As Day Light Savings Time is upon us, it’s always a good reminder to check your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. The below information is a summary from the CA Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
What’s (relatively) New
- For years smoke & CO alarms were separate units. More recently, alarms are being manufactured that detect both smoke & CO. These are called “combination alarms” and meet the requirements of the OSFM & SM County.
- As of 2014, new alarms that are solely battery powered must have a non-replaceable, non-removable battery that is capable of powering the alarm for at least 10 years.
- Approved Devices: Smoke and CO detectors must be approved and listed by the OSFM.
- Alarms must display date of manufacture, have a place to write the date of installation.
- Hard wired alarms are to also have a battery backup in each alarm.
Smoke Alarms
Approximately two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Since most fatal fires occur at night, it’s essential that every home has working smoke alarms to provide an early warning. Working smoke alarms increase the chance of surviving a home fire by 50 percent.
Smoke Alarms Placement
Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. On levels without bedrooms, install alarms in the living room or near the stairway to the upper level, or in both locations. Smoke alarms should be mounted on the ceiling at least 4” from the wall; wall mounted smoke alarms should be placed 4”-12” from the ceiling. Smoke alarms installed in the basement should be installed on the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs leading to the next level. Smoke alarms shall be installed at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance to minimize false alarms when cooking and 3 feet from bathroom doors. Do not install near draft areas (windows, vents, or fans).
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms
You can’t see or smell CO, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes. If home fuel-burning appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. According to the American Medical Association, CO is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that CO kills approximately 500 people each year and injures another 20,000 people nationwide.
CO Alarm Placement
CO detection shall be provided in dwellings that contain fuel-burning appliances or furnaces, fuel-burning fireplaces, and in buildings with an attached garage. These should be placed outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom, on every occupiable level of a dwelling unit, including basements, and where a fuel-burning appliance or served by a furnace is located within a bedroom, sleeping unit or its attached bathroom, CO detection shall be installed within the bedroom.
Alarm Maintenance
- Alarms with non-replaceable (long-life) batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire alarm right away.
- For alarms with any other type of battery, replace batteries at least once a year. If the alarm chirps, replace only the battery.
- Test your alarms. A suggested frequency is every month by simply holding down the test button. Vacuum your alarm at least once a year. Dust and cobwebs can impair sensitivity. Never paint over an alarm. Alarms should be replaced every 10 years or per manufacturer’s instructions.