*These guidelines are from the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC) Book:
SECTION R313.2 Smoke Alarm Locations:
Smoke Alarms shall be installed in the following locations:
1. In each sleeping room.
2. Outside each sleeping room in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
3. On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements 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.
When more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all the alarms in the individual unit.
R313.2 Alterations, Repairs and Additions:
When Alterations, Repairs or Additions requiring a permit occur, or when one or more sleeping rooms are added or created in existing dwellings, the individual dwelling unit shall be equipped with smoke alarms located as required for new dwellings; the smoke alarms shall be interconnected and hard wired.
Exceptions:
1. Interconnection and hard-wiring of smoke alarms in existing areas shall not be required where the alterations or repairs do not result in the removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure, unless there is an attic, crawl space or basement available which could provide access for hardwiring and interconnection without the removal of interior finishes.
2. Work involving the exterior surfaces of dwellings, such as the replacement of roofing or siding, or the addition or replacement of windows or doors, or the addition of a porch or deck, are exempt from the requirements of this section.
In other words it is dependant on the fact that if a permit is needed for alterations, repairs or additions in the house…you must abide to the “new house” code.
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