Smoke alarm installation: why and where??

Posted by aylesfordfire on January 24th, 2020

A small fire can overtake a home within a matter of a few seconds and therefore, it’s very significant to have multiple smoke alarms installed throughout your home. Having high-quality smoke alarms in your premises can help detect a fire instantly so you can take the needful actions. 

 Smoke alarms should be installed in different areas of the home, however, to ensure you have enough smoke alarms, check out this guideline and install them accordingly. 

 Where should you place them?

• On every floor of your home- This includes the basements and the attics as well. Just be very sure about the size of the basement or attic, and depending on that install smoke alarms in each corner. 
• At the stairways- This includes the bottom side of the stairways, starting from the basement to the top of the stairs and leading to all the floors. 
• In every room- Smoke alarms should be installed in each and every bedroom, including the outside of the rooms, i.e. the hallways. 
• In all the major areas and large rooms- Though you’ll want to install a smoke alarm in all your major rooms, remember to keep them at least 10 to 15 feet away from the kitchen, as this can give out false alarms. 

Typically, it’s very essential that every person anywhere in the house can hear a smoke alarm properly when it’s triggered. And if your house has big rooms and huge hallways, then make sure to install several more alarms than you would. 

 Smoke alarms dos and don’ts:

 For your utmost safety and protection, it’s very crucial to know how and where to exactly install smoke alarms. It’s important to be aware of the things that you should do and not do when getting them installed in your house. 

That being said, here are a few dos and don’ts of buying and installing smoke alarms in your home:

 Dos:

• Before buying just any random smoke alarm, check to make sure the alarm is approved by the concerned safety authority to meet all the safety and testing requirements. 
• Check whether the smoke alarm senses photoelectric and ionization files, or both. 
• Make sure to read the manual before installing the smoke alarm for the correct setup. 
• Make sure to install them on the ceiling. However, if you are mounting them on the wall then remember to keep it at least 12 inches away from the ceiling. 

 Don’ts:

• Don’t install smoke alarms on the windows or doors as the air and wind can pick up the heat of fire and smoke and can trigger a false alarm. 
• Don’t put them in moist or humid areas. This includes even the bathroom. 
• Don’t install smoke alarms near the ceiling fans or vents. 
• Never put them in cooler areas such as porches. 

Installing and maintaining smoke alarms are very cost-effective provided you keep them maintained and away from any damage. Besides, it’s equally very important to prepare your family members and make them aware of what type of signal the alarm makes. Also, it’s very necessary to teach them the correct way of using smoke alarms and what all they should do in the event of a fire alarm.