At various times in its preparation, the proposed standard has included a requirement that CO alarm devices be installed in all residences. The current draft, recently released for its fourth public review, does not contain the requirement.

The requirement was removed after the standard’s first public review, when commentors questioned the reliability and expense of alarms, and stated that these devices aren’t needed if there are requirements regarding CO sources, according to committee chair Max Sherman. “Keeping this issue in mind, the committee looked carefully at air handlers, excessively large exhaust fans, and unvented combustion devices,” Sherman said.

In the second public review, the committee received many comments requesting that the requirement be returned to the standard, he continued.

The committee held a public meeting in December 2001 to discuss the recommendation. Members rejected requests to return the requirement to the proposed standard based on reports questioning the reliability of devices currently in the marketplace.

“To partially accommodate commentors on both sides of the issue, the committee did not include device requirements in the current draft, but agreed to reopen the issue when the CO alarm industry could demonstrate a more reliable set of products,” said David Grimsrud, who will chair the session. He is chair of the committee’s IAQ subcommittee.

The committee recently was contacted by the CO alarm industry with information that new, reliable devices are now available in the marketplace. “Accordingly, we have scheduled a special session to hear the new information and let interested parties comment on it,” Grimsrud said.

For more information, contact ASHRAE, 1791 Tullie Circle N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329; 800-527-4723 (U.S. and Canada) or 404-636-8400; 404-321-5478 (fax); www.ashrae.org (website).

Publication date: 11/25/2002