What do these laws mean and why are they confusing? The State of Maryland is saying NO MORE CHIRPING SMOKE DETECTORS!
Why you ask?
Many homeowners would get frustrated with the chirping and remove the batteries, only to make the smoke detector useless. New law states all new smoke detectors must have a 10 year sealed battery (NO MORE 9 VOLT REMOVABLE BATTERIES!) So you never need to “change the battery in your smoke detector!”
So what do you need to do to be compliant with Maryland State Law for smoke detector use?
If your home was built AFTER 1994, you need to:
- Replace any hard wired smoke detector OLDER THAN 10 YEARS with a new 10 year battery hard wired smoke detector.
- These detectors need to be installed INSIDE EVERY BEDROOM, on every floor of your home including basement.
- All smoke detectors need to be interconnected, so if one goes off, all the others do too.
If you home was built prior to 1994, you need to:
- Replace any hard wired smoke detector OLDER THAN 10 YEARS with a new 10 year battery hard wired smoke detector.
- These detectors need to be installed outside every bedroom, on every floor of your home including basement. NOTE: INSIDE every bedroom is recommended, but not the law in these older homes. If you are installing new detectors WHERE NONE CURRENTLY EXIST, you can use a battery operated detector which is not hard wired.
- All hardwired smoke detectors currently installed must be interconnected when replacing a hard wired detector.
Basically the Law states what the smoke detector law was at the time of your home’s construction is what you need to maintain with a 10 year sealed battery new smoke detector. However, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED if your home is older, you install smoke detectors INSIDE every bedroom as well as outside the sleeping areas because when sleeping with your door closed, you might not hear the smoke detector going off.
Here is a link for more specific information.
For Carbon Monoxide Detectors, it is state law any residence built after 1/1/08 using fossil fuels for heat, cooking, or appliance operation, a fireplace, or attached garage, must have hard wired CO2 detectors outside each bedroom and on every level of the home. The detectors should be hard wired and interconnected. If built prior to 1/1/08, you are permitted to install battery powered CO2 detectors in lieu of hard wired detectors, except in Prince George’s County where all must be hard wired and interconnected. In Prince George’s County is there a $100 fine for noncompliance.