Updated Louisiana Carbon Monoxide Law goes into effect on Jan. 1

Act 458 of the 2022 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature (“Act) changes the fire and life safety requirements of one or two-family residential homes, relating to the presence of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. In addition, the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Council amended the International Residential Building Code (“IRC) with those changes also becoming effective on Jan. 1, 2023.

What is the updated Louisiana Carbon Monoxide (CO) law?
•Every one or two-family house/dwelling sold and/or leased after January 1, 2023 shall have at least one operable, life-long, sealed battery carbon monoxide (CO) detector.
•The detector packaging should feature phrases including “life-long” OR “ten-year” AND “sealed battery” OR “sealed-in lithium battery.”
•The device can be in combination with a smoke detector.
•One or two-family house/dwelling is defined as a building containing not more than two dwelling units in which one or each dwelling unit is occupied by members of a single family with not more than three outsiders, if any, accommodated in rented rooms.

Recommended CO detector placement:
•Near a sleeping area, preferably within 10 feet of a bedroom door
•On every occupied level of your home
•Within 10 feet of the door to an attached garage
•Inside of any occupied rooms located over an attached garage

To view the Louisiana law in its entirety, visit: https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1289519