By WKTV Staff
First Alert, along with health and safety officials, have issued a timely reminder to replace carbon monoxide (CO) alarms as they approach expiration.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100,000 emergency department visits and approximately 420 deaths are attributed to accidental CO poisoning in the U.S. each year.
This makes CO the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the country.
CO can be produced by any fuel-burning device, including heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, appliances and cooking sources using coal, wood or petroleum products.
Lifespans of CO alarms
Michiganders have been protected against the threat of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning since 2009, thanks to CO protection measures implemented by Michigan’s Uniform Construction Code (Act 230 of 1972), Section 125.1504f. Since then, CO alarms have helped save countless lives from the dangers of this invisible, odorless and potentially fatal gas.
While alarm lifespans may vary by model and manufacturer, when Michigan enacted these CO alarm requirements, a properly maintained CO alarm had a lifespan of approximately five to seven years. Therefore, CO alarms installed when Michigan enacted these requirements may again be due for replacement.
It is important for Michigan residents to check their alarms as well as practice important safety steps to keep loved ones safe from the dangers of CO.
Important safety tips
- As of March 2009, Michigan’s Uniform Construction Code requires CO alarms to be installed in all newly constructed one and two-family dwellings and town homes not more than three stories, and existing multi-dwelling units.
- Alarms must be placed on every floor with a sleeping level and/or fuel burning appliance, such as a stove, fireplace, heater or furnace, as well as attached garages.
- CO alarms must be battery-powered, plug-in with or without battery backup, wired into the dwelling’s AC power line with secondary battery backup or connected to a system by means of a control panel.
- All CO alarms shall be listed and labeled as complying with ANSI/UL 2034 or ANSI/UL 2075 and be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
- “This anniversary highlights how crucial it is to replace expiring alarms in order to detect this poisonous gas and help to provide early warning,” said Ashley Gocken, a First Alert fire safety expert with Resideo Technologies, Inc. “If you can’t recall when you last installed a CO or smoke alarm, there’s a good chance it’s time to replace your old units. Installing new alarms and testing them regularly are some of the most essential steps in home safety.” First Alert offers a variety of alarms available in hardwired, wall-mount, plug-in and tabletop options to meet the needs of any household.
