▼

Code Administration - Smoke & CO Alarms

Show All Answers

1. How often do smoke alarms, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and combination alarms have to be replaced?

In all residential occupancies, all alarms shall be replaced every 10 years

2. What are the required UL listings for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms?

o  All smoke alarms shall be in compliance withUL217 or UL268. 

o  All carbon monoxide alarms shall be incompliance with UL2034 or UL2075. 

o  All combination alarms shall be in compliance with all UL listings.

3. On what levels of a dwelling are alarms to be installed?

o Smoke alarms, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and combination alarms shall be installed on every level including basements.  These types of alarms are not required in nonhabitable attics and crawl spaces.

4. Where are alarms to be installed near bedrooms?

Smoke alarms, smoke detectors and combination alarms shall be installed outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.  Structures built or alerted after January 1, 2001 shall also install smoke alarms or smoke detectors in each sleeping room.  Smoke alarms or smoke detectors shall be installed within 21 feet of any door to a sleeping room, with the distance measured along a path of travel. [2016 NFPA 72 29.5.1.1]

5. Are the alarms to be interconnected?

o  Structures built on or after January 1, 1989 shall have interconnection of smoke alarms, smoke detectors and combination alarms.

o  A Code Official may require interconnection of alarms on structures built prior to January 1, 1989 if substandard aspects of the building warrant such a measure to protect public health, safety and welfare.

6. Are carbon monoxide alarms to be interconnected?

Alarms in existing construction are not required to be interconnected unless required by the Code Official.

7. What type of power source is required for a smoke alarm in a one and two family dwelling?

o  Structures built before July 1, 1975 shall have a 10 year lithium battery powered smoke alarms or combination alarms that are sealed and tamper-resistant.

o  Structures built between July 1, 1975 and June30, 1990, shall have an AC primary smoke alarms or combination alarms.

o  Structures built on or after July 1, 1990 shall have an AC primary with battery backup smoke alarms or combination alarms.

8. What type of power source is required for a smoke alarm in a three family dwelling?

o  There are two options

                    Option 1 – Install 10 year lithium battery power smoke alarms or combination alarms on every level, outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and in each bedroom, or

                    Option 2 – Install AC primary with battery backup smoke alarms or combination alarms on every level, in each dwelling unit outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.

9. What type of power source is required for a smoke alarm in a four or more unit dwelling?

All four or more unit dwellings shall have AC primary with battery back-up smoke alarms, smoke detectors or combination alarms.

10. What type of power source is required for carbon monoxide alarms?

o  All structures shall meet one of the following power sources requirements

• 10 year lithium battery powered carbon monoxide alarms that are sealed and tamper-resistant
• AC primary with battery backup carbon monoxide alarms
• Alarms connected to an on-site control unit that monitors the carbon monoxide alarms remotely
• Other system as approved by the Fire Marshal’s Office and the Planning and Code Administration Department, or authority having jurisdiction

11. What type of smoke alarm or carbon monoxide alarm is required for deaf or hearing impaired occupants?

The alarms must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory for electrical appliances and approved by the Fire Marshal’s Office and be sufficient to warn deaf or hearing impaired residents or occupants.

12. How close can a smoke alarm be to the corner of the wall and ceiling?

Smoke alarms or smoke detectors mounted on walls shall be located not farther than 12 inches from the adjoining ceiling surface. (2016 NFPA 72 - 29.8.3.3)

13. Where can a smoke alarm be installed on a wall?

Smoke alarms or smoke detectors mounted on walls shall be located not farther than 12 inches from the adjoining ceiling surface. (2016 NFPA 72 - 29.8.3.3)

14. Where is a smoke alarm to be installed when you have a peak ceiling?

Smoke alarms mounted on a peaked ceiling shall be located within 36 inches horizontally of the peak, but not closer than 4inches vertically to the peak. (NFPA 72 – 11.8.3.2)

15. Where is a smoke alarm to be installed on a sloped ceiling?

Smoke alarms mounted on a sloped ceiling having a rise greater than 1 foot 8 inches horizontally shall be located within 36inches of the high side of the ceiling, but not closer than 4 inches from the adjoining wall surface. (NFPA 72 – 11.8.3.3)

16. Where is a smoke alarm to be installed on a tray-shaped ceiling?

Smoke alarms shall be installed on the highest portion of the ceiling or on the sloped portion of the ceiling within 12 inches vertically down from the highest point. (2016 NFPA 72 - 29.8.3.4.11)

17. Are smoke alarms allowed to be installed near cooking appliances?

Smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall not be installed within an area of exclusion determined by a 10 foot radial distance along a horizontal flow path from a stationary or fixed cooking appliance, unless listed for installation in close proximity to cooking appliances.  Smoke alarms and smoke detectors installed between 10 feet and 20 feet along a horizontal flow path from a stationary or fixed cooking appliance shall be equipped with an alarm silencing means or use photoelectric detection.  (2016 NFPA 72 - 29.8.3.4)

18. Can smoke alarms be installed near bathrooms?

Smoke alarms shall not be installed within a 36 inch horizontal path from a door to a bathroom containing a shower or tub (2016 NFPA72 – 29.8.3.4.6)

19. Can smoke alarms be installed near ceiling fans?

Smoke alarms shall not be installed within a 36 inch horizontal path from the tip of the blade of a ceiling-suspended (paddle)fan. (2016 NFPA 72 – 29.8.3.4.8)