I am selling my house and I was told I need a smoke detector inspection, where should I put them?

Requirements For Smoke Detectors

Every building shall have affixed thereto a number representing the address of such building. Such number shall be of a nature and size and shall be situated on the building so that, to the extent practical, it is visible from the nearest street or road providing vehicular access to the building. (MGL Ch. 148 sec. 59)

Smoke Detector Installation: 1 & 2 Family

Each family home should have the following:

  1. 1 approved smoke detector shall be installed on each living level.
  2. 1 approved smoke detector shall be installed on the basement level.
  3. To meet the specifications of 1 and 2 above, an approved detector shall be installed on the ceiling at the base of each stairway leading to the floor above, and, on the ceiling outside each separate sleeping area.
  4. Beginning in 1998, new home construction shall meet the requirements of the 6th edition of the Massachusetts State Building Code, 780 CMR 3603.16.10.

Approved Smoke Detector Requirements

  1. Construction prior to 1975: Battery operated
  2. Construction 1975 to 1998: Permanently connected to an AC primary source of power. System additions or replacements must be permanently wired. "Battery operated" detectors are not approved as replacement for properly placed smoke detector. Battery operated detector may be allowed as additional smoke detector depending on the specific situation but will never be allowed as replacement for AC powered detectors.
  3. Construction 1998-present: Permanently connected to an AC primary source of power with secondary power supplied from monitored batters.

As of April 5, 2010:

  • All detectors installed outside of 20 feet of a kitchen or bath containing a bathtub or shower must utilize either:
    • A dual detector containing both ionization and photoelectric or
    • Two separate detector one photoelectric and one ionization
  • All smoke detector installed within 20 feet of a kitchen or bath containing a bathtub or shower will be required to be photoelectric detectors.

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1. I am selling my house and I was told I need a smoke detector inspection, where should I put them?
2. I am building a new house, what are the smoke detector requirements for New Construction?
3. What are the smoke detector requirements for an apartment building with 3 to 6 units?
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