If you are thinking of selling or renting your home, smoke detectors with disposable batteries aren’t going to cut it anymore.
A change in the state’s uniform construction code, which took effect on Jan. 1, requires residences (one and two-story homes, motel rooms and rooming houses) built before 1977 to have a 10-year sealed battery smoke alarm installed. Homes built after 1977 are not subject to the new regulations because requirements already existed for the residences to have a hardwired alarm. A similar measure also started in New York.
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) spokeswoman Lisa Ryan says the change came with safety as its primary goal.
“The importance of working smoke alarms cannot be overstated,” Ryan said. “The material that common household items are made of today gives off toxic smoke and gases even in the beginning stage of a fire. It is extremely important to quickly detect a fire and provide early warning to occupants to enable them to safely escape. The key to early detection is having a working smoke alarm.”
Ryan says the DCA’s Division of Fire Safety proposed and adopted the regulations for the sealed battery smoke alarms because it stops people from removing the battery, allowing the device to be ready to work if a fire were to occur and to reduce the number of injuries and deaths.
“After responding to a fire, firefighters are often frustrated to find the smoke alarm that is present was not functioning and, therefore, didn’t provide the necessary warning to prevent injury or death,” Ryan added. “The most common cause of a smoke alarm not functioning is the lack of a working battery. Often, the battery is removed so it can be used somewhere else or the battery no longer has the necessary charge. Batteries are also removed to prevent nuisance alarms from cooking.”
Municipalities across the state have begun notifying residents of the new fire regulations and while conducting inspections for the upcoming busy shore rental season. Ryan said property owners would start to receive violation notices where the 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms are not installed.
“Local fire officials and property owners are encouraged to work together to establish a reasonable timetable for compliance.”
Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews or on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips