Community Corner
Is Your Smoke Alarm Affected by New Maryland Law?
A bevy of new rules applies to smoke detectors in residential buildings in Maryland.
By Patch Editor Whitney Teal
The days of just having any old smoke detector are long gone for residential buildings in Maryland. An amendment to the 38-year-old Maryland Smoke Alarm Law went into effect July 1 and requires more advanced alarms in homes.
Alarms must now have long-life batteries, in addition to regular batteries, sealed inside, according to a news release from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. “Hush” buttons are also a requisite for alarms now.
The days of just having any old smoke detector are long gone for residential buildings in Maryland. An amendment to the 38-year-old Maryland Smoke Alarm Law went into effect July 1 and requires more advanced alarms in homes.
Alarms must now have long-life batteries, in addition to regular batteries, sealed inside, according to a news release from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. “Hush” buttons are also a requisite for alarms now.
“The technological advances of battery-operated residential smoke alarms combined with 10-year, long-life batteries offer a decade of protection,” Montgomery County Fire Chief Steve Lohr said in a statement.
“Smoke alarms are one of the most important safety features to have in your home and while residents will have until Jan. 1, 2018, to comply with the new law, we’re urging residents to upgrade their alarms now.”
Read more about the new law on the Maryland General Assembly's website.
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