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Smoke Alarm Installation Changes in the 2024 IRC: Removal of Outdated Provisions

jar546

jar546

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Smoke Alarm Installation Changes in the 2024 IRC: Removal of Outdated Provisions​

In the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), significant revisions have been made to Section R314.3.1, which governs the installation of smoke alarms near cooking appliances. The proposal, led by Mike Nugent, Chair of the Building Code Action Committee, removes several outdated provisions related to specific smoke alarm technologies.

The following outdated requirements have been struck through and removed:
  • Ionization smoke alarms were previously prohibited from being installed less than 20 feet from a cooking appliance.
  • Ionization smoke alarms with an alarm-silencing switch were previously prohibited from being installed less than 10 feet from a cooking appliance.
  • Photoelectric smoke alarms were previously prohibited from being installed less than 6 feet from a cooking appliance.
  • Smoke alarms marked "helps reduce cooking nuisance alarms" were previously required to be installed at least 6 feet from a cooking appliance.
These provisions were removed because modern smoke alarms are now designed with advanced resistance to common nuisance sources, such as cooking activities. The removal aligns with new performance requirements in UL 217, which reduce the frequency of false alarms from cooking-related activities like pan-frying or baking. This revision ensures consistency with NFPA 72 and the latest smoke alarm technologies, making these older technology-specific placement rules unnecessary.

The committee agreed that this change reflects advancements in smoke alarm performance and technology, which better serve homeowners by reducing unwanted alarms and minimizing the risk of them disabling the alarms altogether.

These updates streamline the code and remove outdated requirements, while ensuring that homes remain safely protected from the risk of fire. With the new standards in place, smoke alarms can now be installed with fewer restrictions, simplifying the process for builders and ensuring that homeowners benefit from the latest technology.
 
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