How Halifax is built
- Before 1961 22%
- 1961–1990 42%
- 1991–2000 14%
- 2001 or later 22%
The rule in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia's building code requires CO alarms in new homes with a fuel-burning appliance or attached garage, but older homes don't have to be retrofitted; the province recommends them.
Where CO alarms go: installation rules in Nova Scotia
What the rules say about installing alarms:
- New homes with a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage need a CO alarm under the building code; older homes don't have to be retrofitted unless a building official or fire inspector orders it.
- Nova Scotia's fire safety rules require CO alarms to be inspected, tested and maintained following the manufacturer's instructions.
- For new houses, the National Building Code 2020 (Article 9.32.3.9) requires a CO alarm inside each bedroom or within 5 m outside each bedroom door when the home has a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, an alarm in any room with a solid-fuel-burning appliance (on or near the ceiling unless the maker's instructions say otherwise), and interconnected alarms in a house with a secondary suite.
CO sources in Halifax homes
In the Halifax area, the main heating energy is oil for 23% of households (Statistics Canada, 2023). Any fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage is a potential CO source.
Single-detached houses make up 48% of Halifax's households; many have an attached garage, another reason to put an alarm near the door into the house.
What a CO check involves
- Alarms next to sleeping areas and on every storey, tested monthly and replaced by their end-of-life date (usually 7 to 10 years).
- Annual service of fuel-burning appliances by a licensed technician.
- A combustion spillage test during an energy evaluation, which catches a venting problem before it produces CO.
Our carbon monoxide guide · Combustion safety testing in Halifax
Carbon monoxide testing in Halifax: common questions
Are carbon monoxide alarms mandatory in Halifax?
Nova Scotia's building code requires CO alarms in new homes with a fuel-burning appliance or attached garage, but older homes don't have to be retrofitted; the province recommends them.
Where should CO alarms go in Nova Scotia?
New homes with a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage need a CO alarm under the building code; older homes don't have to be retrofitted unless a building official or fire inspector orders it. Nova Scotia's fire safety rules require CO alarms to be inspected, tested and maintained following the manufacturer's instructions. For new houses, the National Building Code 2020 (Article 9.32.3.9) requires a CO alarm inside each bedroom or within 5 m outside each bedroom door when the home has a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, an alarm in any room with a solid-fuel-burning appliance (on or near the ceiling unless the maker's instructions say otherwise), and interconnected alarms in a house with a secondary suite.
How long do CO alarms last?
Most have an end-of-life date of 7 to 10 years printed on the unit; replace them by then even if they still beep when tested.