Proposed code change for 2027 for Fuel Gas detectors
One of the proposed changes to the IRC (R312) would mandate the installation of fuel gas detectors and alarms in new residential construction. These detector/ alarms would be installed in areas where fuel gas equipment is located and/ or where the gas line enters the structure and would be interconnected with the smoke/ CO alarms. In the reasons for the code change, they quote the following statistics:
There are about 340 gas leak responses by fire departments daily in the U.S.
Nationwide, there are on average 11,537 fires caused by fuel gas each year.
These fires are responsible for 191 deaths, 747 injuries, and $402 million in property damage annually.
What do you think? Do you think this added expense onto the construction of a home to provide early warning of a buildup of fuel gas will make a difference? Please add your comments.