What is the appropriate distance for smoke detectors from cooking appliances?

The appropriate distance for smoke detectors from cooking appliances is ten feet. This guideline is established to minimize the likelihood of false alarms, which can frequently arise due to cooking activities. Smoke detectors that are placed too close to cooking appliances may activate unnecessarily when steam or smoke from cooking is generated, leading to alarm fatigue for residents. By maintaining a distance of ten feet, the installation balances effective smoke detection with the practicalities of everyday cooking, ensuring that smoke detectors function properly without being overly sensitive to routine kitchen activities. This helps ensure that the detectors will still serve their primary purpose of alerting occupants in case of an actual fire, while reducing interruptions caused by normal cooking operation.