What is the maximum distance a smoke detector should be from a cooking appliance?

The maximum distance a smoke detector should be from a cooking appliance is typically recommended to be 20 feet. This distance helps to minimize the likelihood of false alarms caused by normal cooking activities where smoke and steam could be produced, while still ensuring that the smoke detector is within a range to effectively identify smoke from an actual fire.

Positioning the smoke detector too close to cooking appliances can lead to frequent false alarms, which may cause unnecessary disturbances and can result in residents becoming desensitized to the alarms, potentially reducing their responsiveness in an actual emergency. Maintaining this 20-foot distance is a balanced approach to ensure both optimal performance of the smoke alarm and practicality in everyday scenarios.