3 Ways to Know How Many Fire Alarms You Need

2/20/2022 (Permalink)

According to the NFPA you should have smoke alarms in every room.

Most homeowners know that a smoke detector and a fire alarm are mainstays of keeping your home safe from disaster, but knowing how many you should have to be safe is another issue entirely. Is one per room enough? Read on to get pointers on how to protect your Cleveland, TX, home from fire damage with the proper number of alarms.

Types of Fire Detectors and Alarms

It may come as a surprise, but every fire sensor is not the same. The main options for protecting your home from fire include:

• Heat detectors, which include an element activated when a fixed temperature is reached
  
• Smoke alarms, which work by using special technology that reacts to the ions in high levels of smoke
  
  

Smoke detectors are among the most common and effective residential fire protection devices, but they’re only useful if they’re applied properly.

How Many Rooms Do You Have?

According to the National Fire Protection Association, you should have smoke alarms in every room, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For a two-story, three-bedroom house, that means you’ll need at least five to be safe.

How Big Is Your Home?

On average, a smoke detector will cover about 900 square feet. Additionally, experts advise installing a fire alarm every 30 feet in straight runs, meaning a hallway or large, unobstructed room. Some states have specific requirements, so it’s worth it to do your research in addition to using this rule of thumb.

Don’t Forget the Basement

While it’s often an afterthought, especially if it’s unfinished, the basement of your home is just as susceptible to fire and smoke damage as any other room. Make sure your fire protection plan includes installing devices here.

Fortunately, a simple fire alarm is affordable and readily available, but you must know how to use one for it to work. Follow the above rules of thumb from fire damage experts to keep your home safe and secure.