Smoke Alarm Pro » Smoke Alarm Laws

NFPA offers complimentary preview of 2011 edition of the NEC

David — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:33:42 +0000

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is offering visitors to necplus.org an opportunity to be the first to preview the 2011 edition of the National Electrical Code® (NEC) at no cost. Visitors selecting a one-day preview from necplus® will have first access to the 2011 edition of the NEC.

“The release of the 2011 edition of the NEC is highly anticipated by everyone involved with electrical installations because it sets the standard for safety,” said Mark Earley, NFPA’s chief electrical engineer. “We wanted to offer everyone who depends on this information an opportunity to be the first to preview the full document, before the printed version is available.”

The 2011 NEC includes hundreds of changes that will directly affect electrical installations nationwide, expanded coverage of alternative energy sources and green technologies, and new requirements focused on protecting electrical personnel from deadly hazards.

necplus offers online access to the most current, comprehensive NEC content available along with Q&As, articles, NFPA staff commentary, diagrams and pictures of the code in action, UL White Book links, and the reason behind any code changes.

In addition to serving as the source for public education materials on electrical safety and research on fires involving electricity, NFPA has a long history of commitment to electrical safety as developer and publisher of the National Electrical Code (NEC) since 1911. The NEC sets the standard for the safe use of electricity and electrical installations. It is the most widely used code for the built-environment in the world. The 2011 NEC is the 52nd Edition of the code and 2011 will mark 100 years of NFPA sponsorship.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.

Carbon Monoxide Safety Bill Passes in House

David — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:01:04 +0000

Passed by voice vote, the bill (HR 1796) would adopt as mandatory federal rules the American National Standards Institute’s standards for carbon monoxide alarms and gas and vapor detectors. The Consumer Product Safety Commission would be required to put those standards in place.

Carbon monoxide poisoning results in more than 400 deaths and 20,000 emergency room visits annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In addition to setting federal standards based on the industry guidelines, the bill would create a program to issue grants to state and local governments that require carbon monoxide alarms in homes. The grants would help pay for developing training materials and buying and installing alarms in schools and the homes of low-income and elderly people.

New California Law Soon Requires CO Detector

David — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:44:34 +0000

California Senate Bill 183 was signed into law which requires the installation of Carbon Monoxide detectors in rental units, and dwellings that are being transferred (sold) by January 1, 2011. It also requires that Carbon Monoxide detectors are installed in ALL homes by January 1st, 2013.

Expect to see this new inspection item in your home inspection report. Home inspectors will be required to report on the presence or absence of a working Carbon Monoxide detector just like they report on Smoke Detectors, and water heater strapping.

Home Buyers and Sellers will also see this new requirement on Transfer Disclosure Statements. In addition to Smoke Alarms and strapped water heaters, sellers will be required to disclose the presence or absence of a working Carbon Monoxide detector starting January 1, 2011.

Details of SB 183

This bill requires that a carbon monoxide device be installed in existing dwellings intended for human occupancy that have a fossil fuel burning appliance, fireplace, or an attached garage, provides that the exclusive remedy for failure to install a device is actual damages not to exceed $100, exclusive of any court costs and attorney’s fees, revises the statutory Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement to require the seller of a one-to-four residential property or manufactured home to make certain disclosures regarding carbon monoxide devices, smoke detectors, and water heaters, and requires the owner of a rental dwelling unit to maintain carbon monoxide devices in the unit.

This bill revises the statutory transfer disclosure statement as follows:

1. Requires the seller to check off whether or not the property has one or more carbon monoxide devices.

2. Adds a footnote to the statement advising buyers that installation of a carbon monoxide device is not a precondition of sale.

3. Requires a seller to certify, as opposed to checking off as under existing law, which the property is in compliance with laws requiring smoke detectors and the bracing of water heaters.

This bill provides that failure to install a carbon monoxide device is an infraction. Under the bill, an owner must first be given a 30-day notice to correct the violation and, if it is not corrected within that time period, the owner is subject to a fine of $200 for each offense.

This bill requires a property owner to maintain carbon monoxide devices in a rental dwelling unit and would require that the devices be operable at the time the tenant takes possession of the unit. This bill requires a tenant to notify the landlord if the tenant becomes aware that the device is inoperable or deficient and would require the landlord to correct the reported inoperability or deficiency. This bill provides that a landlord is not in violation if he/she has not received the notification from the tenant.

This bill provides that a landlord may enter the dwelling unit for the purpose of installing, repairing, testing, and maintaining carbon monoxide devices pursuant to the requirements of Civil Code Section 1954.

Most Carbon Monoxide detectors cost $30 or less and can be purchased at Westside Wholesale (Same Day Shipping Before 4pm PST).

Protect Your Family From Carbon Monoxide

David — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:34:37 +0000

In fact, many state leaders have recognized the importance of having a working carbon monoxide alarm. Currently, 24 states require CO alarms in certain residences. In addition, families can take these simple steps to reduce the chance of having a CO incident:

• Install a carbon monoxide alarm outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home.

• Place CO alarms at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances to reduce nuisance alarms.

• Test alarms each month and replace them every seven years.

• Have all gas-, oil- or coal-burning appliances inspected by a technician every year to ensure they are working properly.

• Never use a stove to heat your home.

• Do not use a grill, generator or camping stove inside your home or garage or near a window.

• Never leave a car, SUV or motorcycle engine running inside a garage, even if the garage door is open.

For more information on carbon monoxide poisoning as well as other home safety tips, visit www.safekids.org.

New NC law requires landlords to install carbon monoxide alarms

David — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:42:34 +0000

Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Wayne Goodwin announced that beginning Jan. 1, North Carolina landlords will be required by law to install at least one battery or electric carbon monoxide alarm on each level of each rental unit. Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas that is created when a fuel source burns incompletely. In 2005, municipal fire departments nationwide responded to an estimated 61,100 carbon monoxide incidents. January and December were the peak months for CO incidents and the peak time of day was between 6-10 p.m.

Under the new state law, landlords must ensure that the carbon monoxide appliance is operating at the beginning of each new lease. They must repair or replace the alarm within 15 days of being notified in writing of a need for repair or replacement and may be fined if they are out of compliance.

Smoke Alarm Battery Life

David — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:49:13 +0000

As a rule of thumb in a smoke alarm, alkaline batteries will last for about 1-2 years and Lithium batteries for 6 years plus

For instance, a carbon zinc battery in a BRk 9120B will last up to one year. It all depends on how fresh it was before it was installed and when the unit itself was activated. UL 217 mandates that any installed battery in a backup mode only alarm needs to last at least for 24 hours in standby condition and thereafter be able to be in alarm for at least 4 minutes. As a rule of thumb in a smoke alarm, alkaline batteries will last for about 1-2 years and Lithium batteries for 6 years plus.