State officials hope legislation will cut carbon-monoxide deaths
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If their Milton Township condo had been equipped with a carbon monoxide detector, maybe James Folk and Joan Leith would be united in marriage rather than separated in cemeteries five miles apart.
Maybe if their Darien home had a carbon monoxide detector, Vincent Ayers and his 18-year-old daughter still would be alive.
Instead, all four are dead, the victims of carbon monoxide that investigating authorities said was off the charts in their homes.
A new state law that takes effect Feb. 1 is designed to reduce carbon monoxide deaths.
On that date, all one- and two-family dwellings will be required to have carbon monoxide alarms.
Homes built before Feb. 1 can use battery-powered, stand-alone detectors. Those built on or after Feb. 1 must have alarms that are interconnected and directly wired to the house's electrical service with a backup battery supply.
The alarms must be installed in the basement and on each floor except the attic or garage.
The law applies to dwellings that contain carbon monoxide sources such as garages, heaters, fireplaces, furnaces and appliances or cooking sources using fuels that emit carbon monoxide as a by-product.
Penalties for noncompliance are similar to properties without smoke detectors. For new construction, occupancy permits will not be issued if carbon monoxide alarms are not in place.
In existing homes, penalties likely will be determined by local fire departments that respond to incidents and find that detectors are inoperable or nonexistent.
In Janesville, the citation could be as high as $515.
According to the state, battery or plug-in carbon monoxide alarms typically range in cost from $25 to $50. New construction installation of a hard-wired alarm with battery backup and interconnection ranges from $90 to $110.
The rule changes follow similar requirements for multi-family dwellings.
According to the American Medical Association, carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning in the United States.
"CO alarms have shown their effectiveness in alerting occupants to the presence of this poisonous gas," Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Paul Jadin said.
Ayers and his daughter Banessa were found dead in their Darien home Nov. 4, eight days after Alliant Energy cut power to the property. A gas-powered generator was found inside the home. It was out of gas and not running.
Walworth County Sheriff's Office Capt. Dana Nigbor said toxicology results showed carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of the Ayers' deaths.
Milton Fire Chief Loren Lippincott's department responded to the scene for the April deaths of Folk and Leith, who were engaged to be married. Their deaths were attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning from a vehicle left running in the basement garage of the couple's condo.
Several other residents in the building's eight condos also were sickened, and Lippincott agrees with Jadin's assessment of the value of carbon monoxide detectors.
"Absolutely, it would have made a difference," Lippincott said. "If not for the victims, at least for the neighbors who would have heard it."
Lippincott said alarms provide a warning that can save precious minutes.
"These kinds of things happen a lot more than people realize," he said. "People only hear about when it's a tragic case such as the one involving this couple.
"A lot of the calls we go on don't end up being carbon monoxide, but I think more and more people are starting to become aware of it. But it's still amazing how many people don't have smoke detectors."
Jan 24, 2011 at 4:13 p.m.
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If passing a law means more people will realize the benefits of a carbon monoxide detector, then the law served its purpose. They are not expensive, and they save lives.
Jan 24, 2011 at 3:44 p.m.
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Yes...that's the answer! Why didn't someone think of this before? Legislation will surely save people from themselves! Why, look what it's done for drug use, drunk driving, binge drinking, gangs, organized crime and domestic violence! I know--how about calling it..."The War on CWhearbon Monoxide"! You know, just like the "Wars" on poverty, drugs, terror...and incompetence (oops--that last one was nature's war). Or maybe: "No home CO detector left behind." That's it!
But what's next? Where does it end? Door-to-door inspections to make sure that we've flossed today? Roadblock checkpoints to examine mandatory tire rotation and oil change certificates?
Sadly, people who don't put up or regularly check their CO detectors (or smoke alarms) will not do so simply because there is yet another law. You can't "stomp out ignorance" (good slogan for a "war" on it though) through legislation, no more than you can require lemmings to fly by Apr 1!
Jan 23, 2011 at 5:43 p.m.
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These are probably a good idea. I will get several of them probably this year.
They are excellent for detecting CO from a malfuctioning heating device, be it a furnace or space heater. This is a very real danger that can happen on rare occasions.
They will not fix stupid, those who run internal combustion engines inside enclosed spaces. This is how many die from carbon monoxide.
I would wager that if one followed the money, there were some interesting palms that got greased with the passage of this law. There are many millions of dollars involved in the purchase of CO detectors for all dwellings. Never the less, it is not a bad idea to have these in one's dwelling.
Jan 19, 2011 at 6:17 p.m.
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frogger, CO is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is slightly lighter than air therefore has no code designation on where to mount a CO detector (unlike a smoke detector). That is why you see CO detectors that plug in to a wall outlet and also a type that can mount to a wall or ceiling.
Jan 19, 2011 at 5:58 p.m.
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Put one wherever you have gas.
Not sure if they mentioned it.
Fireplace-was mentioned
drier
furnace
Anybody with drier NOT in basement- get one where the drier is.
I have three and will move the one near floor.
Jan 19, 2011 at 5:57 p.m.
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Problem is you cannot fix stupid. Are they going to send somebody door to door to check. Doubt it. Only get a ticket-my guess- is if something happens. Good luck collecting from the dead. Hopefully you can ticket the living though.
I heard a tip to put them near the floor because the gas is heavier than the air. So by the time the gas gets up high to detect it, if detector is on ceiling, you may be dead already.
"chances are the people couldn't afford the smoke/carbon "
That is bull and laziness!!!! If you don't have life ins you BETTER get a $25 detector!!!
Here is my favorite comment, somebody will complain about it, SMOKE 4 less pkg of cigs!!
Jan 19, 2011 at 4:27 p.m.
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I love how the fine could be as high as $515. chances are the people couldn't afford the smoke/carbon M detector to begin with and then they get a fine on top of either loosing family members or everything they own. I understand the concept of the law as everyone should have at least one in their house but a law issueing fines is a little over the top. I understand in rental properties, commercial settings or even new construction homes but not too sure fining people after their house or loved one dies is the proper way of doing things.
Jan 19, 2011 at 3:17 p.m.
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Well, five people nearly died this morning, so maybe you can go visit them at Mercy and tell them your thoughts on how awful this requirement is.
Jan 19, 2011 at 1:11 p.m.
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Where do I go to pick up my state issued and state required detector?
Jan 19, 2011 at 9:45 a.m.
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i am not talking of new construction, i mean my 130yr old house.
the detectors are good,i just see the day when you have your annual "safety inspection" in a private NON-commercial home..
Jan 19, 2011 at 1:33 a.m.
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tpaine09, the first standard fire code was developed by the National Fire Protection Association in 1896. You may not see it, but this power is not new and you'd have to unwind a century of law.
Jan 18, 2011 at 9:17 p.m.
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"in Janesville, the citation could be as high as $515"
the detectors are a good idea, but, i do not see
how any govt. has the power to fine for not having a product in a private, existing, non commercial home. this is only the beginning people.
Jan 18, 2011 at 7:53 p.m.
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This article does not specifically mention it, but code requires a carbon monoxide detector in a bedroom that has a fossil fuel appliance such as a gas fireplace. Otherwise the detectors should be centrally located on each floor of a residential dwelling.
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