Where Should I Install Smoke Detectors and Fire Alarms?

It’s no surprise that all properties in Bermuda require effective fire detection devices by law. However, considering their importance, installing fire alarms and smoke detectors can be daunting task. You need to make sure they’re in prime spots to alert the whole family, but aren’t going to be set off when you burn the toast.

In this post, we’ll talk you through how to install alarms and the best places to install them…

First things first, it’s good to know the difference in detectors and their functions. Generally, all detectors get lumped together under the umbrella term ‘fire alarms’, but there are actually two distinct devices, serving different purposes.

When it comes to their performance, capabilities and applications, the two cameras offer different benefits and drawbacks. Due to their wide-ranging lens, both cameras also require specialist installation to ensure a complete view of all necessary areas.

Typically referred to as fire alarms, heat detectors were the first residential detector of this function. Heat detectors do exactly what they say on the tin, they detect when the temperature in a space reaches a certain height.

Generally, these detectors work best in conjunction with others, as they can take a little longer to alert homeowners to a fire. They are particularly useful in working environments, as they can prevent costly damage by ensuring the temperature remains optimal.

Smoke detectors are the most important fire alarm to install in your property. The smoke from a fire can kill residents before the heat alarm has even been sounded. They use entirely different technology to sense a fire, detecting smoke in the air rather than the heat.

Occasionally, your local building code may specify where your alarms should be located within your property. There are also recommendations in the Bermuda Fire Safety Guide. But typically, there are some key areas to install your alarms to make sure your home is fully protected.

• Make sure you have a smoke alarm on each level of the home, including the basement and attic space.
• Each bedroom should have its own smoke alarm, with an additional alarm in the hallway outside bedrooms.
• Don’t install smoke alarms within 10 feet of a cooking appliance, as this can lead to false alarms when cooking.
• Alarms should be installed high on walls or ceilings as smoke rises, reducing the risk of a missed alert.
• Smoke alarms and heat detectors should not be installed close to windows or doors, as draughts may affect their function.
• Opt for interconnected alarms where possible so that when one alarm is sounded, all alarms go off to ensure everyone in the building is alerted.

At Selectron, we are committed to protecting the properties and people of Bermuda. With our range of fire detection devices, we can make sure your property is fully secure, installing alarms around your home in the most effective areas.