According to statistics from the Italian Gas Commission (CIG), there were 136 methane-related accidents in Italy in 2023, resulting in 7 deaths; in addition, 98 accidents involving liquefied petroleum gas also occurred, resulting in 8 deaths. The situation related to carbon monoxide is even more serious.
The "Law of December 15, 2023" was published in the Official Gazette. The new legislation stipulates that houses and apartments rented for tourism purposes are obliged to install carbon monoxide, combustible gas detectors and fire extinguishers.
The short-term rentals mentioned in the regulations mainly refer to holiday homes, homestays, Airbnb hosts, and tourist accommodation facilities (including hotels and non-hotels) for tourists to rent or short-term rentals (less than 30 days).
In addition to installing detectors, homeowners who meet the above conditions also need to apply for the new national identification code CIN.
Application period:
- CIN will be effective from September 1, 2024
- For new registrations: 60 days from the date of publication of the notification in the Official Gazette to apply for CIN
- For homeowners who already have a CIR (Regional Identification Code), it will take 120 days to convert to CIN
How to apply:
Submit an application request through the BDSR (Accommodation Facilities Database) platform at https://bdsr.ministeroturismo.gov.it/. Before applying, you need to prepare the following information:
- Login using SPID or CIE
- Provide property cadastral data
- Record compliance with safety requirements
- Wait for verification and code assignment
Sanctions:
- If CIN is missing, a fine of 800-8000 euros
- If CIN is not displayed, a fine of 500-5000 euros
- If equipment required for safety is missing: a fine of 600-6000 euros
- If SCIA (Segnalazione Certificata di Inizio Attività) is not provided for entrepreneurial activities: a fine of 2000-10000 euros. (Click to see how to obtain SCIA)
Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements
Certificate - Regulations require that carbon monoxide detectors must comply with the European standard EN 50291, which is intended for use in domestic environments. Using an electrochemical cell sensor, a carbon monoxide detector can signal whether the carbon monoxide content in a room exceeds a safe level. Under normal circumstances, the alarm will sound immediately if the carbon monoxide concentration exceeds 300ppm within 3 minutes. A concentration of 300ppm means that the human body will experience severe poisoning symptoms and may even cause death by suffocation. Therefore, it is crucial to have a detector that accurately detects carbon monoxide concentrations. During use, keep the room well ventilated and avoid behaviors such as closing doors and windows for a long time to reduce the risk of excessive carbon monoxide concentrations.
Installation location - It must be placed in all environments where there is a fuel system, such as kitchens, bathrooms or boiler rooms. For correct measurement, the maximum distance between the carbon monoxide detector and any device that may release gas or CO is 15 meters (recomindustriale, 2024.03) . 1 to 3 meters away from burning appliances such as cookers or boilers. If it is placed on the wall, it must be 15 cm from the ceiling.
Requirements for gas detectors
Certificate - It is necessary to ensure that methane and LPG detectors comply with the European standard EN 50194. This certification specifies the general requirements for the construction, testing and performance of electrically powered devices for the detection of flammable gases (antincendionatalini, n.d). In the methane and LPG versions, they are calibrated to detect gas concentrations equal to 10% of the LEL (lower explosion limit). This value is the alarm value of the gas detector, which means that the flammable gas content only reaches ten percent of its lower explosion limit, which is generally a first alarm. When it exceeds 20%, it is a second alarm.
Installation - For gas detectors, avoid battery-powered types, as the catalytic sensor must remain hot at all times to react to the gas that may be present. We recommend the socket-type. Methane and LPG gas detectors have slightly different installation requirements. Methane gas detectors must be installed no more than 30 cm from the ceiling. LPG gas detectors must be installed a maximum of 30 cm from the floor. Both must be within 1 to 4 meters of combustion equipment using gas (antincendionatalini, n.d).
When installing carbon monoxide detectors and gas detectors, please do not forget to maintain them regularly to ensure accurate detection. As an owner, if you do not want to lose customers and be fined, please install carbon monoxide detectors and gas detectors for your house as soon as possible. If you have any technical and installation questions, you can contact us and we will help you.
Reference:
[1] antincendionatalini (n.d.). https://www.antincendionatalini.com/obbligo-rilevatori-gas-combustibili-e-monossido-affitti-brevi/
[2] Recomindustriale (2024,.03). https://www.recomindustriale.com/affitti-brevi-obbligo-di-rilevatori-di-monossido-di-carbonio-e-gas/
