Fire Detector Placement

Chapter 14
Page 425
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Objectives
Describe how detectors are listed by
Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
Explain why detectors are not permitted to
be positioned too close to the corners of a
room where the ceiling meets the wall
Determine the spacing of detectors in a
room with a smooth flat ceiling
Determine locations of detectors in a room
with unusually configured walls
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Objectives
Space detectors in a corridor
Discuss rules for placement of detectors
on sloped ceilings
Determine the locations of detectors on
ceilings with solid joists or beams
Explain why detectors are not permitted to
be located too close to supply air ducts
3

Objectives
Describe the effect of floor-mounted
partitions on a ceiling jet
Determine the optimum locations for beam
detectors, flame detectors, gas detectors,
and duct detectors

Heat Detector Listings

Heat detectors are listed by UL as follows:
Heat detector type
Temperature rating
Listed smooth ceiling spacing between
detectors
Listed smooth ceiling spacing to wall or
partition
Contact arrangement
Detector model number

Smoke Detector Listings

Smoke detectors are listed by UL under
category UROX as follows:
APPLICATION
DETECTOR TYPE
COMPATIBILITY RESTRICTIONS
INSTALLATION CRITERIA
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Spot-Type Detector Spacing

Corner Placement for Spot-Type
Detectors: The 4-Inch Rule
Smooth Ceiling Spacing of Spot-Type
Detectors
Spot-Type Detector Spacing for Unusual
Wall Configurations
Spot-Type Detector Spacing in Corridors
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Spot-Type Detector Spacing

Figure 14-1. Ceiling jet dynamics for corner fires; NFPA 72

prohibits spot detectors being placed within the blind spot

Spot-Type Detector Spacing

Figure 14-5. Illustration of .7 Smax rule, or circle of coverage

Ex. 14-1: Ceiling Spacing of

Spot-Type Detectors

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Ex. 14-2: Ceiling Spacing of

Spot-Type Detectors Spacing
Less than Listed Spacing

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Ex. 14-2: Ceiling Spacing of

Spot-Type Detectors Spacing
Less than Listed Spacing

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Ex. 14-2: Ceiling Spacing of

Spot-Type Detectors Spacing
Less than Listed Spacing

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Spot-Type Detector Spacing

Spot-Type Detector Spacing for Smooth
Peaked Ceilings
Spot-Type Detector Spacing for Smooth
Shed Ceilings
Spot-Type Detector Spacing for Solid Joist
Construction
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Spot-Type Detector Spacing

Figure 14-8. Sectional view of a peaked ceiling; a detector must be placed within 3
feet (900 mm) of the roof peak,
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and spacing is measured along the floor, not along the slope

Spot-Type Heat Detector Spacing

for Beamed Construction Body Of
NFPA 72
Spot-Type Heat Detector Spacing for
Beamed ConstructionAnnex of NFPA 72
NFPA 72 requirements
Effect of Ceiling Height on Spot-Type Heat
Detectors
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Ex. 14-3: Detector Placement

for Beamed Construction

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Ex. 14-3: Detector Placement

for Beamed Construction

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Spacing Of Line-Type Heat

Detectors
Spacing requirements (see Table 14-1,
Page 441):
Line-type detectors on a ceiling must be not
more than 20 inches from the ceiling
Line-type detectors are mounted to the bottom
of solid joists
Line-type detectors are mounted to the
bottoms of beams, where beams are less than
12 inches deep and less than 8 feet apart on
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center

Spot-Type Smoke Detector

Spacing
Spacing near Air Vents
Spacing near Floor-Mounted Partitions
Spot-Type Smoke Detection for Raised
Floors and Suspended Ceilings
Spot-Type Smoke Detectors in High Air
Movement Areas
Spot-Type Smoke Detectors for Smoke
Control Systems

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Spot-Type Smoke Detector

Spacing P.443

Figure 14-13. Smoke detector spacing for beamed

construction

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Projected Beam Smoke

Detector Spacing P.451
Beam detectors work on the following
principles:
Beam detector consists of sender and receiver
NFPA 72 (2007) requires that
The sender and receiver be mounted firmly to avoid
movement of the projected beam and possible
unwanted alarms
The projected beam remain unobstructed by storage,
ceiling-mounted equipment, or other objects that
would result in a trouble condition on the FACU and
prohibit the detectors from sensing smoke
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Projected Beam Smoke

Detector Spacing
Smoke obscures the projected beam and
reduces transmission of the infrared beam
to the receiver
Beam detectors are for indoor use, and are
to be mounted to stable surfaces
Mirrors can be used with projected beams,
per manufacturers instructions, provided
that mirrors are mounted to stable surfaces
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Projected Beam Smoke

Detector Spacing
Spacing for smooth ceilings must be per
manufacturers instructions
For beamed construction, some
manufacturers require that beam detectors
be mounted in each beam pocket if
Beam depth exceeds 18 inches
Support beam spacing is greater than 8 feet
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Projected Beam Smoke

Detector Spacing
For solid joists less than 8 inches in depth,
some manufacturers require that the
ceiling be considered as a smooth ceiling
NFPA 72 requires beam detectors on
sloped ceilings be installed parallel to peak

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Projected Beam Smoke

Detector Spacing

Figure 14-23. Sloped ceiling installation for

beam detectors

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Flame Detector Placement

A flame detector can perceive a fire that is
viewed within its cone of vision
Its ability to sense a fire depends on
Position of the fire within the cone of vision
Distance from the fire to the detector
Size of the fire
Matching the spectral response of the detector
to the spectral emissions of the fire
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Flame Detector Placement

Each flame detector is listed for a specific
viewing angle that defines the cone of
vision
Placement of flame detectors usually
requires considerable field experience and
consultation with the manufacturer
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Gas-Sensing Detector
Placement
May sense a potentially hazardous
condition in advance of ignition, or may
sense gaseous combustion by products
Spaced in accordance with NFPA 72
(2007) and their listing
NFPA 72 has replaced detailed spacing
requirements on gas-sensing fire detectors
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An Engineering Approach To
Heat Detector Placement
Best way to ensure detection in a building
Conduct fire testing in numerous areas
Determine best detector
Determine best detector locations

Calculated Heat Detector Placement per

NFPA 72 Annex B (2007 Edition)
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Summary
The placement of detectors must consider
Type of fire
Dynamics of the ceiling jet
Attributes of the detector
Properties of the ceiling or surface onto which
the detectors are mounted

NFPA 72 provides minimum requirements

for the spacing of detectors
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Summary
Designers must analyze the anticipated
fire and the space requiring detection
Annex B of NFPA 72 provides engineered
approach to positioning detectors
Specific requirements for
Heat detectors
Smoke detectors
Beam detectors
Gas detectors
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