Q&A: Do I need a CO alarm if my building is all-electric?

This week's question: A question I hear often in this work: "My building is all-electric — no gas, no oil, no fireplace. Do I still need carbon monoxide alarms?" It comes up on turns and on pre-walks, and the answer turns on one detail about the building that is easy to forget. I'll post the full answer as the first reply — and if your building has a twist on this (an attached garage, a fuel-fired appliance in one part of the property), add how it plays out at your property. — Admin

The answer, in plain words: CO alarms are required where a fuel-burning source or an attached garage creates the risk — the alarm follows the source, not the building's label. A truly all-electric building with no fuel-burning appliances, no fireplace, and no attached garage generally has no CO source to detect. But change one fact and the answer flips: an attached garage (vehicle exhaust), a fuel-fired water heater or boiler serving the building, or a generator all create the requirement for the units they affect. That is why the check on a pre-walk is never 'is this building electric?' — it is 'where are this unit's CO sources, including the garage and the plant?' Answer that per unit, place the alarms to match, and test them like smoke alarms. How does it play out at your properties — especially mixed buildings where one wing differs from the rest? — Admin