SB 1394 Summary

• Requires smoke alarms in dwelling units permitted for alterations/repairs/additions over $1,000 on or after January 1, 2014 to meet State Fire Marshal approval standards, with permit sign-off contingent on compliance demonstration.

• Establishes mandatory smoke alarm features for devices approved after January 1, 2014: manufacture date display, installation date space, hush feature, end-of-life notification, and 10-year nonreplaceable battery for battery-operated alarms.

• Assigns landlords of rented/leased properties responsibility for testing and maintaining smoke alarms starting January 1, 2014; requires installation of additional alarms to meet current building standards by January 1, 2016.

• Extends carbon monoxide device installation deadline for hotel and motel units from January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2016, and requires Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt building standards for these installations by July 1, 2014.

• Expands definition of "dwelling units intended for human occupancy" to include factory-built housing and permits fire alarm systems with smoke detectors as alternatives to individual smoke alarms.