Are Smoke Detectors Required In Attics

Smoke detectors are not designed to function in the humidity found in attics.

Are smoke detectors required in attics.

Smoke alarms are generally required in residential settings. The us fire administration fema recommends that you have a heat detector rather than a smoke alarm in your garage. Another location in a home where you should have a heat detector rather than a smoke alarm is the attic. Section 13 7 2 of the code addresses the occupancy specific requirements for fire alarm and smoke alarms.

Typically smoke alarms are required where we expect to find occupants sleeping. 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. Smoke detectors are not designed to function in the low temperatures found in attics. In single family or multifamily homes smoke alarms shall be placed inside each sleeping area outside each sleeping area and on each level of the dwelling.

All of these environmental issues will lead to erratic operation and cause false alarms or non alarms. When smoke alarms interconnected or not were on all. In 2003 a smoke alarm was required in the vicinity outside of every bedroom. 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.

Smoke alarms are not required in unfinished attics unfinished basements or kitchens. Smoke alarms are not designed for garages and attics and are much more likely to fail than a heat detector. 5 measure and mark a distance of 4 inches on the ceiling from each wall. For example section 13 7 2 13 1 of the code requires smoke alarms or a smoke detection system in new and existing one and two family dwellings.

Install the first attic smoke detector on the wall near the stairs anywhere between the 4 inch and 12 inch marks. In 1988 one smoke alarm was required on every floor of the home. Wherever more than one smoke alarm is required in new construction the california building code requires that all smoke alarms shall be interconnected. 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.

The nec takes its guidelines for smoke detectors from the national fire protection association nfpa. Interconnected smoke alarms increase safety. In 1991 one smoke alarm was required in every sleeping room. 1 people may know about a fire without hearing a smoke alarm.