Carbon Monoxide Detectors

In accordance with New Jersey Administrative Code 5:70-2.3

Every year nearly 4,000 Americans die in home fires and more than 25,000 are injured. Children and the elderly are especially at risk in home fires because they are less able to escape when fire strikes. There are a few hundred CO fatalities annually, and many more persons suffer flu-like symptoms from CO exposure. You can improve the chances that your family will survive a home fire or CO leak by installing smoke and CO alarms and knowing what to do if they sound.

Alert your family to danger

CO usually comes from faulty heating appliances but may also come from fireplaces or cars running in attached garages. CO cannot be seen, tasted or smelled, so the only way to detect a CO problem is to have a CO alarm. CO alarms should be located near the bedrooms.

What kinds are there?

Local building codes now require CO alarms when a home uses gas or oil, contains a fireplace, a garage structure attached to the home unit, or any other CO producing equipment.  CO alarms are also powered by either household current (ac), a battery, or ac with a battery. Most CO comes from equipment that will not be working during a power outage so plug-in units are good. But if you might heat your home with a fireplace, wood stove, or kerosene heater when the power is out, you may want to use a battery-powered alarm. The sensor element in some CO alarms must be replaced regularly. Consider the cost of the replacement element in making your selection.

If your smoke or CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside.

The Bureau of Fire Prevention will inspect the Carbon Monoxide Detector while performing the Smoke Detector Compliance Inspection.  The Certificate of Inspection will only be provided if a home that requires a Carbon Monoxide detector is found to be in compliance.
 

[Home] [Back]

Send mail to webmaster@station57.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 Monroe Township Fire District No. 2
Last modified: 02/10/08