Wonder why builders put smoke alarms at the highest point possible in a vaulted ceiling?

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Joan Cox, Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time (House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373)

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Richie Alan Naggar

people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA

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Heat/smoke rises so laws govern placement. Your point of not being able to reach it is the trade-off. Has to be a better way?

Aug 13, 2022 08:58 AM

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Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, ePRO

Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA

Serving Coastal San Diego, Veteran's & Seniors

Builders often do not consider maintenance with placement design.

Quality Home Builders - The Devil is in the Details

Aug 13, 2022 08:53 AM

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Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thankfully, we do not have that issue.

However, we do have a smoke alarm that is too close to the cooktop in the kitchen. Cooking sometimes sets it off.

Aug 13, 2022 08:41 AM

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Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

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I just asked Larry (retired builder) and he said his electricians were in charge of it! LOL

Aug 13, 2022 09:40 AM

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Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA

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Because they want you to have the most fun possible when the battery fails at 2am.

Aug 13, 2022 09:15 AM

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Candice A. Donofrio

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Don Baker

Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA

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because that's where the smoke goes to to give you the most time to be alerted.

Aug 13, 2022 10:15 AM

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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

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Smoke rises ... other than that, it may be a building code. Ask the builder!

Aug 13, 2022 09:21 AM

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Anna "Banana" Kruchten

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Lyn Sims

Schaumburg, IL

Real Estate Broker Retired

In my area, code says ceiling & that's where it ends up. Doesn't mean it's smart.

Aug 13, 2022 11:28 AM

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Wayne Martin

Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL

Real Estate Broker - Retired

Great question. Why do you think they should use common sense? See photo provided by Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets for proof they do not!

Aug 14, 2022 05:05 AM

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Joan Cox

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Nina Hollander, Broker

Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC

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I get it Joan... as someone who has 10 foot ceilings in her home!

Aug 13, 2022 12:12 PM

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John Juarez

The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA

ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Smoke rises. You would not want a smoke alarm to be below the level of the smoke.

Aug 13, 2022 11:36 AM

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Joan Cox

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Nina Hollander, Broker

Charlotte, NC

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Tony Lewis

Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA

Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I have never seen a smoke detector in the ceiling out here.

Aug 13, 2022 10:41 AM

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Olga Simoncelli

Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT

CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Lack of forethought.

Aug 15, 2022 07:07 AM

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Joan Cox

Denver, CO

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Carla Freund

Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC

NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

I think you have your answer. I suppose most people don't think about having access to it until the batteries need to be changed.

Aug 14, 2022 06:33 AM

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Joan Cox

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Anna "Banana" Kruchten

HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ

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Smoke rises so do other things lately!!!

Aug 13, 2022 02:52 PM

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Joan Cox

Denver, CO

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Jeff Pearl

Samson Properties / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA

Full Service Full Time Realtor

The person that invented the extension pole needed to make more money!

https://reachandrescue.com/smoke-detector-pole/

Aug 13, 2022 01:09 PM

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Joan Cox

Denver, CO

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Bob Crane

Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI

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Smoke rises, perhaps there is a code that requires these to be placed as high as possible.

Aug 14, 2022 05:04 AM

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Heat/smoke rises so laws govern placement. Your point of not being able to reach it is the trade-off. Has to be a better way?
Builders often do not consider maintenance with placement design.
Thankfully, we do not have that issue.

However, we do have a smoke alarm that is too close to the cooktop in the kitchen. Cooking sometimes sets it off.
I just asked Larry (retired builder) and he said his electricians were in charge of it! LOL
Because they want you to have the most fun possible when the battery fails at 2am.
because that's where the smoke goes to to give you the most time to be alerted.
Smoke rises ... other than that, it may be a building code. Ask the builder!
In my area, code says ceiling & that's where it ends up. Doesn't mean it's smart.
Great question. Why do you think they should use common sense? See photo provided by Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets for proof they do not!
I get it Joan... as someone who has 10 foot ceilings in her home!
Smoke rises. You would not want a smoke alarm to be below the level of the smoke.
I have never seen a smoke detector in the ceiling out here.
I think you have your answer. I suppose most people don't think about having access to it until the batteries need to be changed.
The person that invented the extension pole needed to make more money!

https://reachandrescue.com/smoke-detector-pole/
Smoke rises, perhaps there is a code that requires these to be placed as high as possible.