Smoke alarms provide the warning that makes an escape plan possible. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends alarms on every level, inside each bedroom, and outside every separate sleeping area.
Bedrooms and sleeping areas
Place an alarm inside every bedroom and another in the hallway outside. If sleeping rooms are separated into different parts of the house, each area needs nearby coverage. Closed doors can delay smoke reaching a hallway alarm.
Every level, including basements
Install at least one alarm on each level. In a basement, place it near the stairs leading upward and follow the manufacturer’s mounting instructions. Larger floors or closed-off rooms may need extra alarms.
Kitchens and bathrooms
An alarm should be close enough to protect the area without sitting where normal steam causes repeated nuisance alarms. Follow the maker’s distance guidance. Never disable an alarm because it sounds during cooking.
Interconnect when possible
Interconnected alarms all sound when one detects smoke, giving people on another floor more warning. Use compatible products and follow local requirements.
Test and replace
Press the test button monthly. Replace batteries when required and replace the entire alarm according to its date, commonly after ten years. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may need strobes, vibrating pads, or another compatible alert system.
Keep exits clear, practice the escape plan, and treat every alarm as a reason to leave and call 911 from outside.