Where Should I Place My Smoke Alarms?

Smoke alarms are proven to save lives, providing early warning to residents and occupants of a fire and the need to evacuate.  Smoke alarms must be operating properly, however, in order to perform their life saving function.  It is more than just placing a smoke detector on the ceiling, and hoping that it works properly, they must be strategically placed in the proper location, and serviced regularly to perform when needed.  

The National Fire Protection Association offers guidelines to follow when installing smoke alarms, these include:

• Choosing smoke alarms that bear the label of a reputable testing agency
• Install smoke alarms outside on every level of your home or building including basements.
• Smoke alarms must be installed a minimum of 10 feet from cooking appliances to reduce false alarms
• Smoke alarms should be mounted high on ceilings, or when wall mounted should be no more than 12 inches from the ceiling.
• Do not install smoke alarms near windows or doors where a draft could interfere with the proper operation.  
• Interconnected smoke alarms provide the best protection, that way when one goes off they all will sound an alarm.  

For the proper placement and installation of smoke alarms in commercial buildings, contact an experienced fire and safety system specialist like High Rise Security Systems.  HRSS has experience in designing the proper smoke and fire alarm system for a wide variety of commercial buildings.  We are recognized as leaders in the fire and safety industry, servicing low rise, high-rise, campuses and large complexes with reliable fire and smoke alarm systems designed to all required codes and regulations.  

HRSS employs skilled designers that utilize AutoCAD software to generate a 2D model of your building for accurate placement of all sensors, fire extinguishers, and smoke alarms.  Our design is compliant to all regulations including the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the International Building Code (IBC).  We understand the requires of NFPA101, which is a widely used and accepted Life Safety Code aimed to minimize hazards of fires including property damage and loss of life.  

For answers to all your questions regarding fire and smoke alarms, contact the experts at High Rise Security Systems.  We are your full-service fire and safety consulting firm, providing system design, implementation, service, repair, testing and monitoring 24/7/365 to ensure your total safety.