Carbon monoxide alarms required in all single-family
homes on Aug. 1st

All single-family homes in Minnesota will be required to have an approved and operational carbon monoxide (CO) alarm installed within 10 feet of each bedroom. This requirement is the second phase of the 2006 legislation that requires all single- and multi-family dwellings to be equipped with CO alarms by August 2009. The first phase of this law requires all newly constructed single- and multi-family dwellings built after Jan. 1, 2007 to install CO alarms. Phase three, which goes into effect Aug. 1, 2009, will require that all existing multi-family dwellings also have operational alarms installed. Violation of the law is a misdemeanor and could result in a criminal and/or financial penalty. It is nearly identical in nature to smoke detector legislation passed in the late 1970s. CO is produced when a material burns in an environment where not enough oxygen is available. Referred to as the “silent killer,” it is a colorless, odorless and deadly gas. High levels of CO are extremely dangerous and can cause death within minutes. Without an alarm to alert individuals of increased levels, it can go completely undetected. Although they may not always be exhibited, symptoms of CO poisoning can range from a mild headache and breathlessness to flu-like symptoms including dizziness and nausea. Culprits of increased CO in homes can include furnaces, gas or kerosene space heaters, boilers, gas stoves, water heaters, clothes dryers, fireplaces, charcoal grills, wood stoves, lawn mowers, power generators and running motor vehicles. When purchasing a CO detector, the Edina Fire Department recommends getting one with a digital read-out, since that is the only way to know exactly how much CO is present when an alarm sounds. The Department also recently received grant money to purchase a CO Oximeter, a machine that checks the CO level of patients who have had heavy or long-term exposure to CO. Edina is one of the first ambulance services or fire departments to utilize this brand new technology.

For more information on CO and CO poisoning, visit the State Fire Marshal’s website at www.fire.
state.mn.us/CO/CO.htm or call the Edina Fire Department at 952-826-0330.

Building Inspections Department offers online permits for some residential projects -

To better serve its customers, the Edina Building Inspections Department in June launched “ePermits”
for some residential building projects. The permits allow residents and contractors to apply for, obtain
and pay for certain types of building permits from the City’s website, www.CityofEdina.com/Building.
ePermits are only available for residential permits that do not require a plan review or site plan approval.
ePermits include residing or reroofing, furnace replacement, air conditioning (new or replacement),
water softener, fireplace, gas piping, lawn sprinkler, garage heater, water heater and ventilation.
Following the lead of other area cities, including Lakeville, Minnetonka, New Hope, St. Louis Park and
Shakopee, Chief Building Official Steve Kirchman has been working with Local Government Information
Systems (LOGIS) for more than a year to develop Edina’s ePermit process. Since the LOGIS system
was launched in 2003, more than 29,000 permits have been successfully acquired without significant
problems. “This follows the City’s goal of a ‘virtual’ City Hall to provide round-the-clock service,” said
Kirchman, who pointed out that the City has been offering online registration and other forms of
e-commerce for more than five years. “Residents and contractors have encouraged us to develop an
ePermit process and we are pleased to have delivered it to them.” Payment for ePermits is made with a
credit card. At this time, only VISA and Mastercard are accepted. Customers print out the permits from
the site or print from an email received at the time of the sale. Residents and contractors are also able
to view the status of a permit from the site. Residents and contractors can also obtain these permits
and others for projects that require site plan approval or plan review by visiting the Building Inspections
Department at City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St., 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Building project
information sheets, permit requirements and permit applications for download are also available on the
City’s website.

For more information, contact the Building Inspections Department, 952-826-0372, or visit www.
CityofEdina.com/Building.