Personal Injury Law

Factors to consider when installing your smoke detector

By Megan Roth

Alright, you've taken the USFA's advice and bought yourself a dual sensor smoke alarm. You're positive the device has passed safety and inspection tests because the packaging is marked with a stamp of approval, and you've taken your spiffy new smoke detector home for installation.

But where, exactly, should you install the device? And is just one detector enough?

Where you place each detector depends on the layout of your home. Generally speaking, smoke detectors should be placed near sleeping areas. If you live in a single-floor home, one smoke detector placed in the hallway near bedrooms should be sufficient; however, when sleeping areas are separated (regardless of whether or not they're on the same level) smoke detectors should be installed near each sleeping area. The general rule of thumb for installation is that smoke detectors should be "placed between the bedrooms and the rest of the house, but closer to the bedrooms."

There are also several other factors to consider during installation. First, don't place the detector within six inches of heating/cooling ducts or points where walls and ceilings meet (these areas may not receive adequate flow of smoke; thus, the alarms won't be activated). Also, make sure not to place detectors in areas likely to receive signals from your remote control; it's important to test the device, but we're pretty sure you don't want to do it every time you change the channel.

Alright, so you've taken our (and the USFA's) advice. Your smoke detectors are in place, the batteries are installed, and you've made sure the device is secured in a place where other remote signals won't interfere. Now, it's time to put it to the test - literally. Run the test function of the detector immediately to ensure the device rings and/or beeps loudly and on cue (donot attempt to trigger the device with smoke from a cigarette, candle, or other heat source. Doing so can actually wear the detector down and cause it to fail in the event of a real fire). Assuming the detector sounds properly, you should be set to go for the first month or two. After that, you should take advantage of the test function at least once a month and replace the device's batteries annually to ensure that the device continues to work properly.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on June 13, 2008 (boomark / email).