Plan requires exclusive sale of upgraded residential smoke detectors by 2022

State Rep. Mike Mueller today said the state should update its fire safety laws to better protect Michigan families from the risk of death or injury from a house fire.

Mueller, of Linden, said Michigan ranked third-worst in the country for house fire fatalities in 2018, with 139 people dying in accidental residential building fires that year. Almost three out of five home fire deaths between 2012 and 2016 were caused by fires in properties with no smoke alarms or smoke alarms that failed to operate. Further, 92 percent of the inoperable battery-only smoke alarms were found to have batteries that were missing, disconnected, dead or discharged.

“With my background in public safety, I’ve seen the devastating effects a house fire can have on a family,” Mueller, a retired sheriff’s deputy, said today after testifying in support of his plan before the House Regulatory Reform Committee. “We need to do everything we can to make sure residents have working smoke alarms in their homes, so they can escape with their lives if a fire occurs.”

Mueller’s plan, House Bill 5407, would require all smoke alarms sold in Michigan beginning in 2022 to have non-removable batteries that last at least 10 years, or another power source that utilizes new technology.

“The firefighters I worked closely with found that often – especially around the holidays – families would need a battery and take one out of their fire alarm. Then they’d forget to replace it,” Mueller said. “The new, tamper-resistant alarms ensure fire safety remains top priority because no one can remove the batteries.”

Mueller also noted the modern alarms will save people money over time.

“The 10-year, tamper-resistant detectors that don’t have removable batteries cost about $15 – roughly $5 more than the older alarms where you must replace the batteries,” Mueller said. “Since the alarm’s battery does not need to be replaced twice per year, homeowners could save between $40 and $60 in battery replacement costs over the life of the alarm.”

Thirteen states and several large municipalities have passed similar requirements, including California, Florida, Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont and Wisconsin.

House Bill 5407 remains under consideration by the committee.

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