16 Del. C. §§ 6631–6636 § 6633
Smoke detector installation; other residential occupancies
Operative Text
(a) Each lodging, rooming or boarding house; hotel, motel, bed and breakfast facility; dormitory; apartment or multi-family dwelling; board and care facility; or a residential occupancy by any other name shall have smoke detection devices and/or smoke detection systems installed in conformance to the standards of the State Fire Prevention Regulations and the building codes pursuant to the specifications for the individual occupancies or use. (b) Where there is a conflict between installation requirements, this section shall be interpreted to require the more strict of the installation specifications, for a particular occupancy. (c) All required smoke detection devices and/or smoke detection systems listed in subsection (a) of this section, except as otherwise specified herein, shall be inter-connected, so that operation of any smoke detection device shall cause the alarm-sounding devices in all smoke detection devices within the building, occupancy or within a separate zoned area to sound; or that will initiate the building fire alarm system to provide an audible warning to all occupants of the building, and all such smoke detection devices and/or systems shall be hard-wired into the electric system of the building, in accordance with the National Electric Code. (d) With approval of the Fire Marshal, smoke detection devices in individual sleeping rooms may be excepted from the requirement that smoke detection devices be interconnected if such building or occupancy is provided with an automatic smoke detection system in the hallways, corridors or stairwells, or is connected to a building fire alarm system which will activate an alarm which is sufficiently audible to warn the occupants of the building of the impending danger of fire or hazard to life. (e) For all buildings or occupancies which under subsection (a) of this section are required to install smoke detection devices and/or smoke detection systems, and for such buildings or occupancies that do not have an auxiliary, emergency or back-up power system in accordance with State Fire Prevention Regulations, each smoke detection device or smoke detection system shall utilize the type of smoke detection device that has a built-in battery back-up power supply. (f) The plans and specifications for all smoke detection devices and/or systems required by this subsection shall be submitted to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, prior to installation, for review and approval in accordance with § 6612 of this title.
Section 6633 of Title 16 of the Delaware Code requires that a broad range of residential occupancies—including apartment buildings, hotels, dormitories, rooming houses, and board and care facilities—install smoke detection devices or systems that meet State Fire Prevention Regulations and applicable building codes. All required devices must generally be interconnected so that any single activation triggers audible alarms throughout the building, and they must be hard-wired into the building's electrical system in accordance with the National Electric Code. Where a building lacks an auxiliary or backup power system, each smoke detector must include a built-in battery backup. Plans and specifications must be submitted to the State Fire Marshal's Office for review and approval before installation begins.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 6633, operators of covered residential properties—apartments, hotels, dormitories, rooming houses, and similar occupancies—are generally expected to install interconnected, hard-wired smoke detection devices or systems that conform to both State Fire Prevention Regulations and applicable building codes. Where the property lacks an emergency or auxiliary power system, compliant operators ensure that each device includes a built-in battery backup. Before any installation, plans and specifications are typically submitted to the State Fire Marshal's Office for review and approval, and where conflicts arise between installation standards, the more stringent requirement governs.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 6633 establishes that tenants residing in apartments, dormitories, rooming houses, hotels, and similar residential occupancies have a right to properly installed, interconnected, and hard-wired smoke detection systems that meet Delaware's fire safety standards. If a tenant believes smoke detectors in their building are absent, non-functional, or not installed in conformance with § 6633, they may consider contacting the State Fire Marshal's Office, which oversees plan review and approval for these systems. Tenant-rights organizations can also help residents understand what documentation or complaints may be appropriate when fire safety equipment appears to fall short of the statutory requirements.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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