MAYOR GARY O. PHILLIPS VICE MAYOR BARBARA HELLER COUNCILMEMBER KATE COLIN COUNCILMEMBER DAMON CONNOLLY COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW CUYUGAN MCCULLOUGH FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 6, 2013 FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE CHIEF, CHRISTOPHER GRAY PHONE: (415) 485-3304 FAX: (415) 453-1627 Carbon Monoxide Alarm Update The State of California passed into law Senate Bill 1394, which provides for some changes to the requirements for both Carbon Monoxide Alarms and Smoke Alarms within dwelling units. The technical requirements of SB 1394 will be included in future versions of the California Building and Fire Codes. One noteworthy change in SB 1394 effects the requirements for hotels and motels. Under the previous regulations, by January 1, 2013 certain hotels, motels, apartments and condominiums were required to have Carbon Monoxide alarms installed. The new regulations now allow hotels and motels to postpone the installation until January 1, 2016. Other changes in SB 1394 effect smoke alarms. Under the new law, smoke alarms installed on or after January 1, 2014 must have the date of manufacture, a space for the installation date to be recorded, and a ten year non removable, non-replaceable battery. It also requires that owners of apartments, condominiums, one- and two-family dwelling units that are rentals be responsible for testing the smoke alarms. See the attached summary for more information. FIRE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 1039 C STREET, SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 WWW.SRFD.ORG
SB 1394 Modifications to Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Alarm program
Carbon Monoxide Rules CO alarms installation delayed for existing Hotels and Motels until 1/1/2016 CO alarms required in multi family dwellings (apartments and condominiums) as of 1/1/2013 Single family homes were required 7/1/2011
Smoke Alarm Changes Smoke alarms installed after 1/1/2014 requires the following for SFM approval: Display date of manufacture Place for date of installation to be noted Incorporate hush feature (manually turn off a sounding alarm) End of Life feature (signals device needs replacing)
Smoke Alarm Changes (con t) Battery operated are to have a nonreplaceable, nonremoveable battery Minimum of 10 year service life Starting 1/1/2014 Smoke alarms shall: Date of manufacture Provide place for noting installation date Incorporate hush feature Incorporate end of life feature
Smoke Alarm Changes (con t) Battery operated devices must contain a nonreplaceable, nonremoveable battery with a min 10 year service life This change is NOT retroactive to existing devices. It only applies to newly installed devices on or after 1/1/2014.
Building Permit Requirement Permit issued on or after 1/1/2014 for: Alterations Repairs Additions That exceed $1,000.00 permittee must demonstrate all smoke alarms are approved and listed by SFM
Rentals and Leases On or before 1/1/2016 owner of dwellings with one or more rental or leased unit: Smoke alarms to be in compliance with current building standards Existing alarms need not be replaced unless unit is inoperable
State Fire Marshal State Fire Marshal shall: Authority to create exceptions to smoke alarm listings through regulatory process Approve manufacturers instructions for each smoke alarm Suspend enforcement of smoke alarm requirements for up to 6 months if SFM determines and insufficient quantities exist
State Fire Marshal (con t) Expand definitions of dwelling units intended for human occupancy to include factory built homes Deletes requirements for smoke detectors in the common stairwell of apartment complexes and other multi family dwelling complexes Requires starting 1/1/2014 owners of single family dwellings rented or leased be responsible for testing and maintaining alarms
State Fire Marshal (con t) Requires owner of multifamily rental at time of new tenancy ensure smoke alarms are operable and correctly located.