Smoke Alarm Ordinance Changes Daylight Savings Reminder

Instead of Battery Change, It's Smoke Alarm Change

After years of using the switch to Daylight Savings Time as a reminder to change smoke alarm batteries, the City of Madison Fire Department this year is encouraging residents to change their smoke alarms. The difference is the smoke alarm ordinance passed by the Common Council earlier this week that will require smoke alarms with 10-year lithium batteries designed to last the life of the smoke alarm. Under the newly adopted ordinance, all smoke alarms must have a 10-year battery in a tamper-resistant alarm unit. 9-volt batteries will no longer be used UNLESS they are being used as a battery back-up to a hard-wired alarm. The ordinance also requires additional alarms in the residence: -In each bedroom -In each sleeping area -Within six feet of each door leading to a bedroom or sleeping area of each unit -On each floor of the building The ordinance goes into effect on August 15 of this year for all residential buildings in the City of Madison, except for owner-occupied, single-family homes; on August 15, 2010 it goes into effect for all residential structures, including owner-occupied, single-family housing.

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