Statistics have shown that next to kitchen fires, fires originating in bedrooms within dwelling units account for the second highest causes of fire deaths in homes.
The requirement for smoke alarms in sleeping rooms (bedrooms) provides early detection and warning of fires originating in sleeping rooms. Smoke alarms located outside sleeping rooms are required as they are better capable of detecting a fire originating outside of the room.
A smoke alarm is not required on each level in a split-level dwelling unit as each level does not count as a separate storey.
Determine the number of storeys in a split-level dwelling unit and which levels are part of which storey as follows:
1.
establish grade, (See definition of “grade” in Sentence 1.4.1.2.(1) of Division A.);
2.
identify the first storey, (See definition of “first storey” in Sentence 1.4.1.2.(1) of Division A.);
3.
identify the basement, (See definition of “basement” in Sentence 1.4.1.2.(1) of Division A.);
4.
identify the second storey and, where applicable, the third storey. As a minimum, one smoke alarm is required to be installed on each storey, preferably on the upper level of each one. As noted above, however, when the dwelling unit contains more than one sleeping area, a smoke alarm must be installed to serve each area. Where the sleeping areas are on two levels of a single storey in a split-level dwelling unit, an additional smoke alarm must be installed so that both areas are protected. See Figure A-9.10.19.3.(1).
Two-Storey Split-Level Building
Notes to Figure A-9.10.19.3.(1):
(1) One smoke alarm required lor each of the basement, first storey and second storey.
(2) An additional smoke alarm is required on the lower level of the second storey outside the sleeping rooms.