Placement of Smoke Alarms

Learning the basics of fire safety is the first step in fighting fire – and it just so happens to be the most important.

Understanding the best ways to protect your home and family or your business from fire should always be at the top of your to-do list. In a typical home fire, occupants have just minutes to escape. And because smoke in one area may not reach a smoke alarm in another, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends placement of at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home (including basements), in every bedroom, and outside each sleeping area.

The NFPA also recommends interconnection of alarms to provide better whole-home protection than stand-alone alarms. Leading authorities recommend that both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms be installed to help insure maximum detection of the various types of fires that can occur within the home. Ionization sensing alarms may detect invisible fire particles (associated with fast flaming fires) sooner than photoelectric alarms. Photoelectric sensing alarms may detect visible fire particles (associated with slow smoldering fires) sooner than ionization alarms.

Kidde smoke alarms are rigorously tested and are approved for use in any room in the house as specified by the user guide. Some alarms have added features which may make them more beneficial for certain areas. For examples, a model with super-bright LEDs can help illuminate a hallway escape path, or a model with voice warning in a bedroom can reduce confusion by informing of the danger with specific voice messages. Near the kitchen, a model with an intelligent algorithm may help reduce nuisance alarms.

Locations in Your Home

Learn more about where to place smoke alarms that industry experts recommend for the home.

Living Room

Look for location-specific smoke alarm models designed to protect living areas. Combination alarms offer protection from two deadly threats - Fire and CO - in one unit.

Kitchen

Look for location-specific smoke alarm models designed to protect the kitchen area. Combination alarms offer protection from two deadly threats - Fire and CO - in one unit.

Hallway

Look for location-specific smoke alarm models designed to protect hallway areas. Combination alarms offer protection from two deadly threats - Fire and CO - in one unit.

Bedroom

Look for location-specific smoke alarm models designed to protect bedroom areas. Combination alarms offer protection from two deadly threats - Fire and CO - in one unit.

Basement

Look for location-specific smoke alarm models designed to protect specified areas. Combination alarms offer protection from two deadly threats - Fire and CO - in one unit.

Consider a Combination Smoke & CO Alarms

A combination Smoke/CO Alarm makes it easy to provide both types of protection throughout the home. Industry experts recommend a CO alarm be installed on each level of the home - ideally on any level with fuel burning appliances and outside of sleeping areas. Therefore, a combination alarm can satisfy one of your smoke alarm location requirements as well as a carbon monoxide location.

The Kidde Intelligent Alarm combines the detection capabilities of an ionization smoke sensor with that of an electrochemical sensor, which is used to detect CO. Since carbon monoxide is present in all fires, having both detection chambers work together in one alarm is a breakthrough in the fire safety industry. When either sensor notices a potential hazard, it will communicate with the other. Depending on what is detected, the alarm will adjust its smoke sensitivity in order to better discriminate between a real hazard and a false one. This constant communication enhances the alarm’s overall performance in all fires, and significantly reduces the potential for a nuisance alarm.