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New Maine Smoke And CO2 Law...Interlaced Detectors, One Goes Off, They All Go Off.

By
Real Estate Agent with MOOERS REALTY ME Broker License 106759

    

Maine's new beefed up smoke, fire and carbon monoxide regulations, or law have agents, brokers, home fire imagebank appraisers and lawyers suddenly with one more compliance needed for a successful real estate transaction.

Maine real estate apartment managers and owners of single homes or multi family unit commercial property also are doing some electrical code 101 late night reading for compliance standards because the law goes in to effect November 1st, 2009.

     (Tap tap tap sound) So class, today we are talking about a photo ion /electrical smoke detector sensor and interlaced wiring instead of non-interlaced wired smoke, fire, or co2 detector devices. Interlaced wiring means instead of a smoke detector or co2 unit, or device being screwed in the ceiling here, and here in the bedrooms, independent and maybe battery powered, that the unit is hard wired, three wires involved and tied together.

Like the Christmas trees strings that one light goes down, they all go off and are not independent.

So a fire in the kitchen makes the bedroom units, the one in the haul near the bathroom go off too. A fire is a fire anywhere in the home the thinking. So one unit going off because you burned some dinner or morning toast on the first floor means the other units around the home would kick in and sound off too.

     For two other blog posts on the new Maine beefed up code for smoke, fire, carbon monoxide detectors, read more on the actual Maine smoke and co2 statute itself verbatim and also the Maine State Fire Marshal's office press release. A Maine agent or real estate broker is the person at the property, that listed it and making sure the house is in compliance so the buyer can sign off at the real estate closing that everything is up to snuff is key. You need to know what is needed, if the place is up to code the day it is listed or not and bring all parties involved in to the discussion of what is needed. No different than a Maine home with a 100 amp fuse panel that the current owner has insurance coverage on but that you know the next new buyer will need to update to circuit breakers. And also pointing out that old knob and tube wiring that is exposed in the cellar or in the entry shed is something insurance agents back away from like a vampire when you are holding a cross, garlic or a wooden stage. Not frightening if you know the statues, take the time to read the law and use your own home as an example of what it would need to come in to compliance for family safety or if you just wanted to sell it on the open market.

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Maine, You Have Put It Off Way Way Too Long, Get Here Quickly. 

    

Comments(4)

John Mulkey
TheHousingGuru.com - Waleska, GA
Housing Guru

Andrew - We've had interconnected smoke and fire detectors here for years. It's a great idea that saves lives.

Oct 28, 2009 01:05 AM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

Hi, Andy. I agree with John...this is a great idea and I'm glad to see this legislation. Your picture really makes your point...sure makes you realize that "one more thing to deal with" in a real estate transaction is well worth the effort!

Oct 28, 2009 04:09 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Had totfinders stickers in house growing up and had fire plans, etc. Loosing a home is bad but nothing, nothing like a child. That would be the worse.

Oct 28, 2009 12:22 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Andrew

I feel it's a great regulations and will save lives.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Oct 28, 2009 02:04 PM