The State Building Code requires that smoke detectors be installed in dwellings whenever interior additions, alterations, or repairs requiring a building permit occur or when one or more bedrooms are added. Work on the exterior of the dwelling that does not require entry into the dwelling is exempt from this provision. Examples of this work would include roofing, siding, and deck additions.
Before calling for a final inspection, it is your responsibility to insure that all detectors are properly placed, as they will be checked as a part of that inspection. An inspection cannot be completed until the detectors are in place. Permit applicants will be held responsible for compliance.
In newly constructed dwellings, smoke alarms must be installed in each sleeping room, outside of each sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and on each story of the dwelling including basements. Smoke alarms must be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the dwelling unit. Smoke alarms must receive their primary power from the building wiring but must have a battery backup. Circuits containing smoke alarms are not permitted to have a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection.
Smoke alarms must be installed in existing dwellings to meet the requirements for new dwellings whenever interior alterations, repairs or additions requiring a permit occur or when one or more bedrooms are added. The alarms are required to be hardwired and interconnected and equipped with a battery backup. However, in existing portions of the building, alarms can be solely battery operated where the work does not involve removal of wall or ceiling finishes unless there is a crawl space or basement available to provide ready access.