Edwards Signaling 517TCS - Manual (Page 3)

more than one floor, more than one smoke alarm will be needed, as shown in
Figure 2.
In addition to smoke alarms outside of the sleeping areas, NFPA 72 re-
quires the installation of a smoke alarm on each additional story of the family
living unit, including the basement. These installations are shown in Figure 3.
The living area smoke alarms should be installed in the living room or near the
stairway to the upper level, or in both locations. The basement smoke alarm
should be installed in close proximity to the stairway leading to the floor above.
When installed on an open joisted ceiling, the alarm should be placed on the
bottom of the joists. The alarm should be positioned relative to the stairway so
as to intercept smoke coming from a fire in the basement before the smoke
enters the stairway.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION
We recommend replacing your alarm(s) every ten (10) years; why:
· Dust, dirt, and other environmental contaminants can affect your alarm
over a prolonged period.
· Fast changing industry consensus standards and codes on all alarms
make it advisable to periodically upgrade your alarm to maximize life
safety.
· Assurance that your smoke alarm needs are kept abreast with the con-
stantly improving electronic technology.
· Smoke alarms are recognized as one of the lowest cost ways to protect
dwelling inhabitants against the danger of fire(s). It makes good com-
mon sense to periodically replace and update your smoke alarm that
contributes so much to life safety.
MOUNTING LOCATION
This smoke alarm can be mounted on a ceiling or wall with equal efficiency
in either location.
· Ceiling location—alarm should be mounted as close as possible to the cen-
ter of a hallway or room. If this is not possible, the edge of the alarm should
be at least 4 inches from any wall.
· Wall location—locate the top of the alarm at least 4 inches and not more
than 12 inches from the ceiling. Observe alarm for proper top/bottom
orientation (test knob is near bottom of unit).
Figure 1: A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE LOCATED BETWEEN THE
SLEEPING AREA AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY LIVING UNIT.
Where to Locate the Required Smoke Alarms in New Construction.
All of the smoke alarms specified for existing construction are required,
and, in addition, a smoke alarm is required in each bedroom.
Are More Smoke Detectors Desirable? The required number of smoke
alarms may not provide reliable early warning protection for those areas
separated by a door from the areas protected by the required smoke alarms.
For this reason, it is recommended that the householder consider the use
of additional smoke alarms for those areas for increased protection. The
additional areas include: basement, bedrooms, dining room, furnace room,
utility room and hallways not protected by the required smoke alarms. The
installation of smoke alarms in kitchens, attics (finished or unfinished), or
garages is not normally recommended, as these locations occasionally experi-
ence conditions that can result in improper operation.
Figure 2: IN FAMILY LIVING UNITS WITH MORE THAN ONE SLEEPING
AREA, A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO PROTECT EACH
SLEEPING AREA IN ADDITION TO ALARMS REQUIRED IN BEDROOMS.
Figure 3: A SMOKE ALARM SHOULD BE LOCATED ON EACH STORY.
Figure 4: RECOMMENDED SMOKE ALARM MOUNTING LOCATIONS
Figure 5: RECOMMENDED SMOKE ALARM LOCATION IN ROOMS WITH
SLOPED, GABLED, OR PEAKED CEILINGS.
The placement of the alarm is critical if maximum speed of fire detection is
desired. Thus, a logical location for an alarm is the center of the ceiling. At
this location, the alarm is closest to all areas of the room.