathroom, at least three feet from the door.
Basements
At least one alarm needs to be installed on every floor of your home, and that includes the basement. Install them on the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the next level, especially if there’s no exit out of the home at basement level. As above, avoid bathrooms, air vents, and windows.
Which Smoke Alarm Should I Get?
Select USI models are equipped with helpful features that optimize your alarm system throughout the house:
- Interconnected Alarms trigger all compatible hardwired alarms for protection throughout the home, so you’re alerted no matter what room the fire is in.
- Quick-Find Alarm Origination identifies the location of the triggered alarm for quick response.
- 2-in-1 Smoke & Fire Alarms detect smoke and fire in one compact solution, so both fast-flaming blazes and slow-smoldering fires are caught as quickly as possible.
- Multi-Criteria Sensing Plus Detection uses an advanced algorithm to differentiate between smoke & fire profiles with greater accuracy.
- Superior False Alarm Resistance reduces the number of nuisance alarms from activities like cooking, perfect for kitchen placements.
- Backup Battery Power ensures uninterrupted protection, even in the event of a power failure.
- Voice Alerts replace annoying chirps with simple reminders.
- End of Life Alerts remind you to replace your alarms after 10 years.
