According to the National Fire Protection Association, Three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

The updates to Maryland’s Smoke Alarm Law are part of a nationwide initiative to ensure new and replacement smoke alarms have the most successful technology available to keep your family safe in the event of a home fire.

REPLACING SMOKE ALARMS

Homeowners in Maryland need to replace their smoke alarms (battery-operated and hard-wired) every 10 years from the date of manufacture. This date is printed on the back of the smoke alarm. If there is no date, it is definitely too old and time to replace.  It is never acceptable to replace a hardwired smoke alarm with a battery only smoke alarm.

BATTERY ONLY OPERATED SMOKE ALARMS

The most recent provision of the new Maryland law is that homeowners are required to replace battery-only operated smoke alarms with units powered by sealed-in, ten-year/long-life batteries with a “hush” feature. The law additionally states homeowners must upgrade smoke alarm placement in existing residential occupancies to comply with minimum specified standards. These standards vary corresponding to when the home was built. The deadline for complying with the new law is January 1, 2018.

HARDWIRED SMOKE ALARMS

Hardwired smoke alarms older than 10 years from the date of manufacture need to be replaced. SSVFD recommends replacing them with a Hardwired Smoke Alarm with a Sealed 10 Year Battery Backup. The 10 year sealed battery has many benefits, and will save home owners from having to change the batteries in the smoke alarm every 6 months. This will save money and is more environmentally friendly. Hardwired AC Smoke Alarms need to be installed by a licensed electrician.

NEW LAW & REPLACEMENT INFORMATION

For information pertaining to the new law and a link to the smoke alarm matrix, which explains which smoke alarms are required in your residence, please click below –

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/MCFRS/Resources/Files/misc/Smoke_Alarm_Law_101.pdf

CO ALARMS

Carbon Monoxide is known as “The Silent Killer” because it is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating. Homes that utilize any source of fossil fuels (e.g., wood, kerosene, gasoline, charcoal, propane, natural gas, and oil) or have a garage should have a CO alarm. The SSVFD recommends that CO alarms purchased have a 10 year sealed battery, and be placed outside of all sleeping areas at a minimum. Some residences are required per state law.

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For more information on CO alarms please visit https://www.peoples-law.org/carbon-monoxide-alarms. For information on the Maryland CO Alarm Law for rental properties, please visit https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MDFIRE/bulletins/17e89b7