Link to other Know How Now videos about smoke alarms: th-cam.com/play/PLvce66kQTjJQtdTS3bjRsGC8vsb9aVQzH.html There are hundreds of videos at Know How Now, subscribe so you can always find the channel…. It’s free. I always respect your time and do my best to keep the videos brief, but informative. Check out the channel with this link: www.youtube.com/@Know-How-Now/videos
Hey Ms. Know How Now - Thank you for taking the time and effort to produce this excellent, easy to follow, video tutorial on the placement of smoke detectors per manufacturer instructions, and most importantly, the National Fire Code - it solved many questions among the members of our family.
You are welcome. I strongly encourage you to install smoke alarms that are photo electric or photo/ionization combo in your home. If you have old ionization types, replace them. The new materials in our homes have cut down the safe escape time from a fire. Unfortunately, when the battery operated ones appeared on the market the ionization ones were much cheaper than the photo electric ones. The photos didn't sell and stores stopped selling them. For a long time it was almost impossible to buy a photo electric battery powered smoke alarm. They have now reappeared on the market. The photo electric or photo/ionization combos are the best choice for a home. I worked in the fire alarm industry for 20 years. We did not install ionization detectors in a home. Here's a link to a short video I made: th-cam.com/video/ttkj9fH6WtI/w-d-xo.html
This was the best video I've seen on this topic and watched several official vids from national organizations. To the point and concise...love it! I'm still trying to decide about one in my kitchen. Currently there isn't one. My family room, breakfast nook and kitchen are laid out on L shape open concept with kitchen at top of L, breakfast nook corner (both lower ceilings) and family room beside that with seventeen foot ceiling with wired smoke at top of ceiling. Hope it never needs battery backup replacement. I thought about adding a Nest protect in the breakfast nook to pick up a fire initiating in the kitchen quicker and CO2 detection for the gas fireplace in family room. Just don't want nuisance alarms.
I spent about 20 years as a fire alarm/low voltage building electronics tech. I have not checked lately, but at some point I think we will see a "smart" smoke alarm available. I'd guess the big problem with one that runs of battery is battery life. I am not current, but the "smart" technology may be available from a professional installation company. I'd stay away from the Nest. I looked at the reviews and I think they have a lot of problems that have been "papered over". Maybe they are better now, again, I'm not current.
I have a very high vaunted ceiling. From what I've seen 3' down will be acceptable is that correct? Also how far away from doors that lead outside? Thanks for sharing this video.
Hi Will. Good question, I should have put a note on the diagram for peaked ceilings. It got past me, I spent many hours trying to get the meat of the code into a 5 minute video. 29.8.3.1 Peaked Ceilings (NFPA 72 2016) says the lowest is within 36 inches of the peak, and as shown a minimum of 4 inches below the peak. That hasn't changed for many years, the 2002 version is the same. I don't know of any place in NFPA 72 that cites a distance from an outside door. It's impossible to know all the codes that apply to the entire country. People spend their entire career on interpreting or enforcing codes. Ultimately, however your code official interprets the codes is the law. Please consider supporting the channel & subscribe. I'll need subscribers to continue to be able to add videos. TH-cam has recently cut down on suggesting shorter videos... that hurts my channel. Most of the videos are short and to the point.
I honor this a lot. I have at my apartment however an interconnected AC powered system. When the one in the kitchen goes off, it will also go off in the hallway and three bedrooms. The reason I had to disconnect the smoke detector in my bedroom was because with all the nuisance alarms, I always got woken up and it was coffee was being boiled on the stove, someone took a hot shower, or I woke everybody else up because I was vaping. I am still able to wake up when it goes off because it is loud enough in the hallway to hear in my bedroom.
I've seen bad placement cause a lot of false alarms or in locations that may cause a slow response. Too bad your apartment doesn't have a high end commercial system. Siemen's has had "smart" smoke detectors on the market for years. They could be "programmed" for the type of environment where they were installed. There was rarely a false alarm from them. That technology is finally coming to smoke alarms.
I'd be down for one of those. I really want one that would not react to steam within heavy quantities and for the kitchen to only react to heavy quantities of burning plastic. I have the standard AC interconnected first alert ones.
WHERE...... in the NEC codebook all of the location minimum distance/location requirements?? Why does no one seem to know where they are, but can tell everyone what they are? What is the correct information that the AHJ goes by "according to enforcing the NEC code requirements"?
At 1:30 I tell you the code is in NFPA 72 - It's not in NEC codebook. Your AHJ is going to use the version of NFPA 72 that your state/municipality has adopted.
Link to other Know How Now videos about smoke alarms: th-cam.com/play/PLvce66kQTjJQtdTS3bjRsGC8vsb9aVQzH.html
There are hundreds of videos at Know How Now, subscribe so you can always find the channel…. It’s free. I always respect your time and do my best to keep the videos brief, but informative. Check out the channel with this link:
www.youtube.com/@Know-How-Now/videos
Hey Ms. Know How Now - Thank you for taking the time and effort to produce this excellent, easy to follow, video tutorial on the placement of smoke detectors per manufacturer instructions, and most importantly, the National Fire Code - it solved many questions among the members of our family.
