User's Manual

Chapter 11.0 Locating Detectors and Escape Plan
11.0 Locating Detectors and Escape Plan
Thefollowinginformationisforgeneralguidanceonlyanditisrecommendedthatlocalfirecodes
andregulationsbeconsultedwhenlocatingandinstallingsmokeandCOalarms.
11.1 Smoke Detectors
Researchhasshownthatallhostilefiresinhomesgeneratesmoketoagreaterorlesserextent.
Experimentswithtypicalfiresinhomesindicatethatdetectablequantitiesofsmokeprecededetect-
ablelevelsofheatinmostcases.Forthesereasons,smokealarmsshouldbeinstalledoutsideof
eachsleepingareaandoneachstoreyofthehome.
Thefollowinginformationisforgeneralguidanceonlyanditisrecommendedthatlocalfirecodes
andregulationsbeconsultedwhenlocatingandinstallingsmokealarms.
Itisrecommendedthatadditionalsmokealarmsbeyondthoserequiredforminimumprotectionbe
installed.Additionalareasthatshouldbeprotectedinclude:thebasement;bedrooms,especially
wheresmokerssleep;diningrooms;furnaceandutilityrooms;andanyhallwaysnotprotectedby
therequiredunits.Onsmoothceilings,detectorsmaybespaced9.1m(30feet)apartasaguide.
Otherspacingmayberequireddependingonceilingheight,airmovement,thepresenceofjoists,
uninsulatedceilings,etc.ConsultNationalFireAlarmCodeNFPA72,CAN/ULC-S553-02orother
appropriatenationalstandardsforinstallationrecommendations.
l Donotlocatesmokedetectorsatthetopofpeakedorgabledceilings;thedeadairspacein
theselocationsmaypreventtheunitfromdetectingsmoke.
l Avoidareaswithturbulentairflow,suchasneardoors,fansorwindows.Rapidairmove-
mentaroundthedetectormaypreventsmokefromenteringtheunit.
l Donotlocatedetectorsinareasofhighhumidity.
l Donotlocatedetectorsinareaswherethetemperaturerisesabove38ºC(100ºF)orfalls
below5ºC(41ºF).
l
SmokedetectorsmustalwaysbeinstalledinUSAinaccordancewithChapter29of
NFPA72,theNationalFireAlarmCode:29.5.1.1.
Whererequiredbyapplicablelaws,codes,orstandardsforaspecifictypeofoccupancy,approved
single-andmultiple-stationsmokealarmsshallbeinstalledasfollows:
1. Inallsleepingroomsandguestrooms.
2. Outsideofeachseparatedwellingunitsleepingarea,within6.4m(21ft)ofanydoortoa
sleepingroom,thedistancemeasuredalongapathoftravel.
3. Oneverylevelofadwellingunit,includingbasements.
4. Oneverylevelofaresidentialboardandcareoccupancy(smallfacility),includingbasements
andexcludingcrawlspacesandunfinishedattics.
5. Inthelivingarea(s)ofaguestsuite.
6. Inthelivingarea(s)ofaresidentialboardandcareoccupancy(smallfacility).
Figure1
Figure2
Figure3
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