RESIDENTIAL SMOKE DETECTOR AND
CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM AND PORTABLE FIRE
EXTINGUISHER INSPECTIONS
CALL THE BUREAU OFFICE
AT 732-458-4100 FOR INFORMATION
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The code currently calls for a working smoke detector on every level of the home, including the basement and a carbon monoxide alarm/detector located outside of each sleeping area (MINIMUM of 1 per floor). As a general rule there must be a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide alarm/detector within 10 feet of every bedroom door and in good working order. If smoke detectors are electric, or installed under any other required building code they must remain operational and cannot be replaced with battery operated detectors. For the purposes of resale, carbon monoxide detectors may be battery operated, electrically operated, an electric plug in type device or a combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detector.
Check your detectors to see that they are operational.
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPER INSTALLATION OF SMOKE DETECTORS AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM/DETECTORS.
If you feel there may be any danger of fire, CALL 9-1-1.
APPOINTMENTS: Call the Brick Bureau of Fire Safety 732-458-4100 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. or e-mail us at bureau@brickfire.org. The following information will be needed to set up an appointment for our inspectors:
Contact Person's Name:___________________
Phone #(Daytime)_________________________
Address of Resale Property:______________
Nearest Cross Street_____________________
Block: ________________ Lot:_____________
Owner's Name & Phone #:__________________
Year the House was Built_________________
The fee structure is a follows:
- Any request for a certificate of smoke detector, carbon monoxide alarm and portable fire extinguisher compliance with a scheduled appointment made MORE THAN 10 business days is a $35.00 fee. A Certificate is GOOD for a 6-MONTH period and inspections can be made (and is recommended) anytime within that period prior to closing. (i.e., more than 10 days)
- Any requests within 4 to 10 business days will incur a fee of $70.00.
- Any request for Smoke Detector, Carbon Monoxide Alarm and Portable Fire Extinguisher Compliance 4 or less business days will incur a fee of $125.00.
- In addition if a scheduled appointment is not met by the owner/appointee and/or there is a failure to have properly installed or operating detectors in accordance with the code, a fee of $15.00 will be added for each re-inspection.
Please also be reminded that closing on a resale of a residential dwelling without a properly issued Certificate of Certificate of Smoke Detector, Carbon Monoxide Alarm and Portable Fire Extinguisher Compliance prior to closing subjects the seller to a minimum fine of $500.00.
SMOKE DETECTORS
If you were to build a house today, smoke detectors would be required in each bedroom, on each level of the home in the vicinity of the bedrooms, including basements. These detectors would be required to be electrically operated with a battery back up and interconnected, so if one detector sounds they activate throughout the entire home.
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The diagrams below also include smoke detectors in your bedrooms. These smoke detectors are needed for new construction, recommended for added protection and may be required when you add an addition or renovation. Contact the Building Department (732) 262-1035 if you have any fire code related questions on new construction and additions.
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Type of Smoke Alarms
WHICH TYPE?
| IONIZATION An ionization type detector uses a very small quantity of radioactive material. These alarms are better at detecting small particles of combustion typically produced by flaming fires. |
PHOTOELECTRIC A photoelectric detector uses a small infrared light. Photoelectric type smoke alarms are better at detecting larger particles produced by smoldering fires. Photoelectric alarms are slightly more resistant to unwanted alarms caused by cooking vapors or bathroom moisture. |
Both types of alarms are tested and listed and when properly installed and maintained, both alarms will save lives.
Smoke and deadly gases are also hot, so they will rise towards the ceiling and that is where the alarms should be. In general you should put your alarms squarely in the path that smoke would probably travel if it were heading upstairs, down your hall or through your home. Protecting your bedrooms at night, or the area where you are most at risk from the fire when you are sleeping is a top priority. That's when and where most fire deaths occur.
CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM/DETECTORS
The above diagram shows a carbon monoxide alarm on each level -------
For resale of the home, installation of a carbon monoxide alarm will be required within 10 feet of all sleeping rooms in all buildings of Use Groups I-1, R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 that contain fuel-burning appliances or have attached garages. If an individual dwelling unit does not contain a fuel-burning appliance, i.e. stove, furnace or hot water heater or have an attached garage, the residential unit is currently exempt from the carbon monoxide alarm requirement. In accordance with the Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safety, effective April 7, 2003.
If an electric plug in type is utilized, it cannot be installed inside any room. In order to be heard while you are sleeping, it has to be in the hallway (outside the bedroom doors). If no outlet is available, a battery or electric type unit should be installed on the wall or ceiling in accordance with manufacturer's installation instructions. A combination Smoke Detector/Carbon Monoxide alarm/detector can be installed. (REMEMBER: if the smoke detector is required to be electric, the combination unit has to be electric.)
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2005:
GUIDELINES:
- At least 1 portable fire extinguisher shall be installed, which is listed, labeled, charged and operable.
- The size shall be no smaller than 2A:10B:C, rated for residential use and weigh no more than 10 lbs.
- The extinguisher must be mounted on a hanger or bracket supplied by the manufacturer within 10 feet of the kitchen area.
- Located with the top of the extinguisher no more than 5 feet above the floor.
- Visible and in a readily accessible spot, near a room exit or travel way that provides an escape route to the outside.
- With the manual and operating instructions visible.
For an up-to-date listing of recalls - go to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls and Product Safety News at www.cpsc.gov.
The following CO devices have been recalled:
- The model is Nighthawk, manufactured between November 8, 1998 and March 9, 1999. The date of manufacture is on the back of the unit as year, month and day. The words “NIGHTHAWK” and “Carbon Monoxide Alarm” are written on the front of the unit. If only “Carbon Monoxide Alarm” is written on the front, the unit is NOT included in the recall.
- The Lifesaver models included in the recall are models 9CO-1 and 9CO-1C, manufactured between 6/1/97 and 1/31/98. The manufacture date is on the back of the unit as the first six numbers of the serial number, located above the UPC. The manufacture date is written as day, month and year. “LIFESAVER” and “Carbon Monoxide Detector” are written on the front of the unit. Should you have a unit included in the recall, contact Kidde Safety at (888) 543-3346.
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