Section R314—Smoke alarms and heat detection.
R314.1 General. Smoke alarms, heat detectors, and heat alarms shall comply with NFPA 72 and this section.
R314.1.1 Listings. Smoke alarms shall be listed in accordance with UL 217. Heat detectors and heat alarms shall be listed for the intended application. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed in accordance with UL 217 and UL 2034.
R314.2 Where required. Smoke alarms, heat detectors, and heat alarms shall be provided in accordance with this section.
R314.2.1 New construction. Smoke alarms shall be provided in dwelling units. A heat detector or heat alarm shall be provided in new attached garages.
R314.2.2 Alterations, repairs and additions. Where alterations, repairs or additions requiring a permit occur, or where one or more sleeping rooms are added or created in existing dwellings, or where an accessory dwelling unit is created within an existing dwelling unit, each dwelling unit shall be equipped with smoke alarms as required for new dwellings.
EXCEPTIONS: | 1. Work involving the exterior surfaces of dwellings, such as the replacement of roofing or siding, the addition or replacement of windows or doors, or the addition of a porch or deck are exempt from the requirements of this section. |
| 2. Installation, alteration or repairs of plumbing, electrical or mechanical systems are exempt from the requirements of this section. |
R314.2.3 New attached garages. A heat detector or heat alarm rated for the ambient outdoor temperatures and humidity shall be installed in new garages that are attached to or located under new and existing dwellings. Heat detectors and heat alarms shall be installed in a central location and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
EXCEPTION: | Heat detectors and heat alarms shall not be required in dwellings without commercial power. |
R314.3 Location. Smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations:
1. In each sleeping room.
2. Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
3. On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements and habitable attics but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwellings or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.
4. Smoke alarms shall be installed not less than 3 feet (914 mm) horizontally from the door or opening of a bathroom that contains a bathtub or shower unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm required by Section R314.3.
5. In napping areas in a family home child care.
6. In the hallway and in the room open to the hallway in dwelling units where the ceiling height of a room open to a hallway serving bedrooms exceeds that of the hallway by 24 inches (610 mm) or more.
7. Within the room to which a loft is open, in the immediate vicinity of the loft.
R314.4 Interconnection. Where more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit in accordance with Section R314.3, the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual dwelling unit. Where an accessory dwelling unit is created within an existing dwelling unit all required smoke alarms, in the accessory dwelling unit and the primary dwelling unit, shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all alarms in both the primary dwelling unit and the accessory dwelling unit. Physical interconnection of smoke alarms shall not be required where listed wireless alarms are installed and all alarms sound upon activation of one alarm.
EXCEPTION: | Smoke alarms and alarms installed to satisfy Section R314.4.1 shall not be required to be interconnected to existing smoke alarms where such existing smoke alarms are not interconnected or where such new smoke alarm or alarm is not capable of being interconnected to the existing smoke alarms. |
R314.4.1 Heat detection interconnection. Heat detectors and heat alarms shall be connected to an alarm or a smoke alarm that is installed in the dwelling. Alarms and smoke alarms that are installed for this purpose shall be located in a hallway, room, or other location that will provide occupant notification.
R314.6 Power source. Smoke alarms, heat alarms, and heat detectors shall receive their primary power from the building wiring where such wiring is served from a commercial source and, where primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection.
EXCEPTIONS: | 1. Smoke alarms shall be permitted to be battery operated where installed in buildings without commercial power. |
| 2. Smoke alarms installed in accordance with Section R314.2.2 shall be permitted to be battery powered. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27.031 and
19.27.074. WSR 23-23-104, § 51-51-0314, filed 11/15/23, effective 3/16/24; WSR 23-02-058, 23-12-104, and 23-20-024, § 51-51-0314, filed 1/3/23, 6/7/23, and 9/25/23, effective 3/15/24; WSR 20-21-041, § 51-51-0314, filed 10/13/20, effective 11/13/20; WSR 20-03-023, § 51-51-0314, filed 1/6/20, effective 7/1/20; WSR 16-03-025, § 51-51-0314, filed 1/11/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27.031 and chapters
19.27 and
34.05 RCW. WSR 13-04-068, § 51-51-0314, filed 2/1/13, effective 7/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27.031 and
19.27.074. WSR 10-03-098, § 51-51-0314, filed 1/20/10, effective 7/1/10.]
