Use and Care Manual
NFPA 72 states: “Smoke alarms in rooms with ceiling slopes greater than 
1 ft in 8 ft (.3m in 2.4 m) horizontally shall be located on the high side of 
the room.” NFPA 72 states: “A row of detectors shall be spaced and locat-
ed within 3 ft (0.9m) of the peak of the ceiling measured horizontally.”
• Locate the smoke alarms in all sleeping areas. Try to monitor the exit path  
as the bedrooms are usually farthest from the exit. If more than one sleeping 
area exists, locate additional alarms in each sleeping area.
• Locate additional alarms to monitor any stairway as stairways act like 
chimneys for smoke and heat.
• Locate at least one alarm on every floor level.
• Locate an alarm in every bedroom.
• Locate an alarm in every room where electrical appliances are operated 
(i.e. portable heaters or humidifiers).
• Locate an alarm in every room where someone sleeps with the door  
closed. The closed door may prevent an alarm not located in that room  
from waking the sleeper.
• Smoke, heat, and combustion products rise to the ceiling and spread 
horizontally. Mounting the smoke alarm on the ceiling in the center of 
the room places it closest to all points in the room. Ceiling mounting is 
preferred in ordinary residential construction.
ANYWHERE ALONG 
THIS BOLD SURFACE
30.5 cm
Locations permitted for smoke
alarms and smoke detectors
on tray-shaped ceilings.
ANYWHERE ALONG 
THIS BOLD SURFACE
30.5 cm
Locations permitted for smoke
alarms and smoke detectors
on tray-shaped ceilings.
FIGURE 1
ANYWHERE ALONG 
THIS BOLD SURFACE
30.5 cm
Locations permitted for smoke
alarms and smoke detectors
on tray-shaped ceilings.
Smoke or Smoke/CO Alarms for Required Protection
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
2. RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS FOR ALARMS










