Massachusetts Real Estate License Practice Test

Where must smoke and carbon dioxide detectors be located in a residential property?

1. In the basement

2. In the kitchen only

3. At the ceiling at the base of each stairway

4. Near windows

The correct answer is: At the ceiling at the base of each stairway

The correct answer highlights the importance of proper installation and placement of smoke and carbon dioxide detectors for ensuring safety in residential properties. Detectors are mandated to be located at critical points where smoke and carbon dioxide accumulation is most likely to occur. Installing them at the ceiling at the base of each stairway is particularly significant because smoke rises; having detectors at this height increases the likelihood of early detection of a fire that may start on an upper level or basement area. Moreover, stairways are often key transition areas in homes where occupants travel between floors, making it vital to have immediate alerts in those spots. Other locations, such as the basement or kitchen specifically, may not provide the same comprehensive level of protection due to their design and usage; while having a detector in the kitchen can be practical to monitor potential cooking fires, placing all detectors exclusively within the kitchen would leave other critical points of the home vulnerable. The option to place them near windows is also not advisable; windows can allow smoke to disperse before it reaches a detector, reducing effectiveness. Therefore, the placement at stairways adheres to safety regulations and optimizes the function of these life-saving devices.