ST. CHARLES, Ill. - System Sensor, a Honeywell company, developed a white paper to address placement, testing, and maintenance of system-connected carbon monoxide detectors based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 720, Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Warning Equipment in Dwelling Units.

The white paper, “Eliminating Confusion,” addresses areas of deficiency, due to recent product development, in the current form of NFPA 720. Unlike smoke detection devices that have been enhanced over more than 30 years, system-connected CO detectors are still in a stage of infancy and do not yet have mature standards to govern their use. To help fire-protection professionals, System Sensor’s white paper reviews the requirements of NFPA 720, 2005 edition, focusing specifically on sections 5.1.1.1, 5.1.1.2, 5.4.1.1, 5.5.2 and 5.5.1.

Currently, the NFPA 720 Technical Committee is in the process of revising the standard, which is expected to include nondwelling occupancies such as hotels, day care centers, and schools. The new standard will mirror NFPA 72. The revised NFPA 720 will most likely include more precise placement, testing, and maintenance sections, which, in turn, will force manufacturers to design system-connected CO detectors to a uniform code.

To download the white paper, go to www.systemsensor.com.

Publication date: 04/02/2007