N Y S D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e
Amanda’s Law
Carbon monoxide alarm requirements to go
into effect February 22, 2010
As the result of recent legislation, Amanda’s Law will go into effect on February 22, 2010. It requires essentially all
residences, both new and existing, to have carbon monoxide alarms installed. The specific requirements differ for
new and existing residences and also on when the buildings were built and subcategories of occupancy groups.
The flagship of OFPC’s public awareness efforts relating to Amanda’s Law is a new video Public Service
Announcement developed through a public-private partnership with the Kidde Corporation. The PSA can be viewed
at:
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/pres/pr2010/cmpsa.html and will be airing on television stations across the state over the
next few weeks.
OPFC has also established a “virtual toolbox” on its website,
www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/COtoolkit.htm , designed to
provide fire departments with information and materials so that they may join in on the campaign to raise public
awareness of this important safety related law.
Probably the most asked question will be the requirement for existing one and two family residences. At a minimum,
if there is a CO source in the home, then they will be required to have one carbon monoxide alarm installed on the
lowest story having a sleeping area.
The proposal to modify the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, in order to comply with Amanda’s Law, is in
the process of being adopted as an emergency rule. The following link provides the proposed code text and a copy of
the original Amanda’s Law legislation.
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/code/COAlarm.htm
Attention Fire Chiefs:
The Office of Fire Prevention and Control has developed a written statement that can be
utilized by your fire department for the purposes of spreading information on Amanda’s Law. If you wish to received this Op-ed template or a copy of the PSA, please contact OFPC directly, 518.474.6746.