How to Install a Smoke Detector in a Drop Ceiling

Install a smoke alarm on each of your home's levels, including the basement. This ensures the earliest possible detection of smoke and buys you valuable escape time, which cuts you and your loved ones' risk of death in half in the event of a fire. Many basements have drop ceilings. If you do not want to mount a smoke detector to the wall near the ceiling, you can mount it in your drop ceiling with the help of a mounting box.

Suspended ceiling mounting box
Drill
Hole saw
Phillips screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the best location for your smoke detector. Near the center of the room is ideal. Hold the mounting box against the drop ceiling tile and trace around it with a pencil. Set the mounting box aside.
- 2
  Cut out the circular tracing with a hole saw of the same diameter. Insert the mounting box into the hole. Tighten the mounting box's set screws to hold it tightly to the ceiling panel.
- 3
  Line up the smoke detector's base plate's screw holes with two of the mounting box's screw holes. Secure the smoke detector in place with the provided screws.
- 4
  Position the holes in the back of the smoke detector with the tabs on the base plate. Twist the smoke detector clockwise to lock it into place.

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