New Smoke Alarm Guidelines

As part of the Public and Federally Assisted Housing Fire Safety Act of 2022, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is requiring all properties that participate in federally assisted housing programs, including the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Project-Based Voucher (PBV) programs to implement updated standards related to the type of smoke detectors allowed in federally assisted units. The new standards will go into effect on December 29, 2024. Key provisions include: 

• Properties that are currently using smoke alarms with replaceable batteries, will be required to upgrade them to sealed battery units or hardwired models before the deadline.
• Smoke alarms must have a sealed, tamper-resistant battery with a 10-year lifespan.
• Smoke alarms must be hardwired in units built or substantially rehabilitated after the enactment of the law.

 For more information, click here to view HUD’s NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF REAL ESTATE (NSPIRE) Standards.