What's happening
This bill requires interconnectable smoke detecting devices in all one- or two-family dwellings in New York by 2028.
Why it matters
Raises safety standards. By mandating *interconnectable* smoke detectors—devices that all sound an alarm if any one detects smoke—the law increases the chance that occupants throughout the home will be alerted quickly, even if a fire starts in a distant room.
Impacts homeowners and landlords. All owners of one- or two-family homes in New York will need to install these interconnected smoke detectors by 2028, which may require upgrades for older homes and could have cost and compliance implications.
Narrows previous exemptions. The new requirement closes loopholes in existing law by specifically requiring interconnected smoke detectors, not just single-station alarms, aiming to address fire safety weaknesses highlighted by past tragedies.
Defines technical standards. The bill introduces a legal definition of "interconnectable smoke detecting device," ensuring clarity about the type of technology that meets the requirement (battery-operated or hard-wired, as long as devices are connected).
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Linked Smoke Alarms
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Linked Smoke Alarms
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Michael DenDekker
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1886
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sens. AVELLA, AKSHAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring interconnectable smoke detecting devices to be installed in certain residential buildings
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Kerry Rose Fitzsimons fire safety act".
§ 2. Paragraph a of subdivision 5-b of section 378 of the executive law, as separately amended by chapters 96 and 506 of the laws of 1988, is amended to read as follows:
a. every one or two-family dwelling [or any] shall have installed an operable interconnectable smoke detecting device or devices. Any dwelling accommodation located in a building owned as a condominium or cooperative in the state used as a residence shall have installed an operable single station smoke detecting alarm device or devices,
§ 3. Section 372 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
20. "Interconnectable smoke detecting device" or "interconnectable smoke detecting alarm device" means a battery operated or hard-wired smoke detecting alarm device that communicates with other such devices so that when one such device give warnings the other interconnectable smoke detecting alarm devices will also give warnings.
§ 4. This act shall take effect January 1, 2028; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01212-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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 inter connectable smoke alarms by January 1, 2025, in certain residential buildings
Summary of provisions
This bill would require that every one 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 inter connectable smoke detecting alarm devices will also give warnings
This act shall take effect on January 1, 2028; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date
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 inter connectable 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
None.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None. EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect on January 1, 2028; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.