LA PORTE, Ind. (AP) - All new homes built in La Porte must have a carbon monoxide alarm under a new ordinance approved by the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission.
The Evansville Courier and Press (https://bit.ly/2pIuUkw ) reported Dot Kesling has been pushing for such requirements following her daughter’s death in 2010. Kesling said that up until Thursday’s vote, Indiana was one of only four states without either a state law or local ordinances requiring alarms.
“I can’t bring my daughter back, she’s dead,” Kesling told commissioners. “So this is for your daughter, your grandchild, your grandson. It’s for the people in the communities.”
The Indiana Apartment Association and the Indiana Builders Association opposed the ordinance, saying they want consistent regulations statewide. The National Conference of State Legislatures notes that Indiana is one of 12 states that don’t require a carbon monoxide detector in homes.
Several commissioners were also concerned that allowing one city to pass such an ordinance would open the door for other cities to present numerous ordinances on a variety of topics. They considered saving the discussion until the Indiana building code could be revised, but later voted to approve the ordinance.
Vehicles, generators and other household appliances can emit carbon monoxide, which cannot be seen or smelled, and can lead to poisoning if not properly vented, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than 400 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning annually in the U.S.
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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, https://www.courierpress.com
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