Massachusetts has become the latest state after Vermont and Connecticut to require carbon monoxide detectors in homes. The trend is expected to spread to all 50 states, says Doug Troutman, government relations counsel for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
Although the movement to require detectors began about five years ago, it really didn’t gain momentum until the last three years. Currently, nine states require carbon monoxide detectors in all homes, and a number of others, such as Connecticut, require carbon monoxide detection equipment in newly constructed single-family homes and in multifamily units.“We’re beginning to see an increasing number of states and municipalities introducing similar legislation,” says Debbie Hanson, director of External Affairs for First Alert, a manufacturer of detection equipment.
The Massachusetts law is named in memory of a 7-year-old girl who died in January 2005 as a result of carbon monoxide buildup that occurred when snow drifts blocked the heating vent in her house. In Massachusetts alone, there are 3,000 reported cases of carbon monoxide poisoning each year, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says carbon monoxide gas kills more than 500 people in the country annually.The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® was very much in support of the measure, although they wanted to ensure that compliance wouldn’t place an undue burden on home owners.
Although, Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Both Save Lives.
Did you check your Batteries for both detectors when you turned your clocks ahead??
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