Effective April 5, 2010 there is a new Massachusetts regulation regarding the installation and maintenance of smoke detectors. This regulation is for single and multi-family dwellings that were built prior to Jan 1, 1975 and selling on or after April 5, 2010. Properties built after January 1, 1975 already fall under these requirements and restrictions, as outlined in the State Building Code.
The new regulations are as follows:
- In zones within 20' of a kitchen or bathroom, smoke detectors must utilize photo-electric technology.
- Outside of the 20' kitchen and bath zone(s), both ionization and photo-electric technology must be installed.
- At the State level, the battery/hard wire rules are not changing.
CLICK HERE - MASSACHUSETTS SMOKE ALARM REGULATION
Research showed that ionization smoke detectors were frequently giving a false alarm because of cooking fumes or shower steam. As a result, people were removing the smoke detector batteries.
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Catherine Condon, Broker MA & NH
Catherine this is a law that every home owner and Realtor should know about. Last year I wrote a detailed article about the changes to the Massachusetts smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector laws. It is one of the most viewed articles on my website.
Thanks for your comments about home assessments:)
Hi Bill,
Thanks for forwarding your smoke detector article - very well written. I always enjoy reading your blogs.