(A) General. Smoke alarms shall comply with NFPA 72 and this section.
(B) Listings. Smoke alarms shall be listed in accordance with UL 217. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed in accordance with UL 217 and UL 2034.
(C) Where required. Smoke alarms shall be provided in accordance with this section.
(1) New construction. Smoke alarms shall be provided in dwelling units.
(2) Alterations, repairs and additions.
(a) General requirement. Where alterations, repairs or additions requiring a building permit occur, or where one or more sleeping rooms are added or created in existing dwellings, the individual dwelling unit shall be equipped with smoke alarms located as required for new dwellings.
(b) Exceptions.
1. Work involving the exterior surfaces of dwellings, such as the replacement of roofing or siding, the addition or replacement of windows or doors, or the addition of a porch or deck, are exempt from the requirements of this section.
2. Installation, alteration or repairs of plumbing or mechanical systems are exempt from the requirements of this section.
(D) Location. Smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations:
(1) In each sleeping room;
(2) Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms;
(3) On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements and habitable attics, and not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics;
(4) In dwellings or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, on the upper level for the adjacent lower level, provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level;
(5) Not less than three feet horizontally from the door or opening of a bathroom that contains a bathtub or shower, unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm required in another section.
(E) Installation near cooking appliances. Smoke alarms shall not be installed in the following locations unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm in a location required in another section.
(1) Ionization smoke alarms shall not be installed less than 20 feet horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance.
(2) Ionization smoke alarms with an alarm-silencing switch shall not be installed less than ten feet horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance.
(3) Photoelectric smoke alarms shall not be installed less than six feet horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance.
(F) Interconnection.
(1) General requirement. Where more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit, the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual dwelling unit.
(2) Exceptions.
(a) Physical interconnection of smoke alarms shall not be required, where listed wireless alarms are installed and all alarms sound upon activation of one alarm.
(b) Interconnection of smoke alarms in existing areas shall not be required where alterations or repairs do not result in removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure.
(G) Combination alarms. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms shall be permitted to be used in lieu of smoke alarms.
(H) Power source.
(1) General requirements. Smoke alarms shall receive then primary power from the building wiring where such wiring is served from a commercial source and, where primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than that required for overcurrent protection.
(2) Exceptions.
(a) Smoke alarms shall be permitted to be battery-operated where installed in buildings without commercial power.
(b) Smoke alarms installed in accordance with § 150.16(C)(2) shall be permitted to be battery-powered.
(I) Fire alarm systems. Fire alarm systems shall be permitted to be used in lieu of smoke alarms and shall comply with this section.
(1) General. Fire alarm systems shall comply with the provisions of this code and the household fire warning equipment provisions of NFPA 72. Smoke detectors shall be listed in accordance with UL 268.
(2) Location. Smoke detectors shall be installed in the locations specified above.
(3) Permanent fixture. Where a household fire alarm system is installed, it shall become a permanent fixture of the occupancy, owned by the homeowner. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be permitted to be installed in fire alarm systems in lieu of smoke detectors, provided that they are listed in accordance with UL 268 and UL 2075.
(Ord. 2019-08-01, passed 9-9-19)