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Carbon monoxide alarms required in New York State
Guidelines effective March 6 At least eleven people have died in the State of New York since October due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. On March 6 a new law requiring carbon monoxide (CO) alarms becomes effective in terms of the rules and regulations established by the New York State Building Council. The law requires at least one alarm be installed in all one- and two-family homes, co-ops and condominiums that are built or sold in New York state after March 6. "New York state wants to ensure the health and safety of our communities from the dangerous effects of carbon monoxide," said Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle (D-Irondequoit) who co-sponsored the law. "These guidelines will help the state enforce this new law, preventing injuries and saving lives." In an effort to protect more residents, Assemblyman Morelle plans to introduce a new bill in March that would expand the current law to include multiple dwellings (apartments), hotels, motels and lodging houses. The law that goes into effect March 6 requires that at least one CO alarm shall be provided in each dwelling unit. The required alarm must be installed in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms(s) on the lowest floor level of the dwelling unit containing bedrooms(s). Alarms must comply with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards and be installed in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. In 1993, the city of Kingston, NY enacted the first CO alarm ordinance in the nation. Since then, a number of areas have followed suit, including Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York and the State of New Jersey. Assemblyman Morelle became an advocate for CO education and legislation after a visit from a former local fire chief who retold the tragic story of a Rochester family who lost a college-age daughter to CO exposure. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), CO is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America, yet industry estimates conclude that only 27 percent of households have at least one carbon monoxide alarm. In contrast, the NFPA finds that 94 percent of homes in the U.S. have at least one smoke alarm. "It is my hope that carbon monoxide alarms will one day be considered a standard home appliance, much like smoke alarms are now perceived," said Morelle. "Through the proliferation of these devices, we can reduce the threat of CO poisoning to New York state residents." CO is invisible to the human senses and CO poisoning imitates other illnesses, so without an alarm's warning, residents have no way to know they are being poisoned. Known as the "Silent Killer," CO is odorless, tasteless, colorless, and non-irritating. Symptoms of CO poisoning mimic the flu and include nausea, vomiting and dizziness. CO is a by-product of combustion produced by common household appliances such as gas or oil furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, and clothes dryers. Other sources of CO include barbecue grills, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, gas ovens, and car exhaust fumes entering a home from an attached garage. "What concerns us is none of these appliances are designed to last forever and at some point something is going to go wrong with them," said Steve Gladstone, vice president of the American Society of Home Inspectors. "The potential for exposure to CO is a real one and families can be in the presence of CO without knowing it - unless there is an alarm in the home to signal the danger." "Quick detection is key in preventing carbon monoxide tragedies and an alarm is the only way residents will know if this gas that can't be seen or smelled is in their home," said Chris Rovenstine, vice president of marketing at Kidde, the word's largest manufacturer of home safety products. "We applaud the leadership role Assemblyman Morelle has taken to protect the residents of New York." Underwriters Laboratories recommends the following response procedures when an alarm sounds:
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