Carbon Monoxide Detectors and the REAC Inspection
	see "warning" at bottom of page
	It is The Inspection Group's position that the installation of properly chosen and properly placed carbon monoxide (CO) detector in every unit that has a fossil fueled appliance is an excellent choice.  We cannot offer advice on the selection or placement of CO detectors, however.
	CO poisoning is a serious health risk that causes many needless and tragic deaths, and proper selection and placement of effective CO detectors can prevent this.
	HUD strongly encourages housing providers to install CO detectors, but has not yet to our knowledge finalized proposed rules on this as of 4/22/19.  Please keep in mind that HUD and REAC are not the same organization - REAC is a department within HUD.
	We are receiving many questions like "Is REAC now requiring CO detectors?"  Let's clear this up.  HUD (not REAC) may soon require CO detectors.  See the HUD press release on this topic here and be sure to download the notice here.
	BUT - to answer the question of whether REAC requires CO detectors, read on:
	It is true that REAC inspectors will now check for the presence and proper operation of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in buildings that have any potential source of CO, like a fossil fuel HVAC or water heating applicance.
	It is NOT true that REAC now "requires" CO detectors.  Checking them and requiring them are two entirely different matters.
	In early 2019, REAC added CO detectors to the inspection as a "survey item," meaning that it is a non-scoring item that does not require immediately repair, does not require an EH&S response.
	To be clear, I'll restate that:  This does not impact your REAC score.  You are not required by REAC to install CO detectors.  You are not required by REAC to replace CO detectors that are missing or inoperable.  You are not required by REAC to turn in any paperwork to HUD.  It is your responsibility to know local requirements and to comply with them, regardless of the fact REAC does not require any of these actions.  It is your responsibility to know and comply with any and all standards established by your company, as well.
	Your REAC inspector will merely add a coded entry into the inspection comments following this pattern:
	COXP M=a W=b NW=c;   (lower case letters will be replaced with a number)
	COXP means "this is the CO detector data" and the string of characters must end with a semicolon.  a = number missing, b = number working, c = number not working.
	Clearly, where ever your property is required by local code to have a CO detector, you should follow local code to the letter.  This is both a matter of compliance with local code, and a matter of conscientiously maintaining a safe environment, which in turn protects human health and protects your company from liability.
	However - you should not suddenly start randomly installing CO detectors because you think REAC or HUD now requires you to do so.
	Instead, you should find out what local code and your company policy requires and comply with both your local code and your company policy.
	See REAC's instructions to inspectors by downloading this PDF file
	WARNING:  This web page is provided as a courtesy to explain that recent REAC policy changes DO NOT "require" CO detectors - but a CO detector is an important life saving device.  It is CRITICAL that you know and comply with all local codes and/or regulations in this regard, and that you know and comply with your own company policies.  The author of this article is not qualified to offer legal advice or local code advice, and does not represent any of this information as legal or code advice.  Do not ignore missing or inoperable CO detectors - address them as an immediate life safety issue.