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Amish smoke alarms

Mr. Inspector

SAWHORSE
Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
4,695
Location
Poconos/eastern PA
In PA you don't have to comply with the electrical provisions of the code for religious beliefs. I am doing a plan review for a new house for a Amish family. How do they comply with the smoke and CO2 alarm sections of the 2009 IRC which is in the building sections, not the electrical sections?
 
Rick18071,

Take a read through the PA UCC 403.1 (f). 1-3. (A) (2). (3).

The Amish are exempt from more than just interconnection and or electrical. I have not had to deal with this but as I understand this section, if the information regarding Religous Sect is applied for and granted it may exempt the entire structure from permit.

If anyone has any different information please offer it. You can always contact Bob Buddebahn, butchered his last name but he's with PCCA, he is a wealth of information concerning the UCC.
 
Not allowed in California. Ca. requires a ten year battery that is not accessible.
Since they have 10 year batteries why don't they make them use them in regular electrically wired smoke alarms? I recently had a case where within a year the backup batteries were chirping, I sent the electrician back with a long ladder to replace batteries 20 to 30' up once, the second time they went off I told him to go back and permanently disconnect all of the high smokes, of course I told the owner what I was doing and he agreed not wanting that horrible noise anymore. At least here inspectors don't check batteries anymore since they are not allowed on ladders, if an inspector isn't allowed to climb ladders why are homeowners required to?
 
Since they have 10 year batteries why don't they make them use them in regular electrically wired smoke alarms?

Required here...

OP: it might be be a good idea to speak with the fire service and see what they think about this. Looking at this objectively, when politicians pass laws there is an intent. In this case it is to allow people not to have electrical devices in their homes for religious reasons. Following the intent of the law, provided you have a written intent from the author of the legislation, may provide some limited form of liability reduction. Your mileage may vary though.
 
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