Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 19, Sec. 3. (SB 183) Effective January 1, 2011.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010.
Chapter 8 - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010
California Health and Safety Code — §§ 13260-13263
Sections (4)
Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 420, Sec. 2. (AB 225) Effective January 1, 2024.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)According to the American Medical Association, carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that carbon monoxide kills approximately 500 people each year and injures another 20,000 people nationwide.
(b)According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a person cannot see or smell carbon monoxide. At high levels carbon monoxide can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide is produced whenever any fuel, such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal, is burned.
(c)The State
Air Resources Board estimates that every year carbon monoxide accounts for between 30 and 40 avoidable deaths, possibly thousands of avoidable illnesses, and between 175 and 700 avoidable emergency room and hospital visits.
(d)There are well-documented chronic health effects of acute carbon monoxide poisoning or prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide, including, but not limited to, lethargy, headaches, concentration problems, amnesia, psychosis, Parkinson’s disease, memory impairment, and personality alterations.
(e)Experts estimate that equipping every home with a carbon monoxide device would cut accident-related costs by 93 percent. Eighteen states and a number of large cities have laws mandating the use of carbon monoxide devices.
(f)Carbon monoxide devices provide a vital, highly effective, and low-cost
protection against carbon monoxide poisoning and these devices should be made available to every home in California.
(g)The Homeowners’ Guide to Environmental Hazards prepared pursuant to Section
10084.1 of the Business and Professions Code is an important educational tool and should include information regarding carbon monoxide. It is the intent of the Legislature that when the booklet is next updated as existing resources permit, or as private resources are made available, it be updated to include a section on carbon monoxide.
Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 19, Sec. 3. (SB 183) Effective January 1, 2011.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
(a)“Carbon monoxide device” means a device that meets all of the following requirements:
(1)A device designed to detect carbon monoxide and produce a distinct, audible alarm.
(2)A device that is battery powered, a plug-in device with battery backup, or a device installed as recommended by Standard 720 of the National Fire Protection Association that is either wired into the alternating current power line of the dwelling unit with a secondary battery backup or connected to a system via a panel.
(3)If the device is combined with a smoke detector, the combined device shall comply with all of the following:
(A)The standards that apply to carbon monoxide alarms as described in this chapter.
(B)The standards that apply to smoke detectors, as described in Section 13113.7.
(C)The combined device emits an alarm or voice warning in a manner that clearly differentiates between a carbon monoxide alarm warning and a smoke detector warning.
(4)The device has been tested and certified, pursuant to the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) as set forth in either ANSI/UL 2034 or ANSI/UL 2075, or successor standards, by a
nationally recognized testing laboratory listed in the directory of approved testing laboratories established by the Building Materials Listing Program of the Fire Engineering Division of the Office of the State Fire Marshal of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
(b)“Dwelling unit intended for human occupancy” means a single-family dwelling, factory-built home as defined in Section 19971, duplex, lodging house, dormitory, hotel, motel, condominium, stock cooperative, time-share project, or dwelling unit in a multiple-unit dwelling unit building or buildings. “Dwelling unit intended for human occupancy” does not mean a property owned or leased by the state, the Regents of the University of California, or a local governmental agency.
(c)“Fossil fuel” means coal, kerosene, oil, wood, fuel gases, and other petroleum or hydrocarbon products, which emit carbon monoxide as
a byproduct of combustion.
Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 19, Sec. 3. (SB 183) Effective January 1, 2011.
(a)(1) The State Fire Marshal shall develop a certification and decertification process to approve and list carbon monoxide devices and to disapprove and delist previously approved devices, if necessary. The certification and decertification process shall include consideration of effectiveness and reliability of the devices, including, but not limited to, their propensity to record false alarms. The certification and decertification process shall include a review of the manufacturer’s instructions and shall ensure their consistency with building standards applicable to new construction for the relevant type of occupancy with respect to number and placement.
(2)The State Fire
Marshal shall charge an appropriate fee to the manufacturer of a carbon monoxide device to cover his or her costs associated with the approval and listing of carbon monoxide devices.
(b)A person shall not market, distribute, offer for sale, or sell any carbon monoxide device in this state unless the device and the instructions have been approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal.