What is the minimum horizontal distance required for installing ionization smoke alarms from a permanently installed cooking appliance?

Installing ionization smoke alarms at the correct distance from cooking appliances is essential to minimize false alarms while maintaining safety. The minimum horizontal distance required is 6 feet. This distance helps ensure that the smoke alarm is sensitive enough to detect real fires but far enough away that normal cooking activities—such as steam or food smoke—do not trigger false alarms.

By adhering to this requirement, the effectiveness of the smoke alarm system is enhanced. Too close a proximity to cooking appliances could lead to occupants becoming desensitized to alarm sounds, as they may frequently trigger, causing a lack of response when a real fire occurs.

This guideline is especially crucial in residential settings, emphasizing the balance between safety and practicality, ensuring that the smoke alarm effectively serves its purpose without causing undue disturbance during routine cooking.