Are Smoke Detectors Required In Attics

The nec takes its guidelines for smoke detectors from the national fire protection association nfpa.

Are smoke detectors required in attics.

Hard wired smoke alarms are required in all new construction. An ionization smoke detector smoke enters a chamber and interrupts an electrical current which triggers the alarm should be installed no closer than 20 feet from a cooking appliance and no. If you are purchasing or selling a home they are now required to have smoke alarms in each sleeping room and on each level in the common. Section 13 7 2 of the code addresses the occupancy specific requirements for fire alarm and smoke alarms.

The us fire administration fema recommends that you have a heat detector rather than a smoke alarm in your garage. 1 people may know about a fire without hearing a smoke alarm. False alarms will provoke the disconnection of the detector then it is useless. Wherever more than one smoke alarm is required in new construction the california building code requires that all smoke alarms shall be interconnected.

Interconnected smoke alarms increase safety. Typically smoke alarms are required where we expect to find occupants sleeping. Smoke detectors are not designed to function in the humidity found in attics. 5 measure and mark a distance of 4 inches on the ceiling from each wall.

Another location in a home where you should have a heat detector rather than a smoke alarm is the attic. Install the first attic smoke detector on the wall near the stairs anywhere between the 4 inch and 12 inch marks. In 1991 one smoke alarm was required in every sleeping room. In 2003 a smoke alarm was required in the vicinity outside of every bedroom.

When smoke alarms interconnected or not were on all. In 1988 one smoke alarm was required on every floor of the home. 10 year sealed battery alarms are required in existing single double and multi family dwellings that were constructed prior to the state s adoption of the uniform construction code act of 1975. Smoke alarms are not required in unfinished attics unfinished basements or kitchens.

All of these environmental issues will lead to erratic operation and cause false alarms or non alarms. Smoke alarms are not designed for garages and attics and are much more likely to fail than a heat detector. Smoke alarms are generally required in residential settings. In a consumer product safety commission cpsc survey of households with any fires including fires in which the fire department was not called interconnected smoke alarms were more likely to operate and alert occupants to a fire.