Regulations re Carbon Monoxide Detector.

ballyharpat

I did a search of boards and could not find any answer.

I did a google, I couldnt find any actual regulations.

I have a rental house that has a solid fuel stove in it, it has smoke alarms , but I cannot find the proper regulations re Carbon monoxide detectors. Also, I have an apartment that has electric heating, does this need a Carbon monoxide detector? thanks.

DOCARCH

Have a google for 'Part J Building Regulations'.

CO detectors are covered in Section 1.5.

CO detectors/alarms should be located in a) any room with a heat producing appliance, and, b) in very bedroom, or, within 5 m (16 ft.) of the bedroom door, measured along the path of the corridor.

ballyharpat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119687813#Comment_119687813

Thanks, yeah, it says 'should', from my understanding, it 'must' be located in a room with a flu or fuel burning appliance such as gas/oil/solid fuel. But 'should' is a suggestion.

It also says these are for new builds, so not for existing buildings or refurbishments.

Its very vague, lots of pages I've read have had different suggestions, but no clear 'regulations.

Gumbo

If you are the landlord, then minimum rental standards is the Bible.

Part J of the Regs says “should” but it should be read as must. Do you want to take that call some day and be told you could have put a €20 detector in.

It’s a taxable offset anyway so I wouldn’t hold out.

It’s also a mandatory requirement.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting_a_home/repairs_maintenance_and_minimum_physical_standards.html#le8f71

• A carbon monoxide alarm which must be suitably located and maintained.

ballyharpat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119697651#Comment_119697651

Yeah, I have a responsibility to be sure I keep standards, but that's exactly the one I was looking for, thanks,

• A carbon monoxide alarm which must be suitably located and maintained.

The main word is 'a'.

No offense, but, it's up to a tenant to take personal responsibility also. The regulations 'suggest' putting one in every room. I 'suggest' that to the tenants, and I follow the regulations according to the law. I sleep well at might knowing I have done everything to the book-but you are free to go along and put as many as you wanty into your rental properties.

Can the Moderator please close the thread, thanks.

kirving

Gumbo made a polite suggestion, why so defensive?

I don't buy good tyres for my car to protect me, I buy them to protect people who might walk in front of me. If I bought the legal minimum E Marked tyre and couldn't stop in time, I would feel partly responsible.

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119699388#Comment_119699388

If it comes to the point where someone is trying to evaluate the exact definition of "A" and "should", it generally means they're looking for a way out of complying with the regulations. It's also not the tenants responsibility to provide and install CO detectors, it's the Landlord.

It's up to you OP to provide the required number of CO detectors. If you're unsure, arrange to get the boiler serviced and ask the service contractor to check and confirm what you're required to provide in accordance with the regulations. Otherwise, you have not done everything to the book.

ballyharpat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119699498#Comment_119699498

Yeah, My electrician and boiler technician have everything up to regulations, and also the Council have done their inspection, one carbon monoxide detector where there is a stove/fire etc. So the above points are mute, it's not a discussion, there are regulations that are met, if there are 'suggestions' that are not regulations, then they are not regulations.

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119699524#Comment_119699524

Why don't you test your theory on the definition of words in court instead of trying to get support on an internet forum?

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119699524#Comment_119699524

They aren't 'suggestions' though. Several regulations can't be that exact due to the variety of different caveats and exceptions, all of which might not be listed in the Technical Guidance Documents but would be referenced in other regulations, and so terms like "should" are used because in the majority of cases, that's what you have to comply with, unless you are covered by an exemption or comply with an engineered design which adheres to the regulations in principle.

Like I said, if someone is arguing over the exact definition of a word like "should", chances are they are trying to find a reason not to comply with the regulation.

With regards to your own case, if the Council and a registered & insured technician have said you are compliant with regards to the amount of detectors in the property, then it's fair to assume you are compliant. Regardless, the term "should" being used in the regulations does not mean it's a suggestion. It means unless there is an engineered or otherwise compliant reason why you don't need to comply with it, you need to comply with it.