Carbon Monoxide Information

FRANKLIN FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Prevention Unit

508-528-2323
 

Requirements for Residential Carbon Monoxide Alarms

The Franklin Fire Department in cooperation with State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, have the following requirements for residential carbon monoxide alarms.
 

On November 4, 2005, Governor Romney signed “Nicole’s Law”, named after 7-year old Nicole Garofalo who died on January 28, 2005 when her Plymouth home was filled with deadly amounts of carbon monoxide on January 24. The furnace vents had been blocked by snow during a power outage.
 

For most residential buildings with fossil fuel burning equipment or enclosed parking areas, the new regulations require carbon monoxide alarms on every level of a home or dwelling unit including habitable portions of basements and attics. On levels with sleeping areas the alarms must be placed within ten feet of the bedroom doors. The regulations allow the following options for CO alarms:
 

Acceptable combination smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms must have simulated voice and tone alarms that clearly distinguish between the two types of emergencies. The State Building Code mandates that only photoelectric combination alarms are permitted within twenty feet of a bathroom or kitchen.
 

All affected residences must install approved carbon monoxide alarms by March 31, 2006, although, where hard-wired systems are required, the deadline is January 1, 2007.

Fire Marshal Coan indicated that the board is continuing to develop additional CO alarm requirements for certain transient residential buildings such as hotels and motels, in addition to requirements for certain institutional buildings. It is anticipated that the regulations for these types of buildings will be promulgated in the very near future in order to meet the statutes January 1, 2007 deadline.
 

The regulations allows for alternative compliance options that may be more practical for larger buildings with multiple dwelling units that contain minimal or no sources of CO inside the individual units. The option allows owners to target the CO alarm protection only in those areas that could be potential sources of the CO. Examples include rooms that contain boilers, hot water heaters, central laundry areas and all adjacent spaces, in addition to enclosed parking areas. This CO protection option requires hard or low voltage wiring, monitoring and certain signal transmission requirements. The deadline for compliance with this method of protection is January 1, 2007.
 

Landlords must inspect and maintain the CO alarms at least once a year or at the beginning of any rental period. Batteries are required to be replaced on an annual basis. Tenants should report any problems with alarms to the landlord immediately and learn to recognize the difference between the smoke detector and the carbon monoxide alarm.
 

State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan said, “Most homeowners are surely eager to comply with these new regulations in order to protect their own families and their tenants. We know that carbon monoxide poisoning can kill right away. Fire departments are currently required to inspect smoke alarms when homes are being sold and transferred. Starting March 31, 2006 (or January 1, 2007 where hard-wired alarms are required) fire departments will now inspect all residences upon sale and transfer for carbon monoxide alarms.
 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact The Fire Prevention Office at 508-528-2323.