What type and how many smoke detectors should I have in my home?

You need to have smoke detectors in each sleeping room, in the hallway outside of sleeping rooms and on each floor level of your home. The most common place to put a smoke detector is on the ceiling of the room. The detector should be mounted no closer than 12 inches from the side wall or if mounted on the wall, no closer than 12 inches from the ceiling. Make sure not to place the detector outside of bathroom doors, in kitchens, and other areas that produce vapors that might lead to accidental detector activations.

There are two basic types of smoke detectors - ionic and photoelectric. Both types of detectors work well to detect fires where there are open flames. Tests have shown that the photoelectric detectors are better in detecting smoldering fires, the type of fire most common in homes.

All new homes are required to have smoke detectors that run off of the normal household electrical circuits with battery backup. Older homes, built before smoke detectors were required are often supplied with battery-operated smoke detectors only. Hard wired detectors that run off of a home's normal electricity can be installed or retrofitted into existing homes.

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1. I received an ambulance bill in the mail from the Bedford Fire Department, what do I need to do?
2. How do I get a copy of my ambulance bill, report, or patient record?
3. Why have I not received my bill after using Bedford’s Ambulance Service?
4. I have called Emergicon and did not receive the help I needed, who else can I contact??
5. Does Bedford EMS provide non-emergency transport services?
6. What hospitals will Bedford Fire Department EMS transport to?
7. How do I obtain a fire report?
8. Can I have my child's birthday party at a Fire Station?
9. How do I arrange a tour of a Fire Station?
10. Can I dispose of my medical sharps and unwanted medication at the Fire Department?
11. How do I check my smoke detector?
12. What type and how many smoke detectors should I have in my home?
13. Where can I learn more about Carbon Monoxide Detectors?
14. Can I have a small backyard recreational fire or cooking fire on my property?
15. Are fireworks legal in Bedford?
16. What type of fire extinguisher should I have for my home and how do I refill it?
17. Does the Fire Department fill oxygen bottles?
18. Does the Bedford Fire Department give free blood pressure checks?
19. Does the fire department do child car seat installations or inspections?
20. Does the Fire Department fill swimming pools?
21. My child has started several small fire. What can I do to deter him/her from doing this again?
22. Can someone from the Fire Department come to my group to speak about fire safety?
23. Where can someone go to get an interpretation of a Fire Code requirement?
24. How can I report a fire hazard?
25. How do automatic fire sprinklers work and can they be installed in a home?
26. Why does a fire truck respond with the ambulance?
27. Why do we see fire department crews at the store?
28. What should I do when I am driving and an emergency vehicle approaches me?
29. Who do I contact if I have a problem or concern about the service I received?