Smoke Detector Installation – Does the NFPA 80 Code Require Them to Be Installed in Certain Places?

Smoke Detectors installation is very important. When you install a fire system in your facility, you have to pay close attention to detail. Proper fire safety systems are comprised of many different components all working together to save lives no matter where a disaster occurs. If you fail to install any one component properly, the whole system may be compromised, at least as far as its effectiveness is concerned.

One of the most important fire safety devices out there is the smoke detector. Although this device is so common that it seems simple, it’s actually a complex bit of circuitry. Like any other complicated device, it must be used properly to function correctly.

Everyone knows that smoke detectors ought to be placed high up because smoke rises. Few people are aware, however, that the NFPA 80 code actually details far more stringent placement guidelines. It states that whenever you use smoke detectors, you have to place them according to the guidelines detailed in the NFPA 72 code, and that you must always follow the manufacturers usage and installation guidelines while doing so.

So what does NFPA 72 say? It goes into a lot of detail. First off, smoke alarms should be present on every level of a home or building, even in basements. If people occupy the building for residential reasons, separate smoke detectors should be placed outside every sleeping area. Areas like closets, loading bays, ceiling crawlspaces, dumbwaiters, elevator shafts, HVAC plenums and any other accessible space should all have smoke detectors of their own.

It’s important to note, however, that although smoke detectors should be placed in any space that smoke could reach, it’s better not to overdo things. If you use too many smoke detectors in one area, you’ll have a difficult time telling where the danger is when an emergency occurs. Total, NFPA-compliant coverage can still be achieved with a single smoke detector in each space. As long as you place them properly and supplement them with heat detectors, you don’t need overly many smoke detectors. For more information on how to correctly install your fire safety devices, contact your fire protection company for a consultation.