HLS 14RS-758 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 570
BY REPRESENTATIVES STOKES AND ADAMS
PUBLIC HEALTH: Provides relative to carbon monoxide detectors
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 40:1581.1, relative to carbon monoxide alarm systems; to require carbon2
monoxide alarm systems in existing hotels with fossil fuel burning appliances or3
attached garages; to provide for exceptions; to provide for definitions; and to provide4
for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 40:1581.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 7
ยง1581.1. Carbon monoxide alarms; findings; existing hotel structures; exceptions;8
definitions9
The legislature finds the following:10
A.(1) According to the United States Department of Health and Hospitals,11
Center for Disease Control, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that kills12
without warning. It claims the lives of hundreds of people each year and makes13
thousands more ill. While homeowners and long term tenants of rental property can14
protect themselves against this threat by installing carbon monoxide detectors, it is15
unreasonable to expect persons who are traveling and staying in temporary lodging16
establishments to carry carbon monoxide detectors with them to protect themselves17
against this hidden threat.18
(2) With the adoption of the 2012 Edition of the NFPA 101, in the Life19
Safety Code and International Building Code, all adopted in Louisiana, most new20 HLS 14RS-758 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 570
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hotel construction that will contain fuel-burning appliances or attached garages will1
be required to have carbon monoxide alarms installed in order to be code compliant.2
(3) With the growth of the tourism industry in Louisiana, new hotels are3
being built regularly. Persons who choose to stay in those hotels will be protected4
from this silent threat. However, those who choose to stay in existing hotels will still5
be in danger.6
(4) That carbon monoxide alarms shall be required in certain existing hotels7
where a potential threat of carbon monoxide poisoning exists. In doing so, the8
Louisiana Legislature seeks to protect the health and welfare of all people in the state9
who unknowingly may be exposed to carbon monoxide and who are powerless to10
prevent it.11
B. Single station carbon monoxide alarms shall be located in all existing12
hotels located in buildings containing one or more fuel-burning appliance or in13
buildings which have an attached garage.14
C. Carbon monoxide alarms required by this Section shall comply with UL15
2034 and be installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 720 and the16
manufacturer's instructions.17
D. An open parking garage or an enclosed parking garage ventilated in18
accordance with Section 404 of the International Mechanical Code is not considered19
an attached garage.20
E. Sleeping units located in a hotel which do not themselves contain a fuel-21
burning appliance or have an attached garage, but which are located in a building22
with a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, need not be equipped with23
single station carbon monoxide alarms if all of the following apply:24
(1) The sleeping unit is located more than one story above or below any25
story which contains a fuel-burning appliance or attached garage.26
(2) The sleeping unit or dwelling unit is not connected by duct work or27
ventilation shafts to any room containing a fuel-burning appliance or to an attached28
garage.29 HLS 14RS-758 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 570
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(3) The building is equipped with a common area carbon monoxide alarm1
system.2
F. As used in this Section, the following terms mean:3
(1) "Hotel" means a residential occupancy containing sleeping units where4
the occupants are primarily transient in nature, including boarding houses, hotels,5
and motels.6
(2) "Open parking garage" shall mean a structure or portion of a structure7
with the openings as described on two or more sides that is used for the parking or8
storage of private motor vehicles.9
G. All other terms used in this Section shall be assigned the meaning10
assigned to them in the International Commercial Building Code.11
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Stokes HB No. 570
Abstract: Requires the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in existing hotel
structures with fossil fuel burning appliances or an attached garage only.
Proposed law provides for legislative intent.
Proposed law requires single station carbon monoxide alarms be located in all existing hotels
located in buildings containing one or more fuel-burning appliance or in buildings which
have an attached garage.
Carbon monoxide alarms required pursuant to proposed law shall comply with UL 2034 and
be installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 720 and the manufacturer's
instructions.
Proposed law provides that an open parking garage or an enclosed parking garage ventilated
in accordance with Section 404 of the International Mechanical Code shall not be considered
an attached garage.
Proposed law provides that sleeping units located in a hotel which do not themselves contain
a fuel-burning appliance or have an attached garage, but which are located in a building with
a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, need not be equipped with single station
carbon monoxide alarms provided that:
(1)The sleeping unit is located more than one story above or below any story which
contains a fuel-burning appliance or attached garage.
(2)The sleeping unit or dwelling unit is not connected by duct work or ventilation shafts
to any room containing a fuel-burning appliance or to an attached garage. HLS 14RS-758 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 570
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(3)The building is equipped with a common area carbon monoxide alarm system.
Proposed law defines "hotel" and "open parking garage" and provides that all other terms
shall be defined by the International Building Code.
(Adds R.S. 40:1581.1)