U.S. State CO Risk Assessment Report

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a pervasive yet preventable threat in the United States, causing significant harm each year. Recognizing the urgency of this “silent killer,” UL Standards & Engagement has developed the CO Risk Assessment to evaluate each U.S. state’s code and regulatory efforts, health outcomes, and public awareness.

EXPLORE RESULTS BY STATE

Click the plus icon to view state-specific results and 1-pagers.

Overview Map

The assessment draws on multiple data sources across the last two decades to ensure a comprehensive assessment across public health outcomes, state-level mandates for indoor CO detector presence, and public awareness measures. These three pillars — weighted at 40%, 35%, and 25%, respectively — produce an overall weighted score out of 100 for each state. The weighting approach balances the diverse factors affecting CO safety, ensuring that the assessment reflects each component’s relative impact on public health.

Public Awareness Pillar Spotlight:

Americans Unaware of CO Risks

The assessment reveals significant disparities in CO safety across states. These gaps are amplified by the confusion many Americans have around CO detection. As noted in ULSE’s 2024 report, Understanding the Silent Threat, 36% of U.S. adults (about 86 million people) have no means of detecting CO leaks in their homes, and nearly 3 in 10 mistakenly believe that having a smoke alarm means they do not need a separate CO alarm.

In public spaces, half of Americans assume CO detectors are required and do not worry about
exposure, while 46% of travelers are unconcerned when staying in hotels or rentals because they believe every state mandates CO alarms. Generator-related incidents remain a pressing
concern, as an estimated 29 million Americans own portable generators, yet 62% of these owners do not feel at risk of CO poisoning — often using the devices improperly and increasing the risk of CO buildup.

Public Awareness & Behavior scores were calculated using survey data from ULSE’s nationally representative surveys of U.S. adults between August 2023 and August 2024, capturing CO alarm ownership, safe generator usage, and general knowledge of CO risks. View the full report for additional methodology.

By the Numbers

Hover over each stat below to learn more about CO awareness gaps.

36%

More than one-third of U.S. homes have no CO detection: One-third (36%) of U.S. adults — 86.2 million individuals — have no means of detecting CO leaks in their homes.

Standards like UL 2034, which requires fixed and portable CO alarms to be functional, reliable, and to report before CO reaches deadly levels, is one of more than 75 standards in our catalog that address carbon monoxide safety in residential, commercial, and industrial environments.

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Assumed CO protection in public places: Despite an inconsistent patchwork of requirements and codes across states, Americans are largely not concerned with CO in public settings like churches, daycares, restaurants, and hotels.

Unfortunately, only 14 U.S. states currently require CO alarms in short-term lodging. Our standard, UL 2034, covers portable CO alarms, which travelers can carry to help protect them wherever they stay.

Four Tiers of CO Safety

Each state’s final weighted score is translated into a tier — from CO Safety Champion (the highest tier) to CO Safety Leader, CO Safety Advocate, or CO Safety Starter (the lowest tier) — highlighting how effectively it has addressed CO safety across the three pillars.

EXPLORE RESULTS BY TieR

Hover over each tier to learn about each and view state-specific results.

CO Safety Champions

Six states are in this tier.

CO Safety Champions are the highest-scoring states in the country and lead the way in protecting their residents. These six states rank at the top in every category and are exemplary of the gold standard for CO safety. They generally mandate CO detectors in both new and existing buildings, run year-round public awareness efforts, and demonstrate strong interagency coordination to ensure compliance. Many have also instituted targeted emergency protocols to address higher CO risks during storms or power outages.

States in this tier are New Jersey, Virginia, Vermont, Alabama, California, and Arkansas.

CO Safety Leader

Twelve states are in this tier.

These 12 states are strong performers with well-rounded efforts. There is still room for further improvement to reach the top tier. CO Safety Leaders perform well across most metrics but have a few gaps preventing them from reaching the CO Safety Champion tier. While they typically have broad CO alarm requirements and effective seasonal awareness drives, some states could benefit from more consistent enforcement or better coverage for older structures. With an added focus on uniform inspection protocols and year-round outreach, they could advance to the top tier.

States in this tier include Washington, New York, Maryland, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Utah, Arizona, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut.

