Safety Tips from your Building Inspectors

What is the most important thing to remember when installing a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide alarm? Location, Location, Location!

Smoke Alarm Safety

• Install at least one smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside of each sleeping room area and on each level of a multi-level building.
• Test each smoke alarm regularly.
• Keep batteries fresh by replacing them at least annually.
• Check the manufacturer date on your smoke alarm. Consider replacement if it is over ten years old.

Smoke alarms can't help you unless they are functional and you can hear them. Building safety codes require smoke alarms. Contact our building inspectors or Fire Department for more information.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm Safety

• Consider installing a CO alarm in the hallway outside of each sleeping room area.
• Test each CO alarm regularly in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
• Permanently wired or plug-in CO alarms should have a battery backup. Keep batteries fresh by replacing them at least annually.

CO alarms can't help you unless they are functional and you can hear them. Building safety codes require CO alarms in all dwelling units that contain a fuel fired appliance and dwelling units that have an attached garage. Contact our building inspectors or Fire Department for more information.