Verified answer: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises smoke alarms on every level, outside sleeping areas and inside each bedroom, with carbon monoxide alarms on each level and outside sleeping areas.
What does the official source say?
- CPSC guidance places smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms.
- Carbon monoxide alarms are recommended on each level and outside sleeping areas.
- Consumers should test alarms monthly and follow current manufacturer instructions for battery replacement and end-of-life replacement.
What does this mean for smoke alarm selection in United States?
A United States project brief should identify the building type, state or local jurisdiction, alarm locations, power source, interconnection requirement and the exact product standard requested. Federal safety guidance is not a substitute for the adopted building or fire code in the project location.
What should a buyer verify before ordering?
- The exact destination jurisdiction, building type and adopted code or regulation.
- The model number, detection technology, power source, battery life, audible output and interconnection behaviour.
- The complete certificate and test-report scope, including product variant, issuing body, edition and validity.
- Required marking, instructions, language, traceability, installation and maintenance information.
- Written confirmation from the responsible authority, approved professional, importer or certification body where required.
Primary source
Publisher: U.S. CPSC
Source status: Evergreen public safety guidance; checked 26 October 2026
Official page: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/CO-Alarms
Editorial method: Wanlin Fire paraphrased the official material, separated regulatory facts from product-selection guidance, and linked the original source for verification. Last editorial review: 26 October 2026.