A major change to the Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Regulations was announced by the provincial government on Friday. Starting July 1st, all residential buildings in the province will require a working carbon monoxide detector and a smoke alarm. 

Prior to the announcement, smoke alarms were only required in homes built after 1988, and carbon monoxide detectors in homes built after 2009. 

"The health, welfare and safety of residents in their homes is a priority in building safe communities and a strong Saskatchewan," said Minister of Government Relations Don McMorris. "Requiring all residential buildings to have working CO and smoke alarms ensures you and your family are better protected against these dangerous substances." 

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, poisonous gas often produced by a malfunction in fuel-burning appliances. Between 2018 and 2020, SaskEnergy received reports of 1,200 calls a year, on average. Exposure to CO can lead to confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, brain damage and death. 

With the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency reporting that 36 percent of all fires reported in their 2020-21 impacting residential structures, they point out the alarms can save lives as they alert a family to a fire, giving time to escape. 

"Saskatchewan citizens want assurance that their residences are safe, and it has been shown that working carbon monoxide and smoke alarm devices save lives," Saskatchewan's Chief Building Official Marvin Meickel said. "When implemented, the regulations will establish a minimum level of life safety for people, now and into the future."