Carbon Monoxide Detectors Required as of July 1, 2011
Carbon Monoxide Detectors Required as of July 1, 2011
Carbon Monixide Detectors Now Required
As of July 1, 2011, California landlords and sellers of residential property with one to four units, must comply with the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010. This law addresses the problem of carbon monoxide poisoning, which is the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas produced whenever any fuel is burned. It can enter the home from sources as seemingly innocent as a gas stove, furnace, or woodstove, usually due to leakage, back drafting, or poor venting.
The new California law requires the installation of a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm (or a CO alarm combined with a smoke detector) that emits an alarm and has been tested and certified in accordance with standards developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL). Detectors must be installed in all dwelling units that contain a fossil fuel burning heater, appliance, or fireplace; or that have an attached garage. (A fossil fuel is coal, kerosene, oil, wood, fuel gases, and other petroleum or hydrocarbon products that emit carbon monoxide as a byproduct of combustion).
The law permits either plug-in version or wall mount Carbon Monoxide Detectors for compliance purposes. These products are available at most home improvement centers and are relatively easy to install.
Landlords' and Tenants' Responsibilities
Landlords are charged with installing and maintaining the detectors, and may enter the rental for the purposes of installing, repairing, and testing. Tenants are responsible for notifying the landlord if the device becomes inoperable.
