Law requiring gas detectors goes into effect Jan 1, many may not meet deadline - WGME

PORTLAND (WGME) -- A new law requiring gas detectors in certain commercial businesses and rental properties goes into effect January 1, but there are concerns many people won't meet the deadline.

The law was passed by the legislature in June and comes in direct response to the deadly explosion in Farmington in 2019 that left a firefighter dead and injured a number of others.

Under the law, many commercial businesses, hotels, motels, non-profit organizations, shelters and rental properties must install a detector in any room where there's a gas or propane fueled appliance.

Currently, private homes are not impacted by the new law unless the home is sold.

The detectors, which are different than smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, cost around $50 a piece. Local hardware stores say they're already seeing an increase in purchases.

"We're definitely getting a lot more calls and inquiries on it," Tim Currier with Maine Hardware said. "People are just still trying to figure out where they need to have them."

But with the January 1 deadline fast approaching, local officials say many people probably won't come into compliance right away.

"It will undoubtedly help protect people with any gas leakage in the buildings," Portland Fire Marshal Jason Grant said. "But it's going to take a while to bring everybody into compliance."

While the new law comes with a $500 fine attached, Grant says the first few months will probably focus more on education than enforcement.

"It's going to be a learning curve, even for us," Grant said.

For the owners of rental properties, which may end up being the most impacted by this new law, many are just finding out the law even exists.

"We just learned about it, I would say a month ago, and are trying to get the word out to our members," Brit Vitalius with the Southern Maine Landlord Association said. "I could pretty much guarantee that if you asked 100 landlords today if they were aware of this law, you would get 99 'No's."

Vitalius says the impending deadline has now left many landlords trying to play catch-up.

"We want our buildings to be safe," Vitalius said. "But we're not thrilled with the way that this was just passed at the state level with no education, no outreach, nothing else attached to it to make sure that it's actually successful."

If you have questions about if your property needs a gas detector or where to buy one, contact your local fire department.

source: https://wgme.com/news/local/law-requiring-gas-detectors-goes-into-effect-jan-1-many-may-not-meet-deadline

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