By Dawn Anastasi, RPA Board Member

I met with a representative for HACM yesterday and he mentioned that some rental units are starting to fail inspections because of the new NSPIRE standards that went into effect on October 1, 2025.

Here is a link to the HUD website outlining the NSPIRE standards

One common failure point is not having smoke alarms in the proper areas.

From NSPIRE:

• Smoke alarm should be installed high on walls or ceilings. 
• • If mounted on the ceiling, then it must be greater than 4 inches from the wall.
  • If mounted on the wall, then the top edge of the smoke alarm cannot be closer than 4 inches or greater than 12 inches from the ceiling.
• Smoke alarm should be installed at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance.
• Smoke alarm should not: 
• • Be installed near windows, doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation.
  • Be painted or have decorative stickers or other decorations present.
• The unit must include at least one battery-operated or hard-wired smoke detector, in proper working condition, in the following locations:
• • On each level of the unit; 
  • Inside each bedroom; 
  • Within 21 feet of any door to a bedroom measured along a path of travel; and 
  • Where a smoke detector installed outside a bedroom is separated from an adjacent living area by a door, a smoke detector must also be installed on the living area side of the door. 

Note the item in bold -- smoke detectors/alarms need to be located inside each bedroom -- not just in the hallway between the bedrooms.

An inspection can fail for the following reasons for smoke detectors/alarms:

• The smoke alarm is not installed where required.
• The smoke alarm is obstructed.
• The device doesn't produce an alarm when tested.

• Smoke alarm is not installed inside each bedroom AND Smoke alarm is not installed outside the bedroom(s) AND Smoke alarm is not installed on each level.