Do Smoke Detectors Have to Be Wired in to Meet Standards?

Hard-Wired Smoke Alarms

• Traditionally, smoke detectors are standalone devices that run on battery power. But more and more homeowners are opting to install hard-wired smoke detectors in lieu of standalone battery-powered ones. Hard-wired systems are connected to the home's electrical source. Hard-wired systems also typically have battery backups in case of a house-wide power failure and are typically wired so that when one alarm goes off, all the other alarms in the house will sound as well.

Legality

• Smoke detector regulations differ on a state-by-state and even on a city-by-city basis. Some states require all smoke alarms to be hard-wired. Some states only require homes built after a certain date to use hard-wired smoke detectors, because upgrading to a hard-wired system in an older home would be prohibitively expensive. Still other states may not mandate hard-wired smoke detectors on a state level, but a city, town or municipality may have requirements for hard-wired systems. If you are not sure which regulations apply to your case, ask a local fire department or a local government official. The National Fire Protection Association works as an advocate for consensus codes and standards.

Installation & Maintenance Tips

• Arguably the biggest obstacle facing homeowners interested in a hard-wired smoke detector system is that installation of such a system will require a professional electrician. If the hard-wired system you install uses a battery backup, the batteries will need to be checked and maintained just as often as you would do so for a traditional standalone system. Local safety regulations may also require that a smoke detector be placed on the outside of each bedroom door and that all the detectors on the system be wired together so that all alarms sound at once.

Other Considerations

• Whether a matter of compliance with regulation or not, it is surely wise to install your smoke detectors in a manner that offers the most protection to you and your family. In general, smoke detectors should be placed as high as possible on the wall, yet still low enough to allow for 6 to 12 inches clearance between the smoke detector and the ceiling. Never install a smoke detector closer than 6 inches from the junction of the ceiling and the wall, because smoke from a fire will not collect in this "dead air" space. Also never install a smoke detector near a vent that's part of a central heating or cooling system.