When a resident sells his or her home, Massachusetts General Law Chapter 148 Section 26F requires that they equip their home with approved smoke detectors. The Agawam Fire Department will conduct an inspection of the home and determine whether there is sufficient smoke detector coverage and to assure that they are properly installed. If the proper criteria is met, the seller will be given a Certificate of Compliance by the inspector. This certificate must be presented at the time of closing.

Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector Inspections are conducted Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Appointments can be made by calling the Agawam Fire Department Administrative Office at 413-786-0657 Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM. There is a $30.00 fee for the inspection. It is payable at the time of inspection by cash or realtors check only! No personal checks are accepted.

When we come out to inspect your home, this is what we’ll look for:

Smoke Detectors:

In residences built prior to 1975 smoke detectors may be of the battery operated type and should be located on each habitable level including basements and finished attics. If a single level has an area in excess of 1200sf, a second smoke detector is required remote from the first. A third would be required on any floor in excess of 2400sf and so on… Smoke detectors should be located on the ceiling at the base of each stairway leading to the floor above, and also outside of every sleeping area.

If the home was built anytime from July 1, 1976 through August 1997, the detector locations are the same as those for homes built prior to 1975. However, these smoke detectors must be hardwired to your electrical system and interconnected with each other.

Finally, if your home was built from September 1, 1997 through the present, smoke detectors should be located on each habitable floor including basements and finished attics (one for every 1200sf of floor area). Smoke detectors should be mounted on the ceiling at the base of each stairway leading to the floor above, outside of every sleeping area, and inside every bedroom. These smoke detectors must be hardwired to your electrical system, include a battery back-up and be interconnected to each other.

These requirements for new construction also apply to additions and/or renovations where a bedroom is either added or substantially altered. If an addition or renovation involves adding or substantially altering a bedroom, the entire house, including existing bedrooms must be brought up to the present standard according to the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR), regardless of the age of the house.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors:

Massachusetts General Law requires that a Carbon Monoxide Detector be installed on every level of a home that has fossil fuel burning equipment or an attached garage. The Carbon Monoxide Detector on the bedroom level of the residence must be within ten feet of all of the bedroom doors. Because of this requirement some homes may require an additional detector. Finished basements or partially finished basements must have a Carbon Monoxide Detector installed. Detectors are not required in unfinished basements, crawl spaces or attics. Though not required, the Agawam Fire Department encourages a Carbon Monoxide Detector installation in unfinished basements that contain fossil fuel burning equipment.

Detectors may be battery operated, plug in, plug in with a battery back up, combination smoke and Carbon Monoxide detector or hard wired.

The Massachusetts Carbon Monoxide Detector laws apply to all residences in the state, not just properties being sold. The Agawam Fire Inspector will check for the presence of Carbon Monoxide Detectors and their proper operation during a Smoke Detector Inspection and WILL NOT issue a certificate if Carbon Monoxide Detectors are not in compliance with the Law.

House Numbers:

Massachusetts General Law requires that all homes and businesses have numbers of sufficient size and affixed in such a way as to be visible from the street. So while we’re out to inspect your smoke detectors, we’ll also be looking for those house numbers! We would be unable to grant the smoke detector Certificate of Compliance if the house is not properly marked.

If you have any questions or concerns please call the Agawam Fire Department Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at 413-786-0657.