Department of Fire ServicesTraining Division

Office of the State Fire Marshal

MassachusettsCarbon Monoxide Alarm Requirements

Background

• Why Nicole’s Law

• Carbon Monoxide Task Force

• Chapter 123 of the Acts of 2005 – Added M.G.L. c.148, s.26F1/2– Required BFPR to develop regulations, which

resulted in 527 CMR 31.00– Sub-committee/task force

Legislative Highlights

• Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms shall be equipped in all residential structures that contain:– Fossil Fuel Burning Equipment, or – Have Enclosed Parking

Legislative Highlights

• Establishes minimum CO protection requirements

• Grants regulatory authority to BFPR. – To implement law with necessary technical

details

• Creates landlord maintenance obligations– Dovetailed with State Sanitary Code

Requirements

Legislative Highlights

• Creates Fire Department Inspection requirements– On sale or transfer

• Modifies the existing inspection fee structure for smoke detector and carbon monoxide inspections

• Allows BBRS to create stricter standards for new or substantially renovated buildings

Legislative Highlights

• Amendment to MGL c. 148, 10A– Maximum Fee of up to $50 may be charged

for smoke detector or CO alarm inspection – single family residence

– If simultaneous inspection no additional fee allowed.

– Fee can not exceed: • $50.00: single family • $100.00: 2-family • $150.00: 6 or fewer residential units • $500.00: buildings with more than 6 units

Legislative Highlights

• Establishes Compliance Deadlines– 3-31-06 (non-hard wired -- battery/plug-in)– 1-1-07 (hardwire & state owned buildings and

local housing authorities

527 CMR 31.00

• Regulation organization:– 31.01 - Purpose and Scope– 31.02 - Definitions– 31.03 - General Installation Provisions – 31.04 - Specific Installation Requirements

– 31.05 - Inspection and Maintenance Requirements

– 31.06 - Landlord Duties– 31.07 - Hearing Impaired consideration

31.01: Purpose and Scope

• Scope– Minimum requirements for type, installation,

location, maintenance and inspectional requirements

• Purpose– Apply to every dwelling, building or structure

occupied for residential purposes that has fossil fuel or enclosed parking

– Including Commonwealth owned buildings

31.02: Definitions

• Adjacent Spaces: any area, space, room or dwelling unit located directly next to, below or above any area space, room or dwelling unit that contains fossil fuel burning equipment.

31.02: Definitions

• Centralized Fossil Fuel Burning Equipment (CFFBE): – Area or room that contains:• Central heating plant, hot water heater, a

combustion driven generator or fire pump, central laundry area, roof mounted air handling unit or similar purposes that emits CO as a by product of combustion

• Does not allow for air exchange between CFFBE and dwelling units or common areas.

31.02: Definitions

• Carbon Monoxide Alarm Protection: – Battery powered with battery monitoring –

chirp indicator (includes wireless battery)– Plug-in with battery back up – not allowed on

a switched circuit– AC (hard wired) w/ battery back up – Low voltage or wireless alarms– Qualified Combination smoke/CO units

31.02: Definition

• Combination Appliance – a combination smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm with battery back up.– Can be battery or ac hardwired depending

upon application– Photoelectric or Ionization– Employ both simulated voice and tone alarm– Clearly distinguishes between CO and Smoke– Complies with NFPA 720, 5.3.4– Ionization must maintain 20 ft rule

31.02: Definitions

• Enclosed Parking: An area or room enclosed within the overall building or structure that is designed or used for the parking of vehicles.

31.02: Definitions

• Habitable – shall mean that portion of a cellar or basement or attic that is designed, used and furnished for living purposes

31.02: Definitions

• Fossil Fuel Burning Equipment: any device, apparatus or appliance which is designed or used to consume fuel of any kind which emits carbon monoxide as a by-product of combustion– Examples: oil, gas, wood, coal, LPG, pellet,

corn-husks

31.02: Definitions

• Residential Structures: shall include any dwelling, building or structure classified as use group R-2 through R-5, as defined by the State Building Code and those unclassified occupancies that have similar characteristics.– Examples: single/multiple dwellings,

apartment buildings, Condos, Licensed Group Homes.

31.02: Definitions

• NFPA 720: Standard for the Installation of Carbon (CO) warning equipment in Dwelling Units, 2005 edition.

• http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/list_of_codes_and_standards.asp (access to view specific sections of NFPA 720 standard on line at no charge).

