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Home My WebLink About1979 12-05 New smoke alarm rules THE REVIEW New smoke __-_Wed,Dec.5, 1979 THE REVIEW g;ex alarm rules , As of Jan.1 all existing apartments, hotels,lodging houses,and one-and two- . � ., family dwellings rented or remodeled after Jan.l must be provided with smoke- ' '''''.'";, fire detectors. SMOKE-FIRE detectors are already required in all new residential structures. The detectors, according to state s. statutes,must meet the requirements of rp Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (a UI. 'R y, �_,. label indicates the detector meets the �` . , requirements), or approved by the : ¢m: International Conference of Building `; "', ,A.. ••••••• .—. Officials. • ',r' .*Z� €_.. The responsibility of having the detector installed and maintained rests 'A.1`,. M with the owner of the dwelling unit or . _ guest room. .Z i ' • .: Fire officials noted that there are ijl - N ”` .« 16 hundreds of models of smoke detectors on ilifit! •••- the market to choose from.Although they a s can not recommend a particular brand name, fire officials stressed the unit `; ` should meet the basic requirements .. � �" ,='. stated in the statutes. •.� ••» f bt •msµ.«'"!. 1 SMOKE DETECTORS on the market �., -operate on the ionization or photo-electric -- �` ` t; principal.Fire officials noted that both N are effective if properly installed. !!!! Both battery-operated and electric " detectors are available. Owners of 1 ' i * - "...« apartment houses, lodging houses and --. hotels should contact their local building 3""" i y inspection departments before installing - !"_' detectors in their buildings, officials noted. Fire officials noted there are ad- vantages and disadvantages to both the CHECKING THE battery in his smoke detector is Dick Peterson,1375 Price Ave., electric and battery-operated detectors. Maplewood,with Al Schadt,Maplewood fire marshal,right.The alarm is located in Batteries must be periodically changed to the bedroom hallway of the Peterson home. keep the device operational. Electrical outages will prevent the electric detector rather than the normal factory setting. the maintenance of a battery-operated from operating. Chief Jim Ehnstrom of the Oakdale model or having an electric model in- "I like the one that has both." said Fire Department noted that both are in stalled. North St. Paul fire chief Howard the same price range whether photo- Most detectors come with instructions Anderson. He said he also preferred a electric or ionization operated.He said it detector that has a sensitivity setting is really a personal choice of keeping up Continued on page 3 Smoke detectors . . From page 1 for placement and installation of the would be making inspections and hoped detector.Officials noted that a detector that renters would inform the department can not be effective unless it is installed if their landlords failed to have the correctly and is operational. detectors installed or maintained. Anderson said that the department The fire officials stressed that the would be happy to answer questions about detector law was designed to save lives smoke detectors and was willing to come and property. out to help residents determine the best Schadt noted that there were two recent place to put the detector(s). incidents in Maplewood in which "fire The non-emergency number for the officials are certain fatalities would have North St.Paul fire department is 770-4980. occurred"if the residences had not been Maplewood fire marshal Al Schadt said equipped with smoke detectors. that additional information about He noted the benefits far outweigh the detectors and their placement may be nominal cost of the fire detector. obtained by calling the fire marshal's "It's a proven fact it saves lives,"mid office at 770-4546. Ehnstrom.He noted a detector at every Chief Ehnstrom,who has conducted a level of a home gives a person an 89 seminar about smoke detectors,said that percent better chance of escaping from a anyone who has questions about detectors home when fire breaks out. or placement is"More than welcome to He noted that most fatalities occur from call"him at home evenings,777-4045. smoke and gases which are detected by Dennis Thompson, fire marshal for the detector even if flames are not visible. northern Oakdale,also said that persons Noting that most fires occur between D. with questions can call him evenings after p.m.and 6 a.m.,he stressed the detector 6:30 p.m.,777-2509.He noted that it was plays an important role in waking important for apartment and lodging residents. house owners to contact the building In addition, he noted that early inspector's office before installing detection of fire results in the fire detectors., department being called earlier which in FAILURE TO COMPLY with the turn helps save property as well. provisions of the detector law could lead • to fines up to$200 and-or up to three months of imprisonment. Fire officials also noted that if fire occurs somewhere that required a smoke detector, but the detector was either inoperable or missing,the owner could be found negligent and held liable in court proceedings. Officials also noted that failure to comply with the detector law could affect insurance rates andclaims.. Schadt said that Jan.3"we will start making inspections." For those cited, Schadt said,"Court appearances will be mandatory." Schadt said that the office hopes that renters will inform the fire marshal's office if their landlords do not comply with the law. Thompson noted that "tags can be issued as of Jan.1."Fire officials said they hoped renters would notify the fire department if their landlords were not complying with the law. Anderson said the fire department