In the aftermath of a fatal carbon monoxide leak at Legal Seafoods in Huntington, the Village of Farmingdale passed new legislation requiring all residential and commercial properties carry a carbon monoxide detector.
“The whole idea behind this is public safety,” said Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand.
On April 7, Farmingdale Trustees unanimously voted to amend village code as a proactive measure to prevent future harm from carbon monoxide poisioning.
According to Village Attorney Claudio DeBellis, while the state currently requires all residential property owners purchase and maintain carbon monoxide detectors in their homes, they are not required in local businesses.
“There is a hole in New York State law that does not require commercial establishments have [carbon monoxide detectors],” DeBellis said. “Now, we will have this in places that were not previously required.”
The local law requires all structures built after April 7 to include carbon monoxide detectors that are hard-wired with a back-up battery. Meanwhile, any structure built after April 7 must include detectors before starting on any construction, when the cost of construction is more than half the structure’s value. Any request to change the number or location of the detectors must be approved by the village Board of Trustees. In addition, no certificate of occupancy can be issued by the village until the owner meets these requirements.
Both commercial and residential properties, must also comply with National Fire Protection Association Code 720, which is an established standard for the proper “performance, installation, operation, inspection, testing and maintenance of carbon monoxide detection and warning equipment.”
While village code enforcement and fire safety officers do not plan on inspecting residences, they are obligated to ask if a resident had carbon monoxide detetectors installed. Anyone found in violation will be given a 30-day citation to comply. Under state law it is the homeowner’s obligation to purchase and maintain carbon monoxide detectors. Conviction of a first offense will be subject to a fine not to exceed $500, 15 days imprisonment, or both.
