The statute, which takes effect on February 22, provides that "....every one or two-family dwelling, or any dwelling accommodation located in a building owned as a condominium or cooperative in the state or any multiple dwellings shall have installed an operable carbon monoxide detector of such manufacture, design and installation standards as are established by the council. Carbon monoxide detectors required by this section are required only where the dwelling unit has appliances, devices or systems that may emit carbon monoxide or has an attached garage."
It is unlikely that searches will be conducted of private homes to determine compliance with this law (and that which requires smoke detectors); however, what will happen when someone becomes ill or dies in premises that did not have a carbon monoxide detector? If a claim is made on a home owner's insurance policy, will the company deny coverage? Will a health insurance company attempt to recover its expenses from the property owner? I wouldn't be surprised. Certainly lack of the devise will be clear proof of negligence.
The moral is -- get a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector and make sure they both work.
No comments:
Post a Comment