Language
  • 繁體中文
  • English
0
Inquiry Cart List
Inquiry Cart

Residential Fire Alarm Q&A

I. Where Should Residential Fire Alarm Devices Be Installed?

Residential fire alarm devices should be installed in the following locations:

  1. Bedrooms (sleeping rooms).
  2. Kitchens.
  3. Stairways
    • (1) On any floor containing a bedroom, except when that floor is the evacuation level (ground floor).
    • (2) If bedrooms are located only on the evacuation level, install the alarm at the top of the stairway leading to the upper floor.
  4. Hallways
    • If none of the above locations apply, and any floor contains five (5) or more rooms each exceeding 7 square meters, install the alarm in the hallway. If there is no hallway, install it in the stairway.

Source: National Fire Agency, Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)

II. Why Should Fire Alarm Devices Be Installed on Ceilings or Walls in These Locations?

1. Bedrooms

Bedrooms are places where people rest and sleep, making them the area where occupants are least alert. Fires often occur because cigarettes are not completely extinguished before sleeping, high-powered electrical appliances are left switched on, or electrical equipment (such as irons or electric heaters) is used improperly.

Installing residential fire alarm devices in bedrooms provides early warning, allowing occupants sufficient time to respond before the fire spreads.

2. Kitchens

The kitchen is one of the areas with the highest fire risk due to frequent cooking activities. Fires commonly occur when people leave the kitchen temporarily without turning off the stove or other heat sources.

Installing residential fire alarm devices in kitchens provides early warning to household members and helps reduce fire damage.

3. Stairways and Hallways

Stairways and hallways are the primary routes through which smoke and heat travel during a fire.

Installing residential fire alarm devices in these areas enables earlier detection of fire and provides occupants with more time to evacuate safely.

Note:
If the building is already equipped with an Automatic Fire Alarm System, separate residential fire alarm devices are not required.

Source: National Fire Agency, Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)

III. Types of Residential Fire Alarm Devices

According to Article 5 of the Regulations Governing the Installation of Residential Fire Alarm Devices, the appropriate detector type depends on the installation location.

Bedrooms, Stairways, and Hallways

  • Ionization Smoke Alarm
  • Photoelectric Smoke Alarm

Kitchens

  • Fixed Temperature Heat Detector

Detector Descriptions

Ionization Smoke Alarm

Detects smoke particles generated by a fire and activates an audible alarm.

Photoelectric Smoke Alarm

Detects visible smoke particles from a fire and activates an audible alarm.

Fixed Temperature Heat Detector

Activates an audible alarm when the surrounding temperature reaches a predetermined level.

Since kitchens normally produce cooking smoke and grease vapors, installing ionization or photoelectric smoke alarms may cause nuisance alarms. Therefore, a fixed temperature heat detector is recommended for kitchens and other areas where smoke particles are generated during normal activities.

Source: National Fire Agency, Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)

IV. Things to Check Before Purchasing a Residential Fire Alarm Device

Before purchasing a residential fire alarm device, please ensure the product:

  1. Bears an Individual Approval Certification Mark issued by an authorized certification body approved by Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior.
  2. Is manufactured by a certified manufacturer.

Certified manufacturers can be verified through:

  • Fire Safety Center Foundation
  • Fire Technology Consultant Foundation, Republic of China (Taiwan)

Source: National Fire Agency, Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)

V. What Should You Do When a Residential Fire Alarm Device Is Activated?

If a Fire Is Confirmed

  1. Warn everyone in the home immediately and begin evacuation.
  2. Call 119 to report the fire.
  3. Attempt to extinguish the fire if it is safe to do so.
  4. If the fire cannot be controlled quickly, evacuate immediately.

If the Alarm Is Triggered by a Non-Fire Cause

Possible causes include:

  • Cigarette smoke
  • Cooking fumes
  • Smoke particles not related to a fire
  • Improper use of open flames

In this case:

  1. Press the Silence/Test button (operation varies by manufacturer—refer to the product manual), then ventilate the area by opening windows or using exhaust fans until the detector returns to normal.
  2. Verify that the correct detector type is installed. For example, installing an ionization or photoelectric smoke alarm in a kitchen may result in nuisance alarms caused by cooking smoke.

Source: National Fire Agency, Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)

Back