How far away from a ceiling fan must the fire alarm be placed?

The placement of a fire alarm is crucial for ensuring its effectiveness in detecting smoke and heat from a fire. Positioning a fire alarm too close to a ceiling fan can interfere with its performance. When a ceiling fan is in operation, it can cause air circulation that might disperse smoke, potentially delaying the alarm's response to a fire.

The guideline of placing the fire alarm at least 3 feet away from a ceiling fan is designed to avoid these issues. This distance allows the alarm to work effectively without interference from the airflow created by the fan, thus ensuring it can accurately sense smoke or heat in the environment.

The other distances listed in the options, while they may seem reasonable, do not align with the established safety guidelines that recommend maintaining a minimum of 3 feet clearance from ceiling fans.