Carbon Monoxide Info

MN § 299F.50 The 2006 legislative session passed a new law requiring carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in all single family homes and multifamily apartment units. Any home for which a building permit is issued after Jan. 1, 2007, will be required to have carbon monoxide alarms installed upon completion of the project. All existing single-family homes must have carbon monoxide alarms installed prior to Aug. 1, 2008. All existing multi-family dwellings are required to have carbon monoxide alarms in place by Aug. 1, 2009.

What is Carbon Monoxide? CO is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, poisonous gas, produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gasoline, oil and wood. CO has the ability to interfere with normal human intake of oxygen.

How can it hurt me? When carbon monoxide gets into the body, the carbon monoxide combines with chemicals in the blood and prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues and organs. The body's parts need oxygen for energy, so high-level exposures to carbon monoxide can cause serious health effects with death possible from massive exposures. Symptoms of exposure to carbon monoxide can include vision problems, reduced alertness and general reduction in mental and physical functions. Carbon monoxide can accumulate to dangerous concentrations indoors when fuel-burning devices such as stoves and furnaces are not properly operated, vented or maintained. Running a car for too long in a closed garage is also a known risk. Often within 10 minutes of closing a garage door with a car running inside, the amount of CO buildup can prove lethal.

This new law, is it practical? Safety in a home should be a number one priority. Carbon monoxide is known as a “silent killer.” By placing alarms in the house and the garage, new safety features come into play. The law is a reminder that a homeowner can never be too safe and that one can never have too many alarms. By enforcing the new CO law, fire departments around the country are taking one more step towards proactively saving lives. By taking the new law seriously, homeowners can reduce the risk of injury or possible death from CO poisoning. Each year, 8,000 to 15,000 people are examined or treated for non-fire related CO poisoning. Do not become part of this statistic.

How much does a CO alarm cost? Where can I find one? CO alarms can be found in any local hardware stores. Prices are reasonable but do vary. The devices are typically easy to install and use. Follow manufacturers’ recommendations for device placement in your home. Remember… CO alarms are not a substitute for smoke alarms. Employ both smoke alarms and CO alarms in your home and test both regularly. Replace CO alarms every five years and smoke alarms every ten years.

What to do when alarm sounds: Each time the alarm sounds, treat it as a real emergency. Get out of the home immediately, leaving the door open for ventilation purposes as you leave. Call 911 as soon as you get to a phone. Before you return to the home, get the home inspected by a professional and make sure to repair the problem. Barbecues, recreational fires and storage of fuels on, in or near residences have caused many serious fires over the years. As a result, the City of Edina and State of Minnesota have put Fire Codes in place to address these problems. The use of these items is covered under Edina City Ordinance 605.

For more information, call the Edina Fire Prevention Bureau at 952-826-0378.