Carbon Monoxide Detection Requirements for Military Housing
Abstract
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that can cause sudden illness or death if a person is exposed to certain quantities. Often referred to as the silent killer, CO poisoning kills over 430 people annually in the United States (U.S.), and approximately 50,000 people seek emergency medical treatment. Most states have enacted statutes or adopted regulations that require CO detectors or alarms in private dwellings. In these states, owners are required to install at least one battery-operated or hard wired CO detector or alarm in a housing unit. Likewise, the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Military Services have taken CO risk reduction measures for housing they own and operate. However, DOD estimates about 63% of military families live off-post in private sector housing, or otherwise not on a military installation in DOD-maintained property. This military population is subject to the CO safety measures enacted by state or local jurisdictions, which vary from robust to nonexistent. In addition, another 24% of military families live in military privatized housing (i.e., housing built, maintained, and operated by private developers, though leased from DOD through a ground lease). Military privatized housing can be off-post or on a military installation, but in either case, CO detector or alarm requirements are generally determined by state and local laws, not DOD, unless explicitly written into privatized housing lease agreements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 30, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1172034
Entities
People
- G. J. Herrera
Organizations
- Library of Congress