CO Safety Advocates

Nineteen states are in this tier.

CO Safety Advocate states, the largest group in the assessment, have basic code and regulatory frameworks in place and are improving in health outcomes, yet they often lack robust public awareness campaigns. Many states in this category require CO alarms only in newer buildings, leaving existing homes less protected. Strengthening CO detector mandates, along with educational efforts, would help them make the leap to CO Safety Leader status.

States in this tier include Washington, D.C., Indiana, Oregon, Massachusetts, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Wyoming, Iowa, Minnesota, Tennessee, Idaho, Kentucky, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Maine, Florida, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Montana.

CO Safety Starters

Thirteen states are in this tier.

These 13 are at an early stage of implementing CO safety measures. Statewide regulations are limited or absent, relying heavily on local rules or voluntary adoption. Public education is minimal, with few resources dedicated to CO awareness. Adopting comprehensive codes, expanding inspection requirements, and allocating funds for consistent public engagement would significantly enhance safety in these areas.

States in this tier include: Alaska, Nevada, Illinois, West Virginia, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Louisiana, Hawaii, Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri.

Recommendations by Tier

Explore actionable steps your state can take to improve CO safety.

CO Safety Champion

Sustain and Evolve Public Awareness Campaigns: Continue public education on CO risks, symptoms, and prevention measures via social media, schools, community events, and regular public service announcements during high-risk times for your state, updating content as new risks and technologies emerge.
Expand Technology Integration: Promote the adoption of smart CO alarms that integrate with home automation systems, enabling realtime alerts and remote monitoring.
Conduct Regular Regulation Reviews: Periodically assess CO safety regulations to incorporate emerging technologies, address identified gaps, and align with evolving industry standards.
Advance Data Collection: Study CO poisonings that otherwise are missed by standard tracking techniques.

CO Safety Leader

Mandate Regular Alarm Maintenance: Require periodic inspections and maintenance of CO alarms by landlords, property owners, or certified technicians to ensure ongoing functionality.
Broaden Stakeholder Involvement:
Engage local governments, community organizations, and industry stakeholders in regular training and awareness sessions to further integrate CO safety into everyday practices.
Confirm Alarm Longevity/Reliability: Promote adoption of CO alarms that adhere to safety standards.
Expand Tracking and Information: Increase tracked details of CO poisonings and publish reports for public use (sources, severity, other
determinants)

CO Safety Advocate

Build on Mandatory Installations: Continue enforcing basic alarm requirements as established at the Starter level.
Enhance Public Outreach: Launch targeted campaigns to educate vulnerable populations (e.g., renters, elderly, and low-income households) and stakeholders (doctors, HVAC technicians, construction, firefighters) and establish statewide CO awareness programs.
Encourage Alarm Installation: Offer financial incentives for low-income or vulnerable households to install CO alarms that adhere to safety standards.
Strengthen Enforcement Mechanisms: Implement penalties for non-compliance with CO safety regulations to ensure accountability

CO Safety Starter

Mandate Basic CO Alarm Requirements: Require CO alarms that adhere to safety standards in all new and existing commercial, mixed use, and residential buildings.
Launch Initial Public Outreach: Launch targeted campaigns to educate vulnerable populations (e.g., renters, elderly, and low-income households) and establish statewide CO awareness programs.
Develop Emergency Response Programs: Train first responders and healthcare professionals to handle CO poisoning cases effectively.
Collaborate with Federal Agencies: Seek guidance and resources from organizations like the CDC to develop robust CO safety initiatives.
Monitor and Evaluate Progress: Establish systems to track CO-related incidents and measure the effectiveness of new policies.

Recommendations by Tier

Explore actionable steps your state can take to improve CO safety.

CO Safety Champion

Sustain and Evolve Public Awareness Campaigns: Continue public education on CO risks, symptoms, and prevention measures via social media, schools, community events, and regular public service announcements during high-risk times for your state, updating content as new risks and technologies emerge.

Expand Technology Integration: Promote the adoption of smart CO alarms that integrate with home automation systems, enabling realtime alerts and remote monitoring.

Conduct Regular Regulation Reviews: Periodically assess CO safety regulations to incorporate emerging technologies, address identified gaps, and align with evolving industry standards.

Advance Data Collection: Study CO poisonings that otherwise are missed by standard tracking techniques.

CO Safety Leader

Mandate Regular Alarm Maintenance: Require periodic inspections and maintenance of CO alarms by landlords, property owners, or certified technicians to ensure ongoing functionality.

Broaden Stakeholder Involvement:
Engage local governments, community organizations, and industry stakeholders in regular training and awareness sessions to further integrate CO safety into everyday practices.

Confirm Alarm Longevity/Reliability: Promote adoption of CO alarms that adhere to safety standards.

Expand Tracking and Information: Increase tracked details of CO poisonings and publish reports for public use (sources, severity, other
determinants)

CO Safety Advocate

Build on Mandatory Installations: Continue enforcing basic alarm requirements as established at the Starter level.

Enhance Public Outreach: Launch targeted campaigns to educate vulnerable populations (e.g., renters, elderly, and low-income households) and stakeholders (doctors, HVAC technicians, construction, firefighters) and establish statewide CO awareness programs.

Encourage Alarm Installation: Offer financial incentives for low-income or vulnerable households to install CO alarms that adhere to safety standards.

Strengthen Enforcement Mechanisms: Implement penalties for non-compliance with CO safety regulations to ensure accountability

CO Safety Starter

Mandate Basic CO Alarm Requirements: Require CO alarms that adhere to safety standards in all new and existing commercial, mixed use, and residential buildings.

Launch Initial Public Outreach: Launch targeted campaigns to educate vulnerable populations (e.g., renters, elderly, and low-income households) and establish statewide CO awareness programs.

Develop Emergency Response Programs: Train first responders and healthcare professionals to handle CO poisoning cases effectively.

Collaborate with Federal Agencies: Seek guidance and resources from organizations like the CDC to develop robust CO safety initiatives.

Monitor and Evaluate Progress: Establish systems to track CO-related incidents and measure the effectiveness of new policies.

Overall, the CO Risk Assessment serves as both a benchmark and a call to action. These findings emphasize that effective CO safety requires a mix of well-enforced policies, targeted public outreach, and consistent adoption of safe practices. Even the highest scoring states have opportunities to strengthen detection requirements, expand public education, and ensure equitable enforcement. By identifying best practices and areas for improvement, ULSE seeks to foster greater collaboration among regulatory agencies, industry leaders, and public health advocates. States that prioritize stronger CO safety policies and widespread education will be better positioned to prevent future tragedies, saving lives and ensuring
safer environments for all residents

Overview Map

Public Awareness Pillar Spotlight:

Americans Unaware of CO Risks

36%

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Four Tiers of CO Safety

CO Safety Champions

CO Safety Leader

CO Safety Advocates

CO Safety Starters

Recommendations by Tier

CO Safety Champion

CO Safety Leader

CO Safety Advocate

CO Safety Starter

Recommendations by Tier

CO Safety Champion

CO Safety Leader

CO Safety Advocate

CO Safety Starter

Ready to Learn More?

In Partnership With:

U.S. State CO Risk Assessment Report

Overview Map

Texas

California

Washington

North Carolina

South Carolina

New Jersey

Arkansas

Washington, DC

Maryland

Delaware

New Hampshire

Massachuettes

Rhode Island

Connecticut

Virginia

Alabama

New York

Maine

Vermont

Florida

Louisiana

Missouri

Iowa

Nebraska

North Dakota

South Dakota

Wyoming

Montana

Idaho

Nevada

Arizona

Utah

New Mexico

Colorado

Oregon

Kansas

Oklahoma

Alaska

Georgia

West Virginia

Pennsylvania

Ohio

Indiana

Wisconsin

Minnesota

Michigan

Illinois

Kentucky

Tennessee

Mississippi

Public Awareness Pillar Spotlight:

Americans Unaware of CO Risks

36%

1/2

Four Tiers of CO Safety

CO Safety Champions

CO Safety Leader

CO Safety Advocates

CO Safety Starters

Recommendations by Tier

CO Safety Champion

CO Safety Leader

CO Safety Advocate

CO Safety Starter

Recommendations by Tier

CO Safety Champion

CO Safety Leader

CO Safety Advocate

CO Safety Starter

Ready to Learn More?

In Partnership With: