Millions of CO alarms in New York City may have reached the end of their useful life. In November 2004, New York City’s Local Law 7 went into effect requiring residential and commercial housing owners to install carbon monoxide alarms in the sleeping areas of all homes, apartments, schools, hospitals and educational facilities that have fossil-fuel burning equipment including furnaces, boilers, water heaters and fireplaces.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) requires all CO alarms have an end-of-life warning. 

A residential CO alarm must have a defined end of life.  As of 2009, UL requires all CO alarms to have an audible warning that sounds when an alarm reaches the end of its proven life. Once an alarm sounds this end-of-life warning, it will not detect carbon monoxide. Consumers will need to replace their CO alarms!

Many owners have received complaints from tenants about beeping carbon monoxide alarms, which indicates that their useful life has ended.  Legislation passed in the City Council on Monday, December 19, 2011 will allow owners to replace these expired units and be reimbursed for the cost, up to $25, by the tenant.

As a result of RSA’s group purchasing power, we are pleased to announce that we are able to provide the Kidde alarms at the same low prices that were available in 2004. Battery operated CO alarms (Model 9C05) are available for $14.25 per unit. Plug-in battery powered back-up (Model 900076) are available for $23.50 per unit. Combination smoke/CO (Model 9000102) are available for $23.50 per unit. Minimum purchase of six alarms of any type is required. All purchases are subject to NYC sales tax but there is no additional delivery charge.

Please call an RSA Counselor today at (212) 214-9200 if you have any questions.