§ 26-8A. Carbon monoxide alarm or detector required.  


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  • (a) Applicability. The provisions of this Section apply to any occupied single-unit, two-unit, and townhouse unit, as defined in Chapter 59, for which a building permit was issued before January 1, 2008.
    (b) Required.
    (1) The owner of each occupied single-unit, two-unit, and townhouse dwelling unit containing a fuel burning appliance or attached garage must install carbon monoxide detection and warning equipment.
    (2) Carbon monoxide alarms or detectors must be installed as follows:
    (A) outside of each separate dwelling unit sleeping area and in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms; and
    (B) on every occupiable level of a dwelling unit, including basements, excluding attics and crawl spaces.
    (3) A carbon monoxide alarm or detector must:
    (A) be located on the wall, ceiling, or other location as specified in the manufacturer’s published instructions that accompany the unit; and
    (B) be installed and maintained under NFPA 720.
    (c) Equipment.
    (1) Single station carbon monoxide alarms.
    (A) A single station carbon monoxide alarm must be battery operated or must receive its primary power from the building wiring system.
    (B) A plug-in device may satisfy this requirement if it is securely fastened to the structure and installed as directed by the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
    (C) A hard wired or plug-in carbon monoxide alarm must be equipped with battery back-up.
    (2) Combination smoke detector/carbon monoxide alarms.
    (A) A carbon monoxide alarm may be combined with a smoke detector if the device complies with this Section, Section 22-96, and applicable State law.
    (B) A combination smoke detector/carbon monoxide alarm must receive its primary power from the building wiring when that wiring is served from a commercial source, and when primary power is interrupted, must receive power from a battery.
    (C) A combination smoke detector/carbon monoxide alarm must have permanent wiring. The only disconnecting switch allowed is that which is required for over-current protection. Smoke alarm features of a combination smoke detector/carbon monoxide alarm must be interconnected.
    (d) Exceptions. A dwelling unit that does not itself contain a fuel-burning appliance or have an attached garage, but is located in a building with a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, does not need to be equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm if:
    (1) the sleeping unit or dwelling unit is located more than one story above or below any story which contains a fuel-burning appliance or attached garage;
    (2) the sleeping unit or dwelling unit is not connected by ductwork or ventilation shafts to any room containing a fuel-burning appliance or to an attached garage; and
    (3) the building is equipped with a common area carbon monoxide alarm system, which includes carbon monoxide detectors and audible notification appliances, installed and maintained in a manner that satisfies this Section and NFPA 720.
    (e) Orders to install; penalty.
    (1) If an enforcing agency finds that a dwelling unit does not have a carbon monoxide detector as required under this Section, the enforcing agency must order the owner to install a carbon monoxide alarm or detector under Section 26-12.
    (2) Notwithstanding Section 26-16, a violation of this Section is a Class C violation.
    (, § 1.)