City of Hudson Fire Department

On July 30, 2002 New York Governor Pataki signed into law SB 475/AB 2424, legislation requiring the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in all new residential construction in the state. The NEMA recommended that all detectors comply with NFPA standard 720, "Recommended Practice for the Installation of Household Carbon Monoxide Equipment." and Underwriters Laboratory standard 2034, which establishes requirements for the manufacture of single and multiple station carbon monoxide alarms.

As the result of the new legislation, Amanda's Law (Subdivision 5-a of section 378 of the executive law) will go into effect on February 22, 2010. It requires essentially all residences, both new and existing, to have carbon monoxide alarms installed. The specific requirements differ for new and existing residences and also on when the buildings were built and subcategories of occupancy groups.

Probably the most asked question will be the requirement for existing one and two family residences. They will be required to have one carbon monoxide alarm installed on the lowest story having a sleeping area.

Homeowners And Occupants Should be Aware of The Potential Hazards Associated With Carbon Monoxide (CO).

CO poisoning can occur within a matter of minutes and is responsible for more deaths than any other single poison. This odorless, colorless poison can hurt you slowly in low levels, cause permanent neurological dysfunctions in moderate levels or take lives in higher levels. Protection against this deadly poison is as easy as installing a simple Carbon Monoxide alarm in your home or office.

CO is produced whenever a fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. The amount of CO produced while using fuel-burning appliances is usually not harmful. It becomes hazardous when appliances are not being used properly or are not functioning adequately. CO poisoning is a serious threat that people need to be informed about. By educating ourselves on the dangers of CO, we can significantly reduce the health risk as well as save lives. Although everyone needs to be aware of the dangers, some people are more susceptible than others. The following are more susceptible to Carbon Monoxide poisoning:

• Fetuses
• Infants
• Elderly People
• Those who suffer from anemia, respiratory or heart disease

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Precautions:

CO is commonly known as "the silent killer." It is colorless, odorless and tasteless, and therefore, the human senses cannot detect it. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), each year CO poisoning claims the lives of nearly 300 people in their homes. Carbon Monoxide is a potentially deadly gas that is produced by fuel-burning heating equipment, such as furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces, and kerosene heaters. Follow these guidelines to help keep loved ones safe.

• Install at least one Carbon Monoxide alarm near sleeping areas.
• Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up your home's central heating system and repair leaks or other problems; fireplaces and woodstoves should also be inspected each year and cleaned or repaired as needed.
• Keep gas appliances properly adjusted and serviced.
• Never use an oven or range to heat your home.
• Never use a gas or charcoal grill inside your home or in a closed garage. Charcoal produces more CO than any other fuel.
• Portable electric generators must be used outside only. Never use them indoors, in a garage or in any confined area that can allow CO to collect. Follow usage directions closely

Precautionary Measures:

At the beginning of every heating season homeowners should have their fuel burning appliances inspected by a qualified service technician. Appliances deteriorate with time and can be a health risk to those who live in the home. Besides having your appliances inspected, those using fuel-burning appliances should have their homes equipped with CO alarms to provide added peace of mind. Appliances can break down any time of the year so it is important to have a back-up system in place to keep you informed when CO levels increase. A CO alarm should be placed on every floor in the home to provide the best protection. Also knowing which CO alarms to choose and knowing how CO alarms function will help maximize security.

How does a CO detector work?

There are three basic types of CO sensors metal oxide, bio-mimetic, and electrochemical. Note that while there may be performance differences between these technologies, all detectors are tested and approved for their operation. The retail cost of a detector will generally relate to the number of features included and its warranty conditions. There are performance differences between these detector types. However, changes to the CO standards has resulted in all detectors, regardless of detector type, having to undergo extensive testing. All will be certified to operate under different environments (various chemical exposures, different relative humidity, etc.) satisfactorily if they meet the standards. Under the current standards, the bio-mimetic sensors are no longer used.

Metal Oxide detector/alarms – The original technology for detecting CO. Heated tin oxide reacts with CO to determine the levels of the toxic gas. Metal Oxide type detectors must be plugged into house current. Alarms of this type may have a battery back-up feature. These units may take several minutes to reset.

Electrochemical detector/alarms – A chemical reaction with CO generates an electrical current, setting off the alarm. Unit may be battery operated, plug-in, or both. Electrochemical detector/alarms are highly sensitive and accurate reading at all levels of CO. Some units may have a digital readout and a memory feature. These units reset quickly.

CO alarms should be selected with these factors in mind.

Health Risks:

Low levels of CO poisoning can be confused with other illness symptoms and often go undetected for hours. CO poisoning can result in long-term health problems if not recognized and treated promptly. Symptoms which may indicate CO poisoning include; nausea, headaches and light-headedness, especially when more than one person in the home is showing any of these symptoms. Anyone one experiencing symptoms should be examined by a doctor or at a healthcare facility.