Georgia Fire Marshal Office
http://www.i
nscomm.state.ga.us/FireMarshal/Home.aspx
Regulations/Standards
**Georgia has statewide requirements for placing smoke alarms in existing and new homes. **To find safety tips
and additional local requirements, please contact your county fire office. However,
residents can use the
following guidelines to choose, properly install and connect smoke alarms.
TITLE 25. FIRE PROTECTION AND SAFETY; CHAPTER 2. REGULATION OF FIRE AND OTHER HAZARDS
TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY GENERALLY, O.C.G.A. § 25
-2-
40 (2009)
§ 25
-2-
40
. Smoke detectors required in new dwellings and dwelling units; exceptions
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (f) of this Code section, on and after July
1, 1987, every new dwelling and every new dwelling unit within an apartment, house,
con
dominium, and townhouse and every motel, hotel, and dormitory shall be provided with
an approved listed smoke detector installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendations and listing.
(2) On and after July 1, 1994, every dwelling and every dwelling unit within an apartment,
house, condominium, and townhouse and every motel, hotel, and dormitory which was
constructed prior to July 1, 1987, shall have installed an approved battery operated smoke
detector which shall be maintained in good working order unless any such building is
otherwise required to have a smoke detector system pursuant to Code Section 25
-2-
13.
There are many different brands of smoke alarms available on the market but they fall under two basic types:
ionization and photoelect
ric.
Ionization alarms
sound more quickly when a flaming, fast moving fire occurs.
Photoelectric alarms
are
quicker at sensing smoldering, smoky fires. There are also combination smoke alarms that combine ionization
and photoelectric into one unit, called dual sensor smoke alarms
.
Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting distinctly different yet
potentially fatal fires, and because homeowners cannot predict what type of fire might start in a home, the
USFA recommends the installation of both ionization and photoelectric or dual sensor smoke alarms.
In addition to the basic types of alarms, there are alarms made to meet the needs of people with hearing
disabilities. These alarms may use strobe lights that flash and/or vibrate to assist in alerting those who are
unable to hear standard smoke alarms when they sound.
For more information please visit:
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/all_citizens/home_fire_prev/alarms/
Installation
General guidelines for smoke alarm placement:
(Continued)
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23
This document contains information that was collected as accurately as possible, however, some or all information may change, without notice, at
any time.
This
document should be used for reference purposes only and should not be considered an official state
specific document of smoke
alarm requirements, nor should it be considered official guidelines or policies of the United States Fire Administration.
(b) In dwellings, dwelling units, and other facilities listed in subsection (a) of this Code
section, a smoke detector shall be mounted on the ceiling or wall at a point centrally located
in the corridor or area giving access to each group of rooms used for sleeping purposes.
Where the dwelling or dwelling unit contains more than one story, detectors are required on
each story including cellars and basements,
but not including uninhabitable attics;…
All corridors and common spaces shall be provided with smoke detectors in accordance with NFPA 72,
National Fire Alarm Code
, arranged to initiate the fire alarm such that it is audible in all sleeping areas.
Detec
tors shall be located in corridors or hallway so there is a detector within 15 feet (4.6 m) of the wall and at
least every 30 feet (9.1 m) thereafter. Where a building has more than one floor level, a detector shall be
located at the top of each stair and inside each enclosure. (Refer to 3.3.184)
Exception No. 1
: Detectors may be excluded from crawl spaces beneath the building
and unused and unfinished attics
.
Exception No. 2
: Unenclosed corridors, passageways, balconies, colonnades, or other
arrangements
where one or more sides along the long dimension are fully or extensively open to the exterior at
all times.”
For more information please visit:
http://w3.lexis
nexis.com/hottopics/gacode/default.asp
and go to Title 25,
Chapter 2, Code Section 25
-2-
40.
Guidelines for connecting the smoke alarm:
Please contact your county fire office for information on connecting your smoke alarm.
Contact:
John W. Oxendine, Safety Fire Commissioner
O
ffice of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner
Two Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, West Tower, Suite 716
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Tel: 404
656
2064
Fax: 404
657
6971
Email:
firemarshal@sfm.ga.gov