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Check back frequently for important information on national
and regional building codes.
 For
your convenience we have posted excerpts from some of the most widely
used national codes referencing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide
alarms. Please note that these are only excerpts, and you must consult
all local and national building codes before beginning any installations.
NFPA Standard
72 Section 2-2.1.1.1
2-2.1.1.1 Smoke alarms shall be installed outside of each separate
sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and on each
additional story of the family living unit, including basements
and excluding crawl spaces and unfinished attics. In new construction
a smoke alarm shall also be installed in each sleeping room. Chapter
2 also reads as follows: 2-2.2.1: In new construction, where more
than one smoke alarm is required by 2-2.1, alarms shall be so arranged
that operation of any one alarm shall cause the operation of all
alarms within the dwelling. A-2.5.2.1 Smoke Detection-Are More Smoke
Alarms Desirable? The required number of smoke alarms might not
provide reliable early warning protection for those areas separated
by a door from the areas protected by the required smoke alarms.
For this reason, it is recommended that the householder consider
the use of additional smoke alarms for those areas for increased
protection. The additional areas include the basement, bedrooms,
dining room, furnace room, utility room, and hallways not protected
by the required smoke alarms. The installation of smoke alarms in
kitchens, attics (finished or unfinished), or garages is not normally
recommended, as these locations occasionally experience conditions
that can result in improper operation.
California
State Fire Marshall
Early warning detection is best achieved by the installation
of fire detection equipment in all rooms and areas of the household
as follows: A smoke alarm installed in each separate sleeping area
(in the vicinity, but outside bedrooms), and heat or smoke alarms
in the living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hallways,
finished attics, furnace rooms, closets, utility and storage rooms,
basements, and attached garages.
Underwriters
Laboratories Inc. (UL) Safety Standard 2034
According to Underwriters Laboratories Inc. UL2034 for single
and multiple carbon monoxide alarms, Section 1-1.2: "Carbon monoxide
alarms covered by these requirements are intended to respond to
the presence of carbon monoxide from sources such as, but not limited
to, exhaust from internal-combustion engines, abnormal operation
of fuel-fired appliances, and fireplaces. CO alarms are intended
to alarm at carbon monoxide levels below those that could cause
a loss of ability to react to the dangers of Carbon Monoxide exposure."
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. UL2034 defines 3 specific alarm points
by which all residential CO alarms must alarm. They are measured
in parts per million (ppm) of CO over time (in minutes). UL2034
Required Alarm Points:
- If the alarm
is exposed to 400 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM BETWEEN 4 and 15 MINUTES
- If the alarm
is exposed to 150 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM BETWEEN 10 and 50 MINUTES.
- If the alarm
is exposed to 70 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM BETWEEN 60 and 240 MINUTES.
In many reported
cases of CO exposure, victims may be aware that they are not feeling
well, but become disoriented and can no longer react well enough
to exit the building or get help. Also, young children and pets
may be the first affected. The average healthy adult might not feel
any symptoms when the CO alarm alarms. However, people with cardiac
or respiratory problems, infants, unborn babies, pregnant mothers,
or elderly people can be more quickly and severely affected by CO.
www.icbo.org
ICBO Code Central. The International Conference of Building Officials
(ICBO)
www.bocai.org
Building Officials Code Administration International
www.sbcci.org
Southern Building Code Congress International
www.intlcode.org
International Code Council. The ICC founders - the Building Officials
and Code Administrators (BOCA), the International Conference of
Building Officials (ICBO), and the Southern Building Code Congress
International (SBCCI) - created the ICC in response to technical
disparities among the three sets of model codes now in use in the
U.S.A.
www.nfpa.org
NFPA International
www.census.gov/const/www/index.html
U.S. Census Bureau Construction Statistics
www.worldsafety.com
A global community center for safety professionals. The site contains
an impressive collection of links to a wide variety of safety sites,
including sites specializing in fire protection.
www.fema.gov
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
www.nafed.org
National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NAFED). Sections
include Fire Schools and Universities, Fire Laboratories, and Associations.
Regional , Local and National Government Fire Resources are also
listed.
www.osha.gov
Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA)
www.piperinfo.com
State Governments on the internet
www.hud.gov
HUD- US department of Housing & Urban Development
www.usfa.fema.gov
USFA - US Fire Marshall Administration
www.fire.ca.gov
CSFM - California State Fire Marshall
www.dpscs.state.md.us/fmo
MSFM - Maryland State Fire Marshall
www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dob/html/mea.html
MEA - New York City Building Code. The Materials, Equipment and
Acceptance (MEA) Division was created to ensure that certain permanent
building materials and appliances meet the minimum standards required
in the Building Code, thus increasing the safety in all New York
City Buildings.
http://159.121.82.250
OSFM - Oregon State Fire Marshall
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