Committee hears explanation of updated residential smoke-alarm standard; bill would allow newer UL 217 devices

MONTPELIER, Vt. — During the same House General & Housing hearing on April 3, Damien Leonard of the Office of Legislative Council explained proposed language to update Vermont's residential smoke-alarm requirement so homes may comply either with existing photoelectric-only detectors or with newer UL 217-compliant multi-sensor alarms.

Leonard said Vermont originally required photoelectric-only alarms because early ionization sensors produced many false positives. "Since then technology has come a long way," he said. Underwriters Laboratories revised its standard and modern UL 217-compliant alarms now use multiple sensing technologies and are designed to better distinguish cooking smoke from smoldering and flaming fires, Leonard explained.

Leonard told committee members the statute change under consideration would apply to residences — certification requirements when selling a home — and would not change commercial fire-code requirements. He said new-construction wiring and interconnect requirements for alarms would remain in code for new homes, and older houses would continue to follow less-stringent placement rules specific to existing structures.

Committee members asked practical questions about detectors in the State House and about how the updated standard reduces false alarms. Leonard said the change simply allows compliance by either the legacy photoelectric-only alarms or UL 217-compliant devices, bringing the state rule in line with modern products and safety testing.