Smoke alarms (or "Smoke Detectors" as we commonly call them) are a small safety device that should be in every home. The International Residential Code (IRC) sets the groundwork for new construction and remodeling and where these should go. In Part 1 we will look at Sections R314 and R315 to see what exactly the code book says about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

In Part 2 we will explore what manufacturers say about how their devices are supposed to be installed. It's not enough to know what the code book says about these. Manufacturers installation instructions are a vital part of getting these installed properly.