Household smoke alarms and smoke detectors installed within a _______ horizontal path of a cooking appliance shall be equipped with an alarm-silencing means or be of the photoelectric type.

Household smoke alarms and smoke detectors installed within a 20-foot horizontal path of a cooking appliance are specifically required to have an alarm-silencing means or be of the photoelectric type. This requirement is based on the understanding that traditional ionization smoke detectors can be overly sensitive to steam and other non-threatening particles produced during cooking, which may lead to false alarms. By allowing the installation of photoelectric detectors or those with a silencing feature within this proximity, the intent is to reduce unnecessary disruptions while still providing an effective means of detecting smoke from actual fire hazards. The 20-foot distance is a standard that recognizes the typical area where cooking-related smoke may occur without compromising fire safety.