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Law now requires carbon monoxide detectors
By Tom Munds
Effective July 1, homeowners and owners of rental property are required to install carbon monoxide detectors in newly constructed or remodeled homes as well as when new tenants move into rental property.
Specifically, the law requires the alarms in homes that are heated with fossil fuel, have fossil fuel fired appliances, have a fireplace or have an attached garage. Detectors are available at a variety of stores and usually cost $15 to $30 each.
The law was passed because carbon monoxide is undetectable gas that can cause serious injury and even death. The gas is created by burning most fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil, propane or wood.
Kraig Stovall, Englewood’s deputy fire chief, said the department has had cases of carbon monoxide exposure in the past, some of which have had tragic results.
He said the law is important because the gas in undetectable under normal circumstances.
“The gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and invisible,” he said. “Also, the symptoms are subtile and difficult to detect as the person exposed may simply feel sleepy. The exposure could be very dangerous at that stage and the detectors can provide warning.”
Stovall noted the carbon monoxide detectors on the market a few years ago had flaws such as sounding the alarm because of sensing a cumulative amount of carbon monoxide over time. However, the flaw have been corrected so the detectors now register the existing level of carbon monoxide.
Englewood and most other fire services around the state have been working to have this law passed for several years.
The effort was successful during the 2009 state legislative session. The bill was named after Parker, Caroline, Owen and Sophie Lofgren and Lauren Johnson, who all died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. The govern signed House Bill 09-1091 and it became law July 1.
Stovall said there is detailed information available the requirements of the new law, why the law is important and how to install the detectors by going to the city Web site at www.englewoodgov.com and clicking on the fire department page.
Specifically, the law requires the alarms in homes that are heated with fossil fuel, have fossil fuel fired appliances, have a fireplace or have an attached garage. Detectors are available at a variety of stores and usually cost $15 to $30 each.
The law was passed because carbon monoxide is undetectable gas that can cause serious injury and even death. The gas is created by burning most fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil, propane or wood.
Kraig Stovall, Englewood’s deputy fire chief, said the department has had cases of carbon monoxide exposure in the past, some of which have had tragic results.
He said the law is important because the gas in undetectable under normal circumstances.
“The gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and invisible,” he said. “Also, the symptoms are subtile and difficult to detect as the person exposed may simply feel sleepy. The exposure could be very dangerous at that stage and the detectors can provide warning.”
Stovall noted the carbon monoxide detectors on the market a few years ago had flaws such as sounding the alarm because of sensing a cumulative amount of carbon monoxide over time. However, the flaw have been corrected so the detectors now register the existing level of carbon monoxide.
Englewood and most other fire services around the state have been working to have this law passed for several years.
The effort was successful during the 2009 state legislative session. The bill was named after Parker, Caroline, Owen and Sophie Lofgren and Lauren Johnson, who all died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. The govern signed House Bill 09-1091 and it became law July 1.
Stovall said there is detailed information available the requirements of the new law, why the law is important and how to install the detectors by going to the city Web site at www.englewoodgov.com and clicking on the fire department page.
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