New smoke alarm rules now in effect in Florida

Florida homeowners need to upgrade their smoke alarms under a new building regulation that takes effect today.

The Florida Building Code will now require homeowners to install a 10-year, sealed battery smoke alarm in homes when replacing outdated or non-working alarms.

Most home smoke alarms currently are powered by 9 volt batteries which need to be replaced every 6 months to a year.

The batteries in the newer smoke alarms are virtually tamper proof and don’t need to be replaced for a decade.

The state hopes the new requirement will reduce the number of fire related deaths.  

Last year, 114 people died in house fires around the state and almost half of those homes didn't have working smoke alarms. 

Missing or disconnected batteries are a main reason smoke alarms fail to operate in residential fires.

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