Smoke alarm requirements for individual guest rooms in hotels are specified in the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) Section 907.2.11.3 and NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code).
IFC 907.2.11.3 – Smoke Alarms in Group R-1 Occupancies (Hotels and Motels):
Requires smoke alarms in sleeping areas to be interconnected so that when one alarm is activated, it will trigger all alarms within the guest room or suite.
This ensures that occupants in different areas of the same guest room are alerted simultaneously to fire hazards.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect?
A. Their batteries must be checked every six months.
The IFC and NFPA 72 require smoke alarm batteries to be checked, but they do not mandate a six-month inspection schedule.
B. They must automatically sound a fire alarm throughout the hotel.
Smoke alarms within an individual guest room do not have to activate the entire hotel’s fire alarm system.
C. They must initiate an automatic fire suppression or sprinkler system.
Smoke alarms are designed for early detection and warning, not for activating fire suppression systems.
✅ Correct Answer: D. They must be interconnected so that one alarm will activate all alarms within the guest rooms.
