TOMS RIVER – Last month, the New Jersey State Legislature passed a new law that requires all businesses, restaurants and commercial buildings in the state to install carbon monoxide detectors by September 3.
Kevin Esposito, Fire Official for the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, says carbon monoxide is a gas that can kill you quickly. “It is called the ‘silent killer’ because it is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non- irritating. Over 10,000 are poisoned by carbon monoxide needing medical treatment each year; over 500 people in the U.S. die annually from carbon monoxide poisoning.”
The law requires an owner of any restaurant or commercial building to install and maintain operable carbon monoxide detecting devices in conformance with standards established by the State. CO detectors will be required if the restaurant or commercial building has appliances, devices or systems that may emit carbon monoxide or have an attached garage. This new update is only required for occupancies that have a fuel-burning appliance (water heater, furnace, fireplace, attached garage, etc.). This regulation does not apply to facilities that are ALL electric. Examples include fuel burning heaters, gas water heaters, kerosene space heaters, propane stoves and gas ovens, and gasoline or diesel-powered generators.
Under prior state law, every single-family home, two-family home, condominium, cooperative and each unit of a multiple dwelling building required a working CO detector. Restaurants and other commercial buildings were excluded under prior law. This new law covers all existing facilities and new construction.
Starting on September 3, when a Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention Inspector performs a fire inspection at your business, they will be looking to see if you have the required alarm. If not, they will be issuing you a notice of violation and order to correct for the installation of the Carbon Monoxide Detector. You will be given 30 days to comply with the notice of violation and order to correct.
“This is a statewide commercial law come September 3, and it’s important because it’s retroactive, so it covers all existing facilities in Toms River and New Jersey as well as any new construction,” Esposito added.
Please see the below list of guidelines. If your business has any questions, please visit our website at trfireprevention.com and fill out our contact form. One of our inspectors will contact you to answer any questions you may have.
If your business is one of the following Use Groups:
I = Institutional, R = Residential, I-1, R-1 or R-2
A Carbon Monoxide Alarm is required in the following locations:
- Immediate vicinity (No more than 10 feet) of each sleeping
- Every room adjacent containing a Fuel-Burning Appliance (Furnace, Water Heater, Fireplace, etc.)
- Every corridor, hall, or lobby adjacent to a room containing a Fuel-Burning Appliance)
- Immediate vicinity of any ventilated shaft, including, but not limited to, stair shafts, elevator shafts, ventilation shafts on the story containing the Fuel-Burning Appliance; and
- On any story within 2 stories above or below story containing the Fuel-Burning Appliance.
EXCEPTIONS:
- Guest rooms one-story above or below the Fuel-Burning Appliance or attached garage.
- Guest rooms not connected by a common duct or ventilation shafts to any room containing a Fuel-Burning Appliance or attached garage.
- CO Detection Systems require detectors in every room containing a Fuel-Burning Appliance.
If your business is one of the following Use Groups:
A = Assembly, B = Business, E = Education, F = Factory, H = High-Hazard, M = Mercantile, S = Storage
A-1, 2, 3, 4, & 5; B, E, F, H, M & S
A Carbon Monoxide Alarm is required in the following locations:
- In every room(s) adjacent to the room(s) adjacent to the Fuel-Burning Appliance and every corridor, hall, and lobby adjacent to such room(s);
- In the immediate vicinity of any ventilated shaft, including, but not limited to, stair shafts, elevator shafts, or ventilation shafts on the story of the Fuel-Burning Appliance;
- In the first area served by each main duct leaving an area where the Fuel-Burning Appliance is located;
- On any story within two stories above or below the story containing the Fuel-Burning Appliance.
EXCEPTIONS:
- Repair garages.
- Immediate area of large-drop battery charging.
- Unconditioned spaces where detectors would be exposed to ambient conditions outside its normal operating conditions (dirt, water, dust, temperature, etc.).
- Occupied spaces not connected by ductwork or ventilation shaft to any room containing a Fuel-Burning Appliance or attached garage.
- In every room adjacent to the room containing the Fuel-Burning Appliance, and every corridor, hall, and lobby adjacent to such room(s).
- In the immediate vicinity of any ventilated shaft, including, but not limited to, stair shafts, elevator shafts, or ventilation shafts on the story containing the Fuel-Burning Appliance.
- In the first area by each main duct leaving an area where the Fuel-Burning Appliance is located; and
- On any story within two stories above or below the story containing the Fuel-Burning Appliance.
