Section 12-G310. CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS

 

Insert new Section 310 in the Property Maintenance Code to read as follows:

 

310.1 Carbon monoxide alarms.  Effective 36 months from the date that the 2013 edition of the Construction Codes is adopted pursuant to Section 122 of the Building Code, an approved carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed, in Group I and R occupancies and buildings regulated by the Residential Code, in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms in dwelling units located in a building containing a fuel-burning appliance or a building which has an attached garage.  Only one alarm shall be required outside each separate sleeping area or grouping of bedrooms. The carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed as complying with UL 2034 and be installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 720 and the manufacturer’s instructions.  An open parking garage, as defined by Chapter 2 of the Building Code, or an enclosed parking garage ventilated in accordance with section 404 of the Mechanical Code, shall not be considered an attached garage.

 

Exception:  A sleeping unit or dwelling unit which does not itself contain a fuel-burning appliance or have an attached garage, but which is located in a building with a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, need not be equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm provided that:

 

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.

 

310.1.1 Single station carbon monoxide alarms. Single station carbon monoxide alarms shall be battery operated, or shall receive their primary power from the building wiring system.  Plug-in devices securely fastened to the structure and installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions are deemed to satisfy this requirement.  Hard wired and plug-in carbon monoxide alarms shall be equipped with battery back up.

 

310.1.2 Combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms. Combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring when such wiring is served from a commercial source, and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery.  Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection.  Smoke alarm features of combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms shall be interconnected.

 

310.2 Carbon monoxide detection systems.  Carbon monoxide detection systems, which include carbon monoxide detectors and audible notification appliances, installed and maintained in accordance with this section for carbon monoxide alarms and NFPA 720 shall be permitted. The carbon monoxide detectors shall be listed as complying with UL 2075.

 

310.2.1 Housing business.  The owner or operator of a housing business shall replace or repair the carbon monoxide detectors within 15 days of receipt of written notification by an occupant or tenant that replacement or repairs are needed.  The owner or operator shall ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is operable and in good repair at the beginning of each tenancy.

 

310.3 Where required in existing dwellings.  Where work requiring a permit occurs in an existing dwelling unit, carbon monoxide alarms shall be provided in the dwelling unit in accordance with Section 908.7 of the Building Code for new construction. 

 

Exception: Work involving the exterior surfaces of a building or structure, such as the replacement of roofing or siding, or the addition or replacement of windows or doors, are exempt from the requirements of Section 310.

 

 

authority

Section 10 of the Construction Codes Approval and Amendments Act of 1986 (Act), effective March 21, 1987 (D.C. Law 6-216; D.C. Official Code § 6-1409 (2012 Repl.)) and Mayor’s Order 2009-22, dated February 25, 2009, as amended.

source

Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 3196 (March 28, 2014 – Part 2); as corrected by Errata Notice published at 61 DCR 5246 (May 23, 2014); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 103 (January 2, 2015).

EditorNote

The District of Columbia Property Maintenance Code (2013), referred to as the “Property Maintenance Code,” consists of the 2012 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code, published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the District of Columbia Property Maintenance Code Supplement (2013) (12 DCMR G). The International Property Maintenance Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ipmc/2012/index.htm?bu=IC-P-2012-000006&bu2=IC-P-2012-000019.