Enacts the Kerry Rose Fitzsimons fire safety act

BILL NUMBER:S7728

Title of bill

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring interconnectable smoke detecting devices to be installed in certain residential buildings

Purpose or general idea of bill

The purpose of this bill is to require the installation and replacement of non-interconnectable smoke alarms with interconnectable smoke alarms within 10 years of the passage of this bill in certain residential buildings.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill would require that everyone or two-family dwelling has an operable interconnectable smoke detecting device installed.

This bill would also define "interconnectable smoke detecting device" or "interconnectable smoke detecting alarm device" as a battery operated or hard-wired smoke detecting alarm that communicates with other such devices so that when one such device gives warnings the other interconnectable smoke detecting alarm devices will also give warnings.

Justification

Smoke detectors/alarms have been instrumental in preventing the loss of many lives by alerting occupants of the initial presence of smoke thereby giving them enough time to exit the structure before the fire consumes the dwelling. Unfortunately, in many fire situations, older fashioned smoke detectors that detect smoke and sound off, do not have the technology to communicate and warn other smoke detectors in the same household or dwelling.

In January 2012, Kerry Rose Fitzsimons, died in an off campus housing fire. The Multiple dwelling unit did have smoke detectors, however, the fire started in another section of the residence and by the time the smoke detector in her area went off there was no time left to escape.

Interconnectable smoke detectors communicate with each other, forming an integrated system of protection. The Alarms can be interconnected via wires (hardwired) or wirelessly via radio signals and can communicate with the other detectors located throughout the residence warning the occupants of a fire thereby saving countless future lives. They are available now and are similarly priced with the older models. This bill requires all residential buildings currently mandated to have smoke detectors/alarms to install interconnectable smoke detectors/alarms within ten years. This time frame will-give the manufacturers enough time to sell off existing stock and will outlive the current life span of the smoke detectors currently in use.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect January 1, 2024 with provisions.