Carbon Monoxide Safety
Tasteless and odorless, carbon monoxide is a silent killer. In 2006, Massachusetts instituted Nicole’s Law to protect residents from accidental death and injury by carbon monoxide.
Residential homes are required to have carbon monoxide alarms on each habitable level. On sale or transfer of a property, a satisfactory inspection is required. In brief, regulations for installing carbon monoxide detectors are as follows:
- Carbon monoxide alarms must be installed on every level of the home, including habitable portions of basements and attics (even if unfinished)
- CO detectors must be installed within 10-feet of any bedroom door
- CO alarms may be battery operated, plug-in with battery back-up, wireless, hardwired low-voltage or a combination smoke and CO alarm
- Non-habitable living space is not required to have CO detectors
- Rental properties must have properly installed and maintained CO alarms in every dwelling unit that has a source of carbon monoxide.
- Check that alarms carry an approval label from an independent testing company such as Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) or International Approval Service/Canadian Standards Association (IAS/CSA).
Read more about Nicole’s Law and carbon monoxide alarm requirements in Massachusetts.