State Fire Code Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the more restrictive provisions of the Harford County Building Code at the time of the most recent issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the structure or the Public Safety Article Title 9 Fire Protection and Prevention Subtitle 1.

Reference may be made to current building code provisions or the most recent Smoke Detector Placement Handout as published by the Department.

Public Safety Article, Title 9 Subtitle 1 Smoke Detection Systems, requires smoke alarms to be installed in residential sleeping areas. The placement of smoke alarms shall be upgraded to comply with the placement provisions when one or more of the following occurs;

1. the existing smoke alarms exceed 10 years from the date of manufacture
2. the existing smoke alarms fail to respond to operability tests or otherwise malfunction
3. there is a change of tenant in a residential unit and the residential unit has not previously been equipped with sealed long-life battery smoke alarms with silence/hush button features within the 10 years preceding the change of tenant; or
4.  A building permit is issued for an additional residential unit or alteration to a residential unit.

Smoke alarms shall be installed on each level of the residential unit,  including basements, and excluding unoccupied attics, garages, and crawl spaces. Smoke alarms shall e alternating current (AC) primary powered units with battery backup, except in one-and two-family dwellings constructed before July 1, 1975, may be battery operated; and in new locations if smoke alarms did not previously exist. Only sealed, tamper resistant units incorporating a silence/hush button and long-life batteries may be installed.

Smoke alarms shall be listed in accordance with UL 217. Combination carbon monoxide and smoke alarms shall be listed in accordance with UL 217 and UL 2034.

Smoke alarms shall be replaced prior to expiration with a unit of similar type, function, and approved listing.