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Smoke alarms to become mandatory in old homes, motels, hotels

Homes and hotel or motel rooms built before 1979 must have smoke alarms installed by May 1, the provincial housing and social development ministry said Friday.

Homes and hotel or motel rooms built before 1979 must have smoke alarms installed by

May 1, the provincial housing and social development ministry said Friday.

Owners of these older buildings can install battery-operated smoke alarms, rather than connecting smoke alarms to the buildings' electrical system.

Buildings built after 1979 were required to have smoke alarms, and most municipalities have established bylaws that require smoke alarms be installed and maintained.

There are about 800,000 residential buildings in B.C. constructed before 1979.

For more information: housing.gov.bc.ca/building/consultation/smoke_alarms/index.html.