8/23/2010 - Smoke alarms use two types of detection technology: Ion and photoelectric. While Ion smoke alarms tend to be less expensive than photoelectric detectors, they have a propensity to activate from cooking fumes and create nuisance alarms. For this reason, along with others, the City’s new Life Safety Code requires all new smoke alarms to be photoelectric and encourages landlords to replace any smoke alarms they find disconnected with new photoelectric detectors. Landlords should also know that smoke alarms have a useful life of ten years from manufacture. Due to the life limitation of smoke alarms the City should see only photoelectric smoke alarms remaining by 2021.

Smoke alarms are required inside all bedrooms, outside of the bedrooms with in 21 feet of the bedroom doors, and on each level with in a dwelling unit. They should not be located in or near a kitchen or bathroom. Smoke and CO (Carbon Monoxide) alarms must be hardwired with battery back up and interconnected so that if one activates all others with in a dwelling unit will activate.

CO (Carbon Monoxide) alarms are required in the common area and on each floor of the dwelling unit. Combination photoelectric smoke and CO (Carbon Monoxide) alarms are available on the market today. Not all alarms will work together and owners need to be sure that they will by contacting the manufacturer or their licensed electrician.