First Alert, a well-known brand associated with home safety, along with health and safety officials, have issued a timely reminder to the public: the need to replace CO alarms as they approach expiration.

According to First Alert, in 2011, North Dakota was among a dozen states that

enacted the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC 2009), which required CO alarms in newly constructed one- and two- bedroom homes. CO alarms installed when North Dakota enacted IRC 2009 are likely now due for replacement.

Taking into consideration the number of houses that were rehabilitated after the 2011 flood, and new construction related to oil development going on in the same time period, a large number of CO detectors in Minot are potentially in need of replacement or will be soon.