The State of Maine recently passed Bill #2469, which went into effect on January 1 of this year. The bill requires the installment of natural gas alarms in many public and commercial buildings across the state, and will hopefully result in saving many lives.
The new bill mostly pertains to non-single family dwellings, so the average Gorham household isn’t going to be affected too much, at least for now. However, if you rent a single family dwelling to someone, and there are any appliances that use propane or other natural gases, the bill requires the presence of a natural gas alarm.
Aside from apartment buildings, a large variety of public and private places are also affected by this bill. Commercial businesses, condominiums, hotels and motels are all required to comply.
Natural gas alarms are crucial in detecting dangerous gases that are typically invisible as they make their way through the air. As these gases become more common, it’s no surprise that the state is tightening up its regulations on natural gas alarms.
“The concern used to be just propane,” said Charles Jarrett, Gorham Fire Inspector. “But now there’s natural gas in the street and in so many areas that we need to add this safety feature.”
When talking about the safety that these gas alarms are sure to provide, Jarrett brought up a case from Farmington. Just a few months ago, gas seeped into the ground where the smell was masked by bacteria and went unnoticed until it was too late. An intersection was closed, and evacuation was required.
“When you look at what happened in Farmington, that’s when you realize that this bill will have a dramatic effect in saving lives and saving property,” said Jarrett.
The bill initially failed to include a few sections, which means that business mercantile and assemblage occupancies have until 2026 to comply. Jarret encourages buildings not to wait and says the fire department is already working to install the alarms in the Gorham Municipal Center.
While there is no law requiring natural gas alarms in single-family homes, it’s still a good idea to look into installing one. They are readily available and important to have in case of an emergency.
“Just make sure the alarm is approved by a national testing laboratory,” said Jarrett. “There are devices that are not approved, so make sure it’s compliant and make sure it goes with the standard.”
As with any safety devices, natural gas alarms need to be tested and checked on a regular basis to ensure they work. Businesses, public spaces and even households need to be sure to continually maintain them so that they can maintain your safety.
“For the most part, this is going to be an educational process,” stated Jarrett.“It’s going to remain an educational piece for quite a while. It’s important to teach why the new law exists and why it’s needed. That is what’s going to save lives.”