A smoke detector should be mounted on the ceiling of the hallway leading to the bedrooms, as a safety measure. If there is a smoke detector, check to see whether it is properly located. The corners of a hallway where the walls and ceiling meet are considered dead-air space, meaning that even though smoke will circulate and accumulate near the ceiling, it will not reach those corners until the hall is completely filled with smoke. The National Fire Code has strict guidelines in this regards, as follows: “Spot-type smoke detectors shall be located on the ceiling not less than six inches from a side wall, or if on the side wall, between six to twelve inches from the ceiling.”
Regardless of whether they are wall- or ceiling-mounted, detectors should not be placed near a light fixture or a ventilation grille that could block smoke from reaching the detector. Look for a smoke detector during your hallway and staircase inspection, and if you notice one that is incorrectly located you should alert the seller and record the condition on your worksheet for later correction.
As you go from one level to another, inspect the connecting staircase. Check for squeaky treads, as they indicate loose sections. The steps should be uniformly spaced with no dimensional variation, but it is rather common to see basement steps with uneven risers for the bottom and top steps. This condition is a potential tripping hazard.
Moreover, as a safety precaution, all steps should have handrails. If they do, check to see whether both ends of the handrail have a return to the wall. Loose handrails must be resecured. If there is a window at the base of the base of the staircase or on the landing, it should be at least 36 inches above the floor. If it is less that 36 inches high, a window guard should be installed as a safety precaution. (These will prevent someone from falling out the window after falling down the stairs).
Lastly, check the lighting, especially for areas such as basement steps, where lighting is often neglected. As long as the light provides sufficient illumination for the entire staircase, the location of the light fixture is not important. The light should be controlled by three-way switches – one at the top and the other at the bottom of the staircase.