jar546
CBO
In our municipality, we adopted Section K111.6 of Appendix K from the Florida Building Code (same language as in the IBC), and I think more jurisdictions should consider doing the same.
This isn’t about nitpicking the NEC or adding burdens. It’s about life safety. When a smoke alarm is on its own dedicated circuit, it can quietly lose power—whether from a tripped breaker, a bad connection, or someone turning it off and no one knows. That alarm becomes nothing more than a piece of plastic on the ceiling.
When it’s tied to lighting in a habitable space, if that circuit loses power, someone notices right away because the lights stop working. It’s a built-in warning system.
And let’s be honest, people are quick to disconnect the battery when a smoke alarm starts chirping. If the hardwired power is also out and no one knows, they’ve just disabled the only thing protecting them while they sleep.
This code section closes that loophole. It’s simple, inexpensive, and smart.
Anyone else out there adopted this provision? Would your jurisdiction consider it for the greater good?
This isn’t about nitpicking the NEC or adding burdens. It’s about life safety. When a smoke alarm is on its own dedicated circuit, it can quietly lose power—whether from a tripped breaker, a bad connection, or someone turning it off and no one knows. That alarm becomes nothing more than a piece of plastic on the ceiling.
When it’s tied to lighting in a habitable space, if that circuit loses power, someone notices right away because the lights stop working. It’s a built-in warning system.
And let’s be honest, people are quick to disconnect the battery when a smoke alarm starts chirping. If the hardwired power is also out and no one knows, they’ve just disabled the only thing protecting them while they sleep.
This code section closes that loophole. It’s simple, inexpensive, and smart.
Anyone else out there adopted this provision? Would your jurisdiction consider it for the greater good?