What Distance From a Bedroom Wall Should Smoke Detectors Be Placed?

Rule of Thumb

• In residential homes, smoke detectors should be installed in bedrooms and in areas that lead to bedrooms as they must be loud enough to wake the sleeper in the event of a fire. A good rule of thumb, according to the Ohio State University Extension website, is to place a smoke detector between the bedrooms and the rest of the home but always closer to the bedrooms. For example, in Chicago, residents are required by law to install smoke detectors within 15 feet of the bedroom entrance if there is one bedroom area in the house, whereas bedrooms more than 30 feet apart require two detectors.

Open- and Closed-door Bedrooms

• If the bedroom occupant closes his door at night, a smoke detector should be placed in the room, particularly if the occupant is a smoker or hearing-impaired. A closed bedroom door is a good way to prevent a house fire from entering the room, but without an alarm directly in the room, the occupant may not hear the hallway alarm. In single-floor homes in which bedroom doors remain open at night, a smoke detector should be installed in the hallway that leads to the bedrooms while multiple-floor homes need detectors at the top of the stairs that lead to the bedroom area. Multiple-level homes should also have a fire alarm on each level, including the basement.

Wall Placement

• For optimal protection, you should install your smoke detector on the ceiling or high on the wall, where it can identify rising smoke. When installing the detector on a wall, avoid mounting the detector near heating or cooling ducts, which may deflect the smoke away from the detector. A good rule of thumb for wall placement, according to the website CheckThisHouse.com, is as close to the center of the ceiling as possible but at least 4 inches away from the sidewalls and corners. If you are installing one on a wall, make sure it is placed no more than 4 inches from the ceiling and 12 inches from the ground. On sloped ceilings, detectors should be placed within 3 inches of the highest point of the ceiling.

Interconnected Alarms

• In homes with multiple sleeping areas or floors, an interconnected smoke detector is a smart choice. Interconnected detectors sound the alarm throughout the entire house if one detector senses a fire, which can add more time for escape, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The CPSC also recommends that every household develop a fire exit strategy, with multiple bedroom exits identified and a pre-determined meeting area for all family members once outside.