ALTHOUGH MANY FIREFIGHTERS SAY REQUIRING CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS IN HOMES IS A GREAT IDEA, THEY DON’T KNOW HOW THE NEW LAW WILL BE ENFORCED. THE LAW, WHICH GOES INTO EFFECT JULY 1ST, WOULD APPLY TO ALL EXISTING HOMES IN CALIFORNIA, THAT HAVE ATTACHED GARAGES, OR FIREPLACES, OR ANY GAS APPLIANCE.
ACCORDING TO THE NEW LAW, a CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR may be combined with a smoke detector, but, if it is, it must emit “an alarm or voice warning in a manner that clearly differentiates between a carbon monoxide alarm warning and a smoke detector warning.”
ON TOP OF THAT, The device must be certified by the State Fire Marshall, and must be installed, according to the approved instructions.