You are welcome. I strongly encourage you to install smoke alarms that are photo electric or photo/ionization combo in your home. If you have old ionization types, replace them. The new materials in our homes have cut down the safe escape time from a fire. Unfortunately, when the battery operated ones appeared on the market the ionization ones were much cheaper than the photo electric ones. The photos didn't sell and stores stopped selling them. For a long time it was almost impossible to buy a photo electric battery powered smoke alarm. They have now reappeared on the market. The photo electric or photo/ionization combos are the best choice for a home. I worked in the fire alarm industry for 20 years. We did not install ionization detectors in a home. Here's a link to a short video I made: th-cam.com/video/ttkj9fH6WtI/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much for this video! I especially appreciate the varied floor plans.
You are welcome.
Your videos are clear and easy to follow. Keep up the great work.
Thanks Will.
This was the best video I've seen on this topic and watched several official vids from national organizations. To the point and concise...love it! I'm still trying to decide about one in my kitchen. Currently there isn't one. My family room, breakfast nook and kitchen are laid out on L shape open concept with kitchen at top of L, breakfast nook corner (both lower ceilings) and family room beside that with seventeen foot ceiling with wired smoke at top of ceiling. Hope it never needs battery backup replacement. I thought about adding a Nest protect in the breakfast nook to pick up a fire initiating in the kitchen quicker and CO2 detection for the gas fireplace in family room. Just don't want nuisance alarms.
I spent about 20 years as a fire alarm/low voltage building electronics tech. I have not checked lately, but at some point I think we will see a "smart" smoke alarm available. I'd guess the big problem with one that runs of battery is battery life. I am not current, but the "smart" technology may be available from a professional installation company. I'd stay away from the Nest. I looked at the reviews and I think they have a lot of problems that have been "papered over". Maybe they are better now, again, I'm not current.
I have a very high vaunted ceiling. From what I've seen 3' down will be acceptable is that correct? Also how far away from doors that lead outside? Thanks for sharing this video.
Hi Will. Good question, I should have put a note on the diagram for peaked ceilings. It got past me, I spent many hours trying to get the meat of the code into a 5 minute video. 29.8.3.1 Peaked Ceilings (NFPA 72 2016) says the lowest is within 36 inches of the peak, and as shown a minimum of 4 inches below the peak. That hasn't changed for many years, the 2002 version is the same.
I don't know of any place in NFPA 72 that cites a distance from an outside door. It's impossible to know all the codes that apply to the entire country. People spend their entire career on interpreting or enforcing codes. Ultimately, however your code official interprets the codes is the law.
Please consider supporting the channel & subscribe. I'll need subscribers to continue to be able to add videos. TH-cam has recently cut down on suggesting shorter videos... that hurts my channel. Most of the videos are short and to the point.
Very nice presentation!
Thanks for the compliment!
Great video - thanks
You are welcome, Nathan.
I honor this a lot. I have at my apartment however an interconnected AC powered system. When the one in the kitchen goes off, it will also go off in the hallway and three bedrooms. The reason I had to disconnect the smoke detector in my bedroom was because with all the nuisance alarms, I always got woken up and it was coffee was being boiled on the stove, someone took a hot shower, or I woke everybody else up because I was vaping. I am still able to wake up when it goes off because it is loud enough in the hallway to hear in my bedroom.
I've seen bad placement cause a lot of false alarms or in locations that may cause a slow response. Too bad your apartment doesn't have a high end commercial system. Siemen's has had "smart" smoke detectors on the market for years. They could be "programmed" for the type of environment where they were installed. There was rarely a false alarm from them. That technology is finally coming to smoke alarms.
I'd be down for one of those. I really want one that would not react to steam within heavy quantities and for the kitchen to only react to heavy quantities of burning plastic. I have the standard AC interconnected first alert ones.
Nice video. Thank you!
You are welcome! Thank you for watching the video and the compliment.
Great 👍, thanks
You are welcome. Have a great day.
Why would it tick
WHERE...... in the NEC codebook all of the location minimum distance/location requirements?? Why does no one seem to know where they are, but can tell everyone what they are? What is the correct information that the AHJ goes by "according to enforcing the NEC code requirements"?
At 1:30 I tell you the code is in NFPA 72 - It's not in NEC codebook. Your AHJ is going to use the version of NFPA 72 that your state/municipality has adopted.
Thank you!
You are welcome!
Know How Now c bjbn
Robotic voice
It's my pleasure to take the time to make a video to help you at no cost to you. You response is make a personal attack and criticize the way I talk.
Know How Now Nothing wrong with a robotic voice ...sounds like you are prejudice against robots. #robotlivesmatter