Smoke Detector Requirements

SMOKE DETECTOR REQUIREMENTS

FOR

BATTERY OPERATED - HARD WIRED - LOW VOLTAGE SYSTEMS

New as of 05-10-2023

Effective Immediately, the Medfield Fire Department will no longer test low voltage detector systems during resale inspections. We are now requiring that a certified fire alarm technician/company be present to assist in conducting the compliance testing.

When scheduling resale inspections, you will be asked if the home to be inspected has a low voltage system. Is the system controlled by a key pad to control and reset the system?  If so, you have a low voltage system.  The NFPA 72 code states that low voltage systems are to be maintained in accordance with specific sections of the NFPA 72 code and that detectors shall be tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Annual inspection is required per 527 CMR 1, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code.

We do not know if the low voltage system was maintained properly and that we are testing the devices and system appropriately. Therefore, a certified alarm tech/company must be present.

If the agent or homeowner refuses to comply with this requirement, we will not do the inspection.

If there are questions regarding these new requirements, please contact the following department members:

Chief William Carrico

Captain William DeKing, Fire Prevention Officer

Captain Neil Kingsbury

Requirements by year of Construction

Typical one- and two-family residences built before January 1, 1975:

Smoke detectors are required: 

On every habitable level of the residence.

In the basement.

On the ceiling at the base of each stairway leading to a floor above including the basement (but not within stairways).

On the ceiling outside each separate sleeping area.

In two-family dwellings, smoke alarms are required in common areas shared by residents.

They must be:

Photoelectric. (Can be in combination with ionization or carbon monoxide.)

Battery-powered, hardwired, or a combination of both.

Not more than 10 years old

Battery-powered detectors must have 10-year, sealed, non-rechargeable, non-replaceable batteries.

If they are combination units (Smoke and CO) they must talk

Carbon monoxide alarms are required:

On every level of the residence, including habitable portions of basements and attics and must be located within 10 feet of each bedroom door.

Combination alarms (photoelectric smoke and carbon monoxide alarm) may be used.

Combination alarms must have both a tone and simulated voice alarm to distinguish the type of emergency.

May be either: battery powered, plug-in with battery backup, hardwired with battery backup, or system type.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement.

Typical one- and two-family residences permitted between 1975 and August 27, 1997:

Smoke detectors are required: 

One smoke detector on every habitable level of the residence.

One smoke detector on the ceiling at the base of each stairway.

One smoke detector on the ceiling outside of each separate sleeping area.

A minimum of one smoke detector must be installed for every 1,200 square feet of living space per level.

Must be hardwired interconnected smoke detectors.

Carbon monoxide alarms are required:

On every level of the residence, including habitable portions of basements and attics and must be located within 10 feet of each bedroom door.

Combination alarms (photoelectric smoke and carbon monoxide alarm) may be used anywhere. – Combination alarms (ionization smoke and carbon monoxide alarm) may be used if the alarm is more than 20 feet from a kitchen or bathroom (containing a bathtub or shower).

Combination alarms must have both a tone and simulated voice alarm to distinguish the type of emergency.

May be either: battery powered, plug-in with battery backup, hardwired with battery backup, or system type.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement.

Typical one- and two-family residences permitted after August 27, 1997:

Smoke detectors are required:

One smoke detector on every habitable level of the residence.

One smoke detector at the base of each stairway.

One smoke detector outside of each separate sleeping area.

One smoke detector inside every bedroom.

A minimum of one smoke detector must be installed for every 1,200 square feet of living space per level.

Must be hardwired and interconnected smoke detectors with battery backup.

If the smoke detector is within 20 feet of a kitchen or bathroom (containing a bathtub or shower), the smoke detector is required to be a photoelectric detector.

Carbon monoxide alarms are required:

On every level of the residence, including habitable portions of basements and attics and must be located within 10 feet of each bedroom door.

Combination alarms (photoelectric smoke and carbon monoxide alarm) may be used anywhere.

Combination alarms (ionization smoke and carbon monoxide alarm) may be used if the alarm is more than 20 feet from a kitchen or bathroom (containing a bathtub or shower).

Combination alarms must have both a tone and simulated voice alarm to distinguish the type of emergency.

May be either: battery powered, plug-in with battery backup, hardwired with battery backup, or system type.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement.

Typical one- and two-family residences permitted on or after January 1, 2008:

Smoke detectors are required: 

One smoke detector on every habitable level of the residence.

One smoke detector at the base of each stairway.

One smoke detector outside of each separate sleeping area.

One smoke detector inside every bedroom.

A minimum of one smoke detector must be installed for every 1,200 square feet of living space per level.

Must be hardwired and interconnected smoke detectors with battery backup.

If the smoke detector is within 20 feet of a kitchen or bathroom (containing a bathtub or shower), the smoke detector is required to be a photoelectric detector.

If the smoke detector is outside of 20 feet of a kitchen or a bathroom (containing a bathtub or shower), the smoke detector is required to be either a photoelectric detector or a dual detector (containing both ionization and photoelectric technologies).

Carbon monoxide alarms are required:

On every level of the residence, including basements and habitable portions of attics and must be located within 10 feet of each bedroom door.

Combination detectors (photoelectric smoke and carbon monoxide detector) may be used.

Must be hardwired and interconnected with battery backup. (May be separately wired from the existing smoke detection system.)

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement.

Heat detectors are required as follows:

Must have a single heat detector in any garage attached to or under the residence.

Must be hardwired and interconnected with or without battery backup to the existing smoke detection system.

Heat detectors are not required in older homes unless renovation, addition or modification occurs after Jan. 1, 2008.

Typical one- and two-family residences permitted on or after February 4, 2011:

Smoke detectors are required: 

One smoke detector in the basement and on each habitable story of the residence.

One smoke detector at the base of all stairs to another occupied floor .

One smoke detector outside of each separate sleeping area.

One smoke detector inside every sleeping area.

A minimum of one smoke detector must be installed for every 1,200 square feet of area or part thereof.

Must be hardwired and interconnected smoke detector with battery backup.

All smoke detector must be photoelectric.

Carbon monoxide alarms are required: 

On every level of the residence, including basements and habitable portions of attics, and must be located within 10 feet of each bedroom door.

Combination alarms (photoelectric smoke and carbon monoxide alarm) may be used.

Must be hardwired and interconnected with battery backup. (May be separately wired from the existing smoke detection system.)

Heat alarms are required: 

Must have a single heat alarm in any garage attached to or under the residence.

Must be hardwired and interconnected with or without battery backup to the existing smoke detection system.

Heat alarms are not required in garages of older homes unless renovation, addition or modification occurs after Jan. 1, 2008.

Hard Wired Smoke Detectors and when to replace them

The requirements for smoke alarms and household fire alarms systems are outlined in the 2013 NFPA 72: Chapter 29; the 2013 NFPA 72: 29.10 sends you to the 2013 NFPA 72: Chapter 14 for maintenance/inspection requirements for both smoke alarms and smoke detectors.

NFPA 72, 29 Single – and Multiple-Station Alarms and Household Fire Alarm Systems

NFPA 72, 29.10 Maintenance and Tests - Fire-warning equipment shall be maintained and tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s published instructions and per the requirements of Chapter 14.

NFPA 72, 14.4.6 Household Fire Alarm Systems

NFPA 72, 14.4.7 Replacement of Smoke Alarms in One- and Two-Family Dwellings - Unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer’s published instructions, single- and multiple-station smoke alarms installed in one- and two-family dwellings shall be replaced when they fail to respond to operability test but shall not remain in service longer than 10 years from the date of manufacture.