Carbon Monoxide Alarms and Smoke Alarms

The Building Code Regulations (the BC Regulations) require carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms (or combination carbon monoxide-smoke alarms) to be installed in all residential buildings in Saskatchewan, regardless of the date the building was constructed.

Enforcement of this regulation did not begin until July 1, 2022, to allow you time to research, purchase and install these alarms in your homes.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

CO is an invisible, odourless, poisonous gas that is most often produced when fuel-burning appliances – like furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, stoves, clothes dryers and water heaters – malfunction. CO is also present in car exhaust.

Concentrations of CO can build up in homes, apartments or other residential buildings without you knowing it. Working CO alarms will alert you to its presence, allowing you enough time to leave the building and call 911. Without CO alarms, continued exposure to CO can lead to confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, brain damage and death.

Visit SaskEnergy to learn more about CO and tips to keep you and your family safe.

Smoke

Smoke from residential fires spreads quickly. Since a residential fire can become life-threatening in less than two minutes, working smoke alarms can alert you and your family so you have time to escape and call 911.

Visit the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency to download fact sheets about fire safety and how to check your smoke alarms.

Alarm Types

There are many different types of alarms available to suit your circumstances and building layout:

• Hard-wired alarms to detect CO and/or smoke;
• A tamper-resistant, 10-year battery alarm to detect CO and/or smoke; and
• Alarms that can be plugged into your electrical socket to detect CO.

Useful Life of an Alarm

CO alarms, smoke alarms and combination alarms need to be replaced at the end of their useful life. Follow the recommended replacement cycle indicated by the manufacturer for your alarm. Newer alarms may also show an expiry date to tell you when to replace it.

Alarms nearing the end of their useful life may emit a 'chirp' or other sound every minute or so, depending on the manufacturer. The manual that comes with your alarm will tell you what you can expect to hear.

If you don't remember how old your alarm is, you should replace it.

Location and Installation of Alarms

All alarms should be installed, tested and replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Alarms may need to be installed in additional areas in residential buildings as required by the BC Regulations or your community's bylaw depending on:

• Your building's layout;
• The type of alarm(s) currently installed in the residence; and
• The location and type of fuel-burning appliance(s) found in the building.

The Building and Technical Standards branch developed advisories to help you determine where to install alarms according to the BC Regulations:

• Residential homeowners
• Owners of multi-unit residential buildings (e.g., condominiums, apartments, motels and hotels)
• Care home operators.

The advisories describe where alarms should be located and provide a diagram illustrating locations where alarms are required.