Capital Insurance Group Keeps Customers Updated with the

Latest News on the California Carbon Monoxide Alarm Law

The Protector Network Provides Customers with Updates and a 20 Percent Discount on First Alert CO Alarms

MONTEREY, Calif. (December 13, 2011) – The new California carbon monoxide alarm law (SB183) is regulated by the California State Housing and Community Development Department. The Department recently updated two key areas of the law in order to provide clearer understanding of the new regulations. Updates include the location and power supply of CO alarms and the distinction between new and existing construction. Under the new statewide carbon monoxide (CO) law, all singlefamily detached homes (owner or tenant occupied) must have been equipped with an alarm on or before July 1, 2011. All other residential units must be equipped with an alarm on or before January 1, 2013. The new law includes installation requirements and power supply regulations that need to be clearly understood to fully comply with the law. For recent updates to the carbon monoxide alarm law visit: http://www.hcd.ca.gov/codes/shl/2010cbc_crc.html

Capital Insurance Group (CIG), through its membership benefits program, The Protector Network® (TPN), provides CIG policyholders updates on its website via TPNnews and TPN Blog, along with Facebook and Twitter. They include auto, home and business safety tips, regulation updates, and general news regarding reducing risk and liability for CIG customers. In addition, TPN has joined forces with First Alert®, America’s most trusted brand in home safety, to provide CIG policy holders a 20 percent discount on the purchase of a new carbon monoxide alarm. First Alert features more than a dozen CO alarms and detectors, including plug-in, battery-operated, travel, and talking alarms. 

For the single-family detached homes, the location of the CO alarm and the power supply are the most important points:

Carbon monoxide alarms must be installed and maintained in the following locations:

• Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
• On every level of a dwelling unit, including basements.

Type of Alarms and Power Supply:

• Existing Dwelling Units – Carbon monoxide alarms in existing buildings may be solely
  battery- operated or plug-in type with battery back-up in areas where no construction is
  taking place.
• Existing Units Where Permit Required – When a permit is required for alterations, repairs,
  or additions with a total cost that exceeds $1,000, owners of existing dwellings units with
  a fossil fuel-burning heater or appliance, fireplace, or an attached garage shall install
  carbon monoxide alarms that receive their primary power from the building wiring where
  such wiring is served from a commercial source and shall be equipped with a battery
  back-up. Alarm wiring shall be directly connected to the permanent building wiring
  without a disconnecting switch other than as required for overcurrent protection.
• New Construction – New residential units with a fuel-burning appliance or an attached
  garage must be equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm. The alarms must receive their
  primary power from the building wiring where such wiring is served from a commercial
  source and shall be equipped with a battery back-up. Alarm wiring shall be directly
  connected to the permanent building wiring without a disconnecting switch other than as
  required for overcurrent protection.

“CIG always takes the extra step to meet the ever-changing laws and homeowner requirements of our policy holders,” said Ken Stewart, CIG Products, Compliance & Commercial Lines Manager. “The new carbon monoxide law provides specific instructions for the installation of an alarm or detector, and power supply specifications based on existing and new construction. We keep our customers informed and have arranged a discount on First Alert products to help meet these requirements.”

The First Alert discount is available to all CIG policy clients through CIG’s The Protector Network. Complementary membership in The Protector Network provides valuable safety tips and partner discount information.