Smoke Detector Requirements

[IJHumberson]

As the Fire Marshal for a municipality (Gaithersburg, Md.), I am working on an ordinance to require smoke detectors in ALL sleeping rooms and on each occupied level of a residence. Another aspect of the legislation will require all detectors to have battery power (existing detectors that are AC-only power will have to be replaced with detectors that have AC power with battery back-up). I am trying to find out if any other jurisdictions have similar requirements for existing homes.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Ivan J. Humberson
Fire Marshal
City of Gaithersburg
31 S. Summit Ave.
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

301-258-6330

[denny]

IJHumberson: In ref.to you wanting info
on smoke det. laws in any states ect.
try -WWW.firesafehome.org
which is the Residential Fire Safety Institute (RFSI) they should have info
you are looking for. Other than that you
would have to try & contact other state
fire prev.offices, try N.J. Div.of Fire Safety. Don't remember their web site off
hand,might be under New Jersey Community
Affaris site ,under there Div. whichs handles
the construction code..
If i come up with more info i will pass it
on to you.Presently at work & don't have all
my info handy.. Good Luck..

[Tcashel]

NJ has a program that requires that all one and two family dwelling be sold in NJ be certified that working SD area installed. The rules under the UFC-NJ allows battery operated detectors in older homes (built prior to 1/1977. Date in which the constrution code was adopted.

1979-1990 homes, electric detectors interconnected
1990 - electric detector wirth battery back-up.

It intent is have older homes with mimnimum protection and newer homes to mbe maintained.

[The Snake Man]

I question the liability issue of that? Seems a bit to much. Oh yes, it makes total since but I think the home owners in my jurisdiciton would see it as too "big brother" for them. Now in duplex's thats a different story cause Im protecting the safety of the "other" family in that building from the neighbors. Ya know? I think you will get some interesting feedback on this subject.

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Yours Truly,
THE SNAKE MAN
Arguing with a fire inspector is like rolling in the mud with a pig, you soon realize the pig enjoys it. :)