More great legislative news!
The Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle has signed Senate Bill 289 into law. This law requires carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in new and existing multi-family construction.
According to the language specified within the law:
- CO alarms will be required in multi-family dwellings including; apartment buildings, rooming houses (excluding 1 & 2 unit dwellings), hotels, children’s homes, community-based residential facilities, and dormitories. Hospitals and nursing homes are not included.
- Alarms are to be installed in the basement, within 15 feet of each sleeping area, and in certain hallways and rooms adjacent to a fuel-burning appliance.
- In an area of a building not containing a sleeping area alarms must be installed within 75 feet of the fuel-burning source. Additional alarms are required in hallways connected to a room containing a fuel-burning appliance.
- Alarms are required to be approved by an independent product safety certification organization.
- Alarms may be electronic or battery operated.
- Exemptions are included for buildings containing neither attached garage nor fuel-burning appliances.
Effective Date of this law is October 1
st, 2008.
According to the Governor’s office, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the Department of Health and Family Services will soon publicize rules regarding the inspection of residential structures mandated within this law.
For more information you can find the bill by licking on the following link:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SB-289.pdfIf you have any immediate questions, feel free to contact your First Alert/BRK Salesperson or Deb Hanson, First Alert Director of External Affairs at (630) 851-7330 x.1327.
Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
The First Alert C.A.R.E. Team
