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REGULATORY INFORMATION FOR
SMOKE/CO ALARMS
REGULATORY INFORMATION FOR CO ALARMS
WHAT LEVELS OF CO CAUSE AN ALARM?
U
nderwriters Laboratories Inc. Standard UL2034 requires residential
CO Alarms to sound when exposed to levels of CO and exposure times
a
s described below. They are measured in parts per million (ppm) of
CO over time (in minutes).
U
L2034 Required Alarm Points*:
• If the alarm is exposed to 400 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM
B
ETWEEN 4 and 15 MINUTES.
• If the alarm is exposed to 150 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM
B
ETWEEN 10 and 50 MINUTES.
• If the alarm is exposed to 70 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM
B
ETWEEN 60 and 240 MINUTES.
* Approximately 10% COHb exposure at levels of 10% to 95% Relative
H
umidity (RH).
The unit is designed not to alarm when exposed to a constant level
o
f 30 ppm for 30 days.
CO Alarms are designed to alarm before there is an immediate life
t
hreat. Since you cannot see or smell CO, never assume it’s not present.
•
An exposure to 100 ppm of CO for 20 minutes may not affect
a
verage, healthy adults, but after 4 hours the same level may cause
headaches.
•
An exposure to 400 ppm of CO may cause headaches in average,
healthy adults after 35 minutes, but can cause death after 2 hours.
Standards: Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Single and Multiple Station
c
arbon monoxide alarms UL2034.
According to Underwriters Laboratories Inc. UL2034, Section 1-1.2:
“
Carbon monoxide alarms covered by these requirements are intended
t
o respond to the presence of carbon monoxide fro
m sources such as,
b
ut not limited to, exhaust from internal-combustion engines, abnormal
o
peration of fuel-fired appliances, and fire
places. CO Alarms are
i
ntended to alarm at carbon monoxide levels below those that could
c
ause a loss of ability to r
eact to the dangers of Carbon Monoxide
e
xposure.” This CO Alarm monitors the air at the Alarm, and is
designed to alarm before CO levels become life threatening. This allows
you precious time to leave the house and correct the problem. This is
only possible if Alarms are located, installed, and maintained as
described in this manual.
Gas Detection at Typical Temperature and Humidity Ranges: The
CO Alarm is not formulated to detect CO levels below 30 ppm typically.
UL tested for false alarm resistance to Methane (500 ppm), Butane (300
ppm), Heptane (500 ppm), Ethyl Acetate (200 ppm), Isopropyl Alcohol
(200 ppm) and Carbon Dioxide (5000 ppm). Values measure gas and
vapor concentrations in parts per million.
Audible Alarm: 85 dB minimum at 10 feet (3 meters).
REGULATORY INFORMATION FOR SMOKE ALARMS
RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS FOR SMOKE ALARMS
Installing Smoke Alarms in Single-Family Residences
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), recommends one
Smoke Alarm on every floor, in every sleeping area, and in every bed-
room. In new construction, the Smoke Alarms must be AC powered
and interconnected. See “Agency Placement Recommendations” for
details. For additional coverage, it is recommended that you install a
Smoke Alarm in all r
ooms, halls, storage areas, finished attics, and
basements, where temperatures normally remain between 40˚ F (4˚ C)
and 100˚ F (38˚ C). Make sure no door or other obstruction could keep
smoke fr
om r
eaching the Smoke Alarms.
More specifically, install Smoke Alarms:
• On every level of your home, including finished attics and
basements.
• Inside every bedroom, especially if people sleep with the door
partly or completely closed.
• In the hall near every sleeping area. If your home has multiple
sleeping areas, install a unit in each. If a hall is more than 40 feet
long (12 meters), install a unit at each end.
• At the top of the first-to-second floor stairway, and at the bottom
of the basement stairway.
Specific requirements for Smoke Alarm installation vary from state to
state and from region to region. Check with your local Fire Department
for curr
ent r
equirements in your area. It is r
ecommended AC or AC/DC
units be interconnected for added protection.
RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS FOR SMOKE ALARMS, Continued
INSTALLING SMOKE ALARMS IN MOBILE HOMES
F
or minimum security install one Smoke Alarm as close to each
sleeping area as possible. For more security, put one unit in each room.
M
any older mobile homes (especially those built before 1978) have little
o
r no insulation. If your mobile home is not well insulated, or if you are
unsure of the amount of insulation, it is important to install units on
i
nside walls only. Smoke Alarms should be installed where temperatures
n
ormally remain between 40˚ F (4˚ C) and 100˚ F (38˚ C).
AGENCY PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Standard
s:
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Single and Multiple Station
Smoke Alarms 217.
NFPA
72 (National Fire
Code) Chapter 11
“For your information, the National Fire
Protection Association's
Standard
72, reads as follows:”
“11.5.1 One- and Two-Family Dwelling Units.”
“11.5.1.1 Smoke Detection.
Where required by applicable laws, codes,
or standards for the specified occupancy, approved single- and multiple-
station Smoke Alarms shall be installed as follows: (1) In all sleeping
rooms. Exception: Smoke Alarms shall not be required in sleeping
rooms in existing one- and two-family dwelling units. (2) Outside of each
separate sleeping area, in immediate vicinity of the sleeping rooms.
(3) On each level of the dwelling unit, including basements. Exception:
In existing one- and two family dwelling units, approved Smoke Alarms
powered by batteries are permitted.”
“A.11.8.3 Are More Smoke Alarms Desirable?
The required number of Smoke Alarms might not provide reliable early
warning protection for those areas separated by a door from the areas
protected by the required Smoke Alarms. For this reason, it is recom-
mended that the householder consider the use of additional Smoke
Alarms for those areas for increased protection. The additional areas
include the basement, bedrooms, dining room, furnace room, utility
r
oom, and hallways not pr
otected by the required Smoke Alarms. The
installation of Smoke Alarms in kitchens, unfinished attics, or garages is
not normally recommended, as these locations occasionally experience
conditions that can result in improper operation.”
California State Fire Marshal (CSFM)
Early warning detection is best achieved by the installation of fire
detection equipment in all rooms and areas of the household as follows:
A Smoke Alarm installed in each separate sleeping area (in the vicinity,
but outside bedr
ooms), and Heat or Smoke Alarms in the living rooms,
dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, finished attics, furnace
r
ooms, closets, utility and storage rooms, basements, and attached
garages.