Smoke & CO Detector Inspections

Are you Buying or Selling a Home in Town?

If you’re buying or selling a home in Townsend, MA you most likely need to have your Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide detectors inspected as part of the sale process.

We STRONGLY encourage you to review the following guidelines before purchasing any new alarms and scheduling an inspection with us. Reviewing these guidelines will help make the day of your inspection as smooth as possible. Smoke/CO Requirements Chart

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You may also call 978-597-8150 to schedule an inspection and indicate that you would like to schedule a smoke and CO detector inspection. Inspections are generally conducted on all week days from 9AM to 4PM depending on availability of personnel. Inspection times are subject to change due to emergency calls for service. While we make our best effort to keep all appointments as scheduled we may from time to time need to call you to reschedule due to emergencies.

Requirements for Single Family & Two-Family Homes:

All of the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector requirements depend on what year your home was constructed, and if there were any major renovations or additions after the initial construction that may have triggered an upgrade of your devices.
We encourage you to refer to the Smoke Alarm/CO Detector Requirement chart below as a basic guide to help you make sure your home is properly protected and or ready for inspection.
You may also visit the Massachusetts Department of Fire Service website and review their more detailed information guide on smoke alarm/CO detector requirements when buying/selling a single or two-family home.

Smoke Alarm Requirements:

All alarms must be Listed by Underwriters Laboratory (UL), Intertek ETL or another “Nationally Recognized Test Lab”
- Visit the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services to learn more about nationally listed and counterfeit alarms.
What are “Hardwired” Alarms?:
- The alarm’s primary power source is your home’s 120v AC electrical system.
- If your home is hardwired, you must maintain hardwired smoke alarms going forward.
- Hardwired alarms must have a battery back up so the alarm will continue to function if your power goes out.
What is Interconnection?:
- When one alarm in your home activates, all other alarms in the home that are interconnected will sound to alert occupants in an emergency dependent on the manufacture the alarms may also synchronize their “simulated voice” message.
- Interconnection is REQUIRED in all homes built 1975 to present.
- Most hardwired alarms are interconnected through your home’s wiring though it is possible in some older homes that this may not be the case.
- Wireless interconnection technology is also available and may be utilized in specific circumstances. (If you have specific questions about wireless interconnection please contact us directly)
- If your home requires hardwired alarms, you may utilize wireless interconnection technology, as long as the primary power source is hardwired to AC power. (Again please contact us with specific questions related to wireless interconnection) In general typical wireless home alarm systems will not satisfy this requirement and are only supplementary in nature.
When can battery Operated Alarms be used and what are they?:
- These type of alarms are only permitted for use in homes built prior to 1975 that have not been significantly renovated.
- The alarm’s primary power source is from an internal battery.
- All new battery operated alarms installed MUST have a 10 year sealed battery. The 10 year sealed battery eliminates the need to routinely change batteries and reduces false alarms.
- Battery operated alarms with wireless interconnection technology are available for use in some circumstances.
Only photoelectric smoke alarms are permitted in most circumstances.
- Ionization smoke alarms, and dual photoelectric/ionization alarms are available for purchase in stores and online. These types of alarms are not permitted in most circumstances and should be avoided.
All Smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years. Manufacturers will typically print a manufacture date on the back side of the detector. We ask that you please check these dates before your inspection.
Smoke alarms must be installed in accordance with all manufacturers instructions.

What is are Heat Detectors?:

Heat detectors sense rapid rises in temperature that occur in a fire and activate an audible alarm similar to a smoke detector.
Heat detectors are required in garages attached to any single family/two family homes built after September 1, 2008.
Heat detectors must be hardwired, and interconnected to smoke alarms throughout the rest of the home so that occupants are alerted to a hazard in the garage.
Make sure you purchase heat detectors that are compatible with your home’s smoke alarms. Generally this means that all of the detectors should be of the same manufacture unless the installation instructions indicate otherwise.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors:

One detector must be installed on each habitable level of the home, including basements, and finished attics in general we recommend using combination smoke and CO detectors to satisfy this requirement.
- All combination detectors must have “Simulated Voice” that distinguishes between Smoke and CO.
  - (527 CMR1 13.7.5.1.4.2) Such combination devices shall include both simulated voice and tone alarm features which clearly distinguishes between carbon monoxide and smoke notification, unless such system employs the following:
    1. Each such combination device produces a distinctive audile and visual alarm signal for smoke and carbon monoxide, in accordance with NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm Signaling Code;
    2. A control unit or annunciator is installed displaying a distinctive alphanumeric message (digital or embossed) for smoke and carbon monoxide;
    3. Where such control unit or annunciator is installed it shall be located in an accessible area within each dwelling unit and be visible at all times; and
    4. For transient residential and institutional structures, such control unit or annunciator shall be located at the constantly attended location and shall be monitored.
Detectors must be installed in hallways OUTSIDE each sleeping area (bedroom) within 10 feet of any bedroom door.
Battery operated or plugin style CO detectors are permitted only in homes built before September 1, 2008.
Hardwired and Interconnected CO detectors are REQUIRED in all homes built after September 1, 2008.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors must be replaced every 5-10 years per manufacture instructions. Manufacture date is typically printed on the back of the detector and many devices will “chirp” at end of life. Follow manufacturers recommendations.