Most Effective Location For Smoke Alarm On a Landing

[Speakercon]

Hi all.

When it comes to fitting a smoke alarm on a landing which postion would you consider it best located?

Currenlty it is in positon 1, however I was wondering whether 2 or 3 would be more effective (there is another smoke alarm in the hallway at the bottom of the stairs).

Many thanks

 

[Simon35]

Hi all.

When it comes to fitting a smoke alarm on a landing which postion would you consider it best located?

Currenlty it is in positon 1, however I was wondering whether 2 or 3 would be more effective (there is another smoke alarm in the hallway at the bottom of the stairs).

Many thanks

I would have thought they are all equally effective. You're overthinking it, it's smoke, it will drift around in the breeze...

 

[Speakercon]

Okay then, what would be the standard position you would put it in?

 

[JohnW2]

Okay then, what would be the standard position you would put it in?

Probably 2 or 3, since access to the ceiling over the stairs would presumably be less straightforward. make sure you comply with the manufacturer's recommendation about distance from walls etc.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Risteard]

make sure you comply with the manufacturer's recommendation about distance from walls etc.

Not merely manufacturer's instructions - there are explicit requirements for siting in BS 5839-6 (assuming domestic, otherwise BS 5839-1).

 

[JohnW2]

Not merely manufacturer's instructions - there are explicit requirements for siting in BS 5839-6 (assuming domestic, otherwise BS 5839-1).

One would hope that the manufacturer's instructions would be consistent with the relevant Standards (and most users have access to the former, but not to the latter).

Kind Regards, John

 

[flameport]

Position 3, so that people are actually able to reach it and press the test button.

 

[JohnW2]

Position 3, so that people are actually able to reach it and press the test button.

Fair enough, but I would imagine that if they could reach Position 3 (with or without standing on something), they could equally reach Position 2. As I said originally, it's really only Position 1 that might well create access problems.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Taylortwocities]

None of you experts has mentioned the location of the alarm must take account of the locations of the bedrooms.
There’s no point having an alarm going off at night if nobody can hear it!
So, need a better dimension plan of the landing, with locations of rooms and doors.

 

[JohnW2]

None of you experts has mentioned the location of the alarm must take account of the locations of the bedrooms. There’s no point having an alarm going off at night if nobody can hear it!

True (albeit I would certainly make no claims of being anything approaching an 'expert' in this field - or any electrical field, come to that!) - but I did rather presume that some common sense was also being applied!

Unless the scale of the OP's diagram is incredibly unusual (e..g. 20ft wide stairs!) I doubt that the choice between the three positions the OP has indicated would make any noticeable difference to whether or not the alarm could be heard in bedrooms, wherever they are (although, if it's an enormous house, I suppose it might not be heard in any of them!).

Kind Regards, John

 

[pilsbury]

As long as it’s a regular 3-5 bed house, a decent smoke alarm, mains or long life battery sited anywhere on the landing ceiling, 20cm from walls will be fine. Not in a recessed loft hatch or anything daft. Make sure it’s tested every month. Position for this is important. Right over the deepest part of the stairwell is gonna lead to lack of testing.

Smoke will very quickly reach the whole ceiling and set it off. One on each level of the house.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Not merely manufacturer's instructions - there are explicit requirements for siting in BS 5839-6 (assuming domestic, otherwise BS 5839-1).

He is right about that. I mentioned distance specifically because BS 5839-6 reads:

Unless there is, within the bedroom, a fire alarm sounder or a smoke alarm (or heat alarm) that will give a fire alarm signal whenever fire is detected anywhere in the dwelling, in all Category LD systems the sound pressure level of fire alarm signals, if measured at the doorway of each bedroom (with the door open), should be at least 85 dB(A), irrespective of where fire is detected in the dwelling.

 

[Speakercon]

Thanks guys for the input, no worries on that score as an alarm is going in every room (interlinked).

 

[JohnW2]

Thanks guys for the input, no worries on that score as an alarm is going in every room (interlinked).

In that case, any position that is convenient and consistent with the manufacturer's advice and instructions (which I feel sure will reflect relevant Standards and regulations) would be fine for the landing one. As I and others have said, the main thing to avoid it siting it somewhere where, because of difficult access, it probably would not be tested as often as it should be.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Fair enough, but I would imagine that if they could reach Position 3 (with or without standing on something), they could equally reach Position 2.

And if they can't reach the ceiling without standing on something, or if it cannot be guaranteed that there will never be a time when someone who can't reach needs to, #2 might worry them.

Position 3, so that people are actually able to reach it and press the test button.