Proper Placement of Fire Alarms and Smoke Detectors

5/1/2020 (Permalink)

Properly preparing for the unthinkable at your home in Gainesville and Hall County, Georgia, can potentially save lives. This is why it’s important to maintain your early warning devices. A fire alarm is designed to alert you as soon as possible after smoke and/or heat is detected so that you can extinguish the fire or escape the building. But have you considered checking to make sure your home is properly equipped?

Fire Alarm Placement

The placement of these units is key to the safety of your family and home. The National Fire Protection Association recommends installing detectors in the following locations:

• Each level of the house (including basement)
• Each bedroom
• Hallways that connect multiple rooms
• Near stairs
• Living room
• Garage

When checking your home for fire alarm placement, make sure that they are located no more than 12 inches from the ceiling. Basements are an exception; there you will want to place the alarm on the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs. They should also be placed at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance. The operation of the alarms could be affected by drafts, so be sure to place them away from doors, windows, vents and ducts.

Fire Alarm Maintenance

Make sure you test the functionality of all fire alarms once a month. Even a hardwired unit has batteries in case of a power outage, so it’s important to replace all batteries twice a year. You can remind yourself by replacing the alarm batteries when you adjust your clocks for daylight saving time. Cleaning should be done occasionally with a vacuum brush attachment. It’s recommended that a fire alarm is replaced every 10 years. 

Fire detection devices are critical to your home safety. With correct placement and maintenance, they will alert you to potential danger before a fire gets out of hand. Should smoke damage or fire damage occur, a fire cleanup professional is Here to Help.