31.03: General Installation Provisions

• Any ac installed device shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the MA Electrical Code, MGL 143 s. 3L and MGL 141, s. 1A (licensed electrician/permit if applicable)

• Commonwealth owned or operated and local housing authority’s have until 1/1/2007– Enforcement is by the head of the fire

department at state owned buildings, by statue

31.03: General Installation Provisions

• Building Code can create more stringent requirements for new/substantial renovations.– The fire department will inspect to more

stringent requirement.

• The CO alarm required for unvented appliances or gas appliances (527 CMR or 248 CMR) is considered acceptable to meet the regulations as long as the CO detector is located in accordance with this regulation.

31.04: Specific Installation Requirements

• Residential Structures: – Effective March 31, 2006 every

residential structure that presently or in the future contains Fossil Fuel Burning Equipment or has enclosed parking shall be equipped by the owner, landlord or superintendent, with working and listed Carbon Monoxide Alarm Protection.

31.04: Specific Installation Requirements

• A Single Station Carbon Monoxide Alarm shall be located in each level of each Dwelling Unit including Habitable portions of basements, cellars and attics, but not including crawl spaces. The method of installation of the unit shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

• When mounting a carbon monoxide alarm on a level of a Dwelling Unit with a sleeping area, the alarm shall be installed in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping area, not to exceed 10 ft. as measured in any direction from any bedroom door.

31.04: Specific Installation Requirements Alternative Compliance Option

• May be a more practical option for larger buildings with limited or no FFBE in each Dwelling Unit

• Requires a more sophisticated system

• Targets the Sources of CO: – Areas or rooms containing Centralized Fossil

Fuel Burning Equipment and all Adjacent Spaces and/or

– Adjacent Spaces of Enclosed Parking – Also: any dwelling unit

31.02: Definitions (review)

• Adjacent Spaces: any area, space, room or dwelling unit located directly next to, below or above any area space, room or dwelling unit that contains fossil fuel burning equipment.

31.04: Specific Installation Requirements Alternative Compliance Option (CFFBE)

• Employ CO protection in all CFFBE rooms and adjacent spaces with single station CO alarms meeting UL 2034 or 2075 using either ac or low voltage systems, in accordance with the mfg’s instructions.

• Required to be monitored as a supervisory signal (trouble alarm) “Carbon Monoxide Alarm” signal (as per 720 NFPA 5.3.9)

• Supervisory signal is required to be retransmitted to a constantly attended location. Retransmission to the fire department dispatch center is at the discretion of the Head of the Fire Department (as per 720 NFPA 5.3.9.3 (1)

31.04: Specific Installation Requirements Alternative Compliance Option (Enclosed parking)

• In all adjacent spaces of Enclosed Parking employ single station CO alarms meeting UL 2034 or 2075 using either ac or low voltage systems, in accordance with the mfg’s instructions.

31.04: Specific Installation Requirements

• Required to be monitored as a supervisory signal (trouble alarm) “Carbon Monoxide Alarm” signal (as per 720 NFPA 5.3.9)

• Supervisory signal is required to be retransmitted to a constantly attended location. Retransmission to the fire department dispatch center is at the discretion of the Head of the Fire Department (as per 720 NFPA 5.3.9.3 (1)

31.04: Specific Installation Requirements Alternative Compliance Option (Enclosed parking)

• CO Alarm Protection shall also be installed in any dwelling unit the contains FFBE in accordance with 31.04 (1)(a) and (b).

• Written Notification of Hard Wire Option: – The owner shall provide written notification

to the Head of the Fire Department by May 15, 2006 of the intent to install protection by 1/1/07. This submission shall be deemed consent by the owner to be inspected on or before 1/1/07.

31.05: Inspection and Maintenance Requirements

• Head of the Fire Department enforces provisions including inspection upon sale or transfer– Does not limit the fire department from taking

action after effective implementation dates

31.06: Landlord Duties

• Owner, landlord, or superintendent– At a Minimum: maintain, test, repair or

replace, if necessary every CO alarm upon renewal of any lease term for any dwelling unit or on an annual basis which ever is more frequent

– Batteries: replaced annually• Exception – low voltage batteries. Follow NFPA

720

31.07: Hearing Impaired Consideration

• Refers to the Architectural Access Board, 521 CMR, for standards.

Phase #2: Anticipated CO Regulatory Action

• Regulations under consideration

• Effective Date: 1-1-07

• Anticipates application to R-1, I-1, I-2, and I-3 use groups– Examples: Hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, jails

• Anticipate method that targets CO Sources

• Anyone interested in these areas contact the OSFM

• Scheduling meetings with groups that are anticipated to be affected.

Resources

• www.mass.gov/dfs

• Consumers Guide

• www.nfpa.org

• www.firstalert.com

• www.kiddeus.com

• www.cpsc.gov

Questions?

Thank you !