Religion vs smoke alarms

[oldr_n_wsr]

I would guess the latter. The builders who built the extension on my house (over ten years ago) had to put "hard wired" smoke detectors in the addition. The main part of the house didn't have to have them as it was an existing structure. Of course I have a smoke detector in every room of the existing structure along with 2 CO detectors.

[Lord Jim]

I think one thing that would be relevant to know is how many house fires there have been in Amish homes over the past few decades...(rather than just assuming their life style would make home fires more likely.)

[Lord Jim]

"the building code says so, and therefore you must".

If that's what's going on here...If they're going to take the position, "screw your religion, you'll do it because we say so" then they are really on weak ground.

There's no way that a building code per se is going to trump The First Amendment.

[oldr_n_wsr]

IT's code.
From here
http://fivecat.wordpress.com/2008/03/25 ... tial-code/

Smoke Alarms: New York State Residential Code
Published March 25, 2008 Building Codes , Fire Safety

In January, New York State began enforcing a new version of the Building Code. We receive many questions about smoke alarms. Where are they required? Do they need to be hardwired?

Well, here is the text from the 2007 Residential Code of New York State:

[F] R313.1 Smoke alarms. Smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations:

1. In each sleeping room.
2. Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
3. On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics.
In dwellings or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.
When more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed.
Exception: Interconnection is not required where smoke alarms are permitted to be battery operated in accordance with Section R313.1.2 .
All smoke alarms shall be listed and installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and the household fire warning equipment provisions of NFPA 72.
And here is Section R313.1.2:
[F] R313.1.2 Power source. In new construction, the required smoke alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring when such wiring is served from a commercial source, or an on-site electrical power system and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection. Smoke alarms shall be permitted to be battery operated when installed in buildings without commercial power or an on-site electrical power system or in buildings that undergo repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition or relocation in accordance with Appendix J .
And from Appendix J:
AJ504.2 Smoke alarms. When interior alterations occur in existing dwellings, the individual dwelling unit shall be provided with smoke alarms located as required for new dwellings; the smoke alarms shall be interconnected and hard wired.

Exception: Except for bed and breakfast dwellings, smoke alarms in existing areas shall not be required to be interconnected and hard wired where interior wall or ceiling finishes are not removed to expose the structure.

The complete New York State Building Codes are available online here.

[Scooter]

If they're going to take the position, "screw your religion, you'll do it because we say so" then they are really on weak ground.

There's no way that a building code per se is going to trump The First Amendment.

Except that if the infringement of religious belief is merely incidental to a regulation that applies to everyone, whose intent is not to infringe on religious freedom, it may be allowable. Ratafarians are not permitted to ignore criminal laws against possession of marijuana just because their religion says they are supposed to smoke it.

[Big RR]

That's true Scooter, but then the interest the state is seeking to promote by the regulation must be a compelling one to permit it to abridge religious freedom. Stopping the use of illicit drugs has been ruled by the courts to be such an interest; I don't know if this would rise to the same level.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Amish "human smoke detectors" alert the local brigade to a potential blaze



"We thinkest it be coming from that direction, brother"

[The Hen]

Are those STRAW hats they are wearing?

Looks like it wont be long before they are a thing of the past.

[MajGenl.Meade]

All new straw hats are required to have smoke detectors

[Gob]

[MajGenl.Meade]

Those look more like New Order Mennonites to me. Their dress just isn't right for the Amish I knew in Ohio and PA but NO Mennonites are far more relaxed - drive cars, use electricity and such

[Gob]

New Order? True faith?

[rubato]

My wife had a lot of patients who were Apostolic Lutherans in Washington State. They didn't allow television in the home so when Mom was in the hospital giving birth the whole family would be in there watching TV the whole time (they also don't allow the use of birth control so they often had 10+ kids).



yrs,
rubato

[MajGenl.Meade]

I guess they would be the market for the 9-months in advance TV Guide project that Joe's been working on then

[rubato]

When I said 'the whole time" I meant that during the entire operation everyone was there watching TV. Contractions, birth, legs wide open, the WHOLE time.

Rather a frightening example of the power of television.

yrs,
rubato