California Smoke Alarm Laws 2018

1. One smoke alarm is required on every floor of the home.
2. One smoke alarm is required inside every sleeping room.
3. One smoke alarm is required outside of every sleeping room.
4. If your home or apartment has an attached garage, a gas appliance, or a fireplace, a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector, or, separately operating carbon monoxide and smoke detectors must be installed.

1. New construction and remodels require new smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to be hardwired to the home’s electric system and have a battery backup, and have an interconnecting alarm.
2. In older homes, without the ability to hardwired devices, all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must contain a non-removable battery that can last 10 years.
3. Whenever permits for improvements or repairs over one thousand dollars ($1000) are issued, the permit issuer cannot sign off on the completion of work until the permittee demonstrates that existing devices meet the above requirements.

1. Ionization smoke alarms:  sensing alarms may detect invisible fire particles (associated with fast flaming fires) sooner than photoelectric alarms.
2. Photoelectric alarms:  sensing alarms may detect visible fire particles (associated with slow smoldering fires) sooner than ionization alarms.

The Kidde P3010CU is a 10-year, sealed battery, smoke and carbon monoxide alarm with a voice warning system that features photoelectric and electrochemical sensing technology.  When either sensor notices a potential hazard, it will communicate with the other. Depending on what is detected, the alarm will adjust its smoke sensitivity in order to better discriminate between a real hazard and a false one. This constant communication enhances the alarm’s overall performance and significantly reduces the potential for a nuisance alarm.

The Kidde Wireless AC Powered Smoke Alarm makes it easy to expand the coverage of a current interconnected system. Simply replace one interconnected smoke alarm with the Kidde Wireless AC powered alarm. Kidde Wireless Battery Powered Smoke Alarms can be installed in additional rooms that need extra protection. This AC powered alarm bridges a home’s current interconnected system to the newly installed alarms, so that when one alarm is triggered, all alarms will sound.

Experts recommend interconnected alarms, because when one sounds, they all sound, providing an early warning against fire by dramatically increasing your ability to hear an alarm anywhere in your home, regardless of where the fire starts. Newer homes are required by code to have interconnected alarms. Wireless technology now enables any home to have an interconnected system

1. Three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (38%) or no working smoke alarms (21%). Source
2. In 2009-2013, smoke alarms sounded in more than half (53%) of the home fires reported to U.S. fire departments.
3. Three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (38%) or no working smoke alarms (21%).
4. The death rate per 100 reported home fires was more than twice as high in homes that did not have any working smoke alarms compared to the rate in homes with working smoke alarms (1.18 deaths vs. 0.53 deaths per 100 fires).
5. In fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate, almost half (46%) of the smoke alarms had missing or disconnected batteries.
6. Dead batteries caused one-quarter (24%) of the smoke alarm failures.

1. Closing your door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home.
2. It is ideal to have a smoke alarm system that is interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound.
3. Large homes may need extra smoke alarms.
4. Test your smoke alarms at least once a month.
5. There are two kinds of alarms. Ionization smoke alarms are quicker to warn about flaming fires. Photoelectric alarms are quicker to warn about smoldering fires. It is best to use of both types of alarms in the home.
6. When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside.
7. Replace all smoke alarms in your home every 10 years.
8. Smoke alarms are inexpensive and are worth the lives they can help save.
9. A  smoke alarm with a dead or missing battery is the same as having no smoke alarm at all.
10. A smoke alarm only works when it is properly installed and regularly tested. Take care of your smoke alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions.