This is a follow up to an earlier blog post that I wrote concerning proposed legislation regarding smoke detectors in Massachusetts homes. It is important for all Realtors® to become familiar with the new regulations to help our clients understand their obligations under the law. It will also avoid the embarrassment of failing a fire inspection when homeowners are ready to sell their personal residences or investors selling their multi-family or apartment buildings.
Effective January 10, 2010 only photoelectric smoke detectors will be allowed within 20 feet of a kitchen or a bathroom containing a bathtub or shower. According to fire officials this is because photoelectric detectors are less prone to false alarms when steam or smoke is produced. Outside of this area you must have both a photoelectric and ionization smoke detector.
This change mirrors an existing provision of the state building code which prohibits the installation of ionization smoke detectors in new construction. By placing a similar requirement in the fire code, older homes built prior to 1975 are captured.
For additional information, please see my earlier blog on this subject. There is also a link for a more complete summary of the changes in legislation. Click here to access this information.
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