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Carbon monoxide alarms - know the signs of an expired alarm




carbon monoxide alarm
"Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless and poisonous gas. CO is found in fumes produced any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges or furnaces. CO can build up indoors and poison people and animals who breathe it. Exposure to CO can cause serious injury and even death. "

Washington state law (RCW 19.27.530 [ https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=19.27.530&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]) requires carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in new residences and in existing rental properties. Renters are responsible for maintaining the carbon monoxide alarm and replacing batteries as needed. We recommend once a year.

CO alarms should be installed in the area outside of each bedroom, with at least one alarm for each floor of the dwelling. Follow manufacturer’s guidelines on proper installation.

*CO alarm life span and end-of-life signal*

CO alarms have a life expectancy of around seven years. All CO alarms produced after August 1, 2009, have an end-of-life warning notification that alerts the resident that the alarm should be replaced. The CO alarm will beep every 30 seconds or display ERR or END.

If a CO alarm is at its end-of-life, replacing the battery will not stop the beep. Some CO alarms have a feature that will silence the signal for 30 days, but this will not solve the issue as the CO alarm will continue to beep after the 30-day-period ends.

*What should renters and property managers know*

Property owners and managers should consider replacing all CO alarms that were installed before 2016. A CO alarm that signals that it’s at the end of its life should be replaced as well.

Renters should notify their property manager or landlord immediately if their CO alarm is beeping every 30 seconds indicating its end-of-life. All residents should be informed that an intermittent beeping CO alarm is not reason to call 9-1-1.

A CO alarm that beeps continuously without stopping could indicate that carbon monoxide is present. If your CO alarm is sounding continuously and you have signs of CO poisoning such as dizziness, headache, vomiting or flu-like symptoms, find fresh air and call 9-1-1 immediately.

*Learn more:*

Seattle Fire Department’s CAM 5121 [ http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Fire/Business/5121CAMCORequirements.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirements in Residential Occupancies

Carbon Monoxide safety video [ https://protect2.fireeye.com/v1/url?e=0581a29b-1ed1-4ea6-a2f1-57a2f783422a&k=31323334-50bba2bf-31321b84-4544474f5631-e4622bcfeafd2ac9&q=1&u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FNd5dbMVvl_8%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgovdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]

Washington State Department of Health CO information [ https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/carbon-monoxide?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]






Preventing "false" alarms

If you live or have ever lived in a multi-residential building, you most likely have heard the building alarm sound and wondered if the alarm was "real" or "false". Unfortunately, there are thousands of preventable or "false" alarms every year that generate an emergency response from the fire department. 

The large number of false alarms puts a heavy burden on the entire system and reduces the department's ability to respond to emergencies. For this reason, Seattle has a citation penalty for “false alarms” or preventable fire alarms. The intent is to encourage maintenance and needed modification of alarm systems and discourage careless acts that result in alarm activation.

*What is a Preventable Fire Alarm?*
The Seattle Fire Code defines preventable alarms as follows:
-Any activation of a fire alarm system that results in notification to the Seattle Fire Department of an event of fire that leads to a response by the fire department when no such danger exists.
-All activations when there is no fire, when such activations are caused by mechanical failure or
malfunction due to insufficient or improper testing and maintenance, accidental activation, malicious activation, or misuse, by any person, including persons who sell, install, maintain, test, or monitor fire alarm systems.
-Does not include activations caused by weather conditions, telephone line problems, water surges, water hammers, or natural disasters

*Learn more about preventable alarms and citations here:*

CAM 5970 Preventable or "False" Alarms [ https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Fire/Business/CAM5970_PreventableFireAlarms.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] 

繁體中文 建築安全和消防執行法規 [ https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Fire/Business/Translated%20Documents/CAM5970_PreventableFireAlarms_Traditional_Chinese.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] | 简体中文 执行建筑安全与消防法规 [ https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Fire/Business/Translated%20Documents/CAM5970_PreventableFireAlarms_Simplified_Chinese.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] | Español [ https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Fire/Business/Translated%20Documents/CAM5970_PreventableFireAlarms_Spanish.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] | 한국어 [ https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Fire/Business/Translated%20Documents/CAM5970_PreventableFireAlarms_Korean.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] | Af-Soomaali [ https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Fire/Business/Translated%20Documents/CAM5970_PreventableFireAlarms_Somali.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] | Tagalog [ https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Fire/Business/Translated%20Documents/CAM5970_PreventableFireAlarms_Tagalog.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] | Tiếng Việt [ https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Fire/Business/Translated%20Documents/CAM5970_PreventableFireAlarms_Vietnamese.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] | አማርኛ [ https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Fire/Business/Translated%20Documents/CAM5970_PreventableFireAlarms_Amharic.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]





Heating safety tips

picture of person plugging space heater directly into wall outlet

The cold temperatures are keeping heaters extra busy this month. Here are some tips to keep you safe. Make sure of the following:


* Baseboard heaters are at least 12 inches from furniture, curtains and any items that can burn.
* Any fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
* Portable heaters are at least three feet from bedding and furniture, plugged directly into the wall and turned off when you leave the room or go to bed.
* Fireplaces are equipped with sturdy metal screens.






*Seattle Fire Department*

301 2nd Avenue South

Seattle, WA 98104

*Phone: 206-386-1400*

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