ARLINGTON, Va. - The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has announced a revised policy regarding the installation of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. As approved by the association’s board of directors, GAMA now supports mandates for the installation of CO alarms in residences containing only fuel-fired appliances, while at the same time urging that the mandate be broadened to include all residences regardless of their heating source. GAMA’s previous policy supported only those mandates that required the installation of CO alarms in all residences.

Specifically, GAMA’s CO alarm recommendations for residences state that they:

• Should be listed to ANSI UL 2034, Standard for Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms, or CSA 6.19, Residential Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

• Should be installed outside of each sleeping area, according to NFPA 720, Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide Warning Equipment in Dwelling Units.

• Should have a battery backup to operate during power outages.

“Too many consumers are still subjected to hazardous levels of CO concentrations every year, sometimes fatally, when they improperly use gas generators, charcoal grills, and fuel-burning camping heaters and stoves inside their homes or in other enclosed or partially enclosed spaces,” explained Jack Klimp, GAMA president.

GAMA said it will continue to encourage research and development to further improve durability and reliability of CO alarms. Additionally, as more states introduce legislation on CO alarm installation, GAMA said it will encourage that such mandates apply to all residences.

So far during the 2007 legislative session, 13 states have introduced and/or passed legislation requiring installation of CO alarms. Maryland and Florida have passed legislation requiring installation of CO alarms, while Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Virginia have introduced such measures.

For more information, contact Phil Gauthier, GAMA technical services manager, at 703-525-7060, ext. 231, or pgauthier@gamanet.org.

Publication date:06/18/2007