Florida Statute 553.885 has required for about the past 10 years that any new home or home addition that has a fossil-fuel burning heater or appliance (such as a gas water heater), a fireplace, or attached garage must have a carbon monoxide alarm within 10 feet of each sleeping room. The International Residential Code (IRC) states it slightly differently as "outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms."

For most homes, this means that a CO alarm has to be located in each hallway or access room to a bedroom. Because a smoke alarm is also required outside the bedrooms, most homebuilders use a combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, like the one shown above, to accommodate both requirements.

    Although the law applies only to new homes or home additions, we think the “one CO alarm in the area outside each bedroom or cluster of bedrooms” is a good standard for existing homes too, except for a further recommendation to have at least one CO alarm on every level of a multi-story home. If you already have smoke alarms at these locations, you can easily change them out for “combo” alarms.

    Florida also previously had a building code requirement for new homes that any door from the living area of the house to the garage must have an automatic closer—intended to reduce the risk of death due to carbon monoxide from a car accidentally left running in the garage entering the house, but it has been removed from the code. We think it is still a good safety measure for you to consider adding.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about SAFETY: 

• Why is it important to use "cabinet screws" to mount the upper cabinets in the kitchen?

• Is the door between an attached garage and the house required to have a closer (self-closing device)?

• Can the smoke sensors in a home security/fire alarm system replace the smoke alarms required by the building code?

• Should I get a lightning rod system to protect my house? 

• What are the "Aging In Place" features to look for when buying a retirement home?

• What is aging in place? 

• How do I safely remove a dead rodent (rat, mouse or squirrel) from the attic?

• Does pushing the test button on a smoke alarm test the smoke sensor device inside? 

• What is the minimum height of a ceiling fan above the floor?

• Should a smoke alarm be installed in the kitchen? 

• Why is a double cylinder deadbolt lock on an exterior door a safety hazard? 

• Why are rubber washing machine hoses a safety risk?

• What can I do to avoid kitchen accidents and injuries?

• Where are smoke alarms required to be located? 

• Are carbon monoxide alarms required to be installed in homes in Florida?

• Are old vinyl tile floors dangerous?  

• How can I use safety checks to limit my tenant liability for a rental house?

• Do you inspect for trip hazards around the home? 

• When should I replace my smoke alarms?

• Why is an anti-tip device now required behind the range? 

• What are the hazards to avoid when going into an attic? 

    Visit our SAFETY page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.