The ChesGuard CG-GD1 is a battery powered alarm, so fitting it is a mounting job rather than an electrical one. There is no wiring, no plug and no permit involved. In qualifying existing buildings, New York City rule 1 RCNY 908-02(g) allows a battery powered alarm to be installed by the building owner, by maintenance personnel or by the occupant. Different power requirements may apply to buildings completed on or after January 1, 2027. Everything you need apart from the tools is in the box, and it is worth reading the whole page before you drill, because the location matters more than the mounting does.
Install In Eight Steps
Important. Switch the power on before mounting. Test the alarm before and after installation. Follow the complete User Manual supplied with the product.
What Is In The Box And What You Need
| Included | You Supply |
|---|---|
| ChesGuard CG-GD1 alarm with a built-in lithium battery | Drill |
| Mounting back plate | Drill bit sized for the supplied anchors |
| Supplied mounting hardware, a set of screws and anchors | Screwdriver |
| Product manual, English and Spanish | Cable ties, only if you are mounting to a pipe |
The lithium battery is built into the unit and is never removed or replaced. The battery is designed to last approximately 10 years from the date of activation, and the alarm reaches the end of its service life approximately 10 years after the installation date, at which point the whole unit is replaced.
Where To Install
The placement rule in one sentence. Install the CG-GD1 on a wall in the same room as the gas appliance, 3 to 10 feet horizontally from the appliance, 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling, and at least 5 feet from a cooking appliance or cooktop hood.
Natural gas is methane, and methane is lighter than air, so a leak rises and collects near the ceiling. That single fact drives every placement rule below. Mount the alarm high, in the same room as the appliance, and far enough from the appliance that normal operation does not set it off.
New York City compliance placement. If you are installing to satisfy Local Law 157, these are the legal requirements and they take priority.
- In the same room as the fuel gas burning appliance
- At least 3 feet and no more than 10 feet from the appliance, measured horizontally
- No more than 12 inches from the ceiling
- Closer than 3 feet only where the space genuinely does not allow the separation, or where the manufacturer's instructions or NFPA 715-2023 require otherwise
ChesGuard placement guidance. These figures come from the product manual and are about avoiding nuisance alarms. They sit comfortably inside the legal window above.
- On a wall, 6 to 12 inches (152 to 305 mm) below the ceiling
- At least 5 feet (1.5 m) from cooking appliances or a cooktop hood
- At least 3 feet (0.9 m) and no more than 10 feet (3 m) from gas appliances
- Where the space does not allow 3 feet, the alarm may sit closer provided it is not affected by heat or exhaust gas
How many you need. One or more alarms may be required in each dwelling unit. Every fuel-gas-burning appliance must be covered by an alarm installed in the same room and within the required placement distance. One alarm may cover multiple appliances only when a single compliant location serves all of them. An apartment with a range in the kitchen and a gas dryer in a separate laundry room will normally need two alarms.
Local Law 157 sets the minimum for compliance. The list below is the coverage the manufacturer recommends for a home, and most homes will want more than the legal minimum.
- One inside each bedroom where the door is closed during sleep
- One centrally located outside each separate sleeping area
- One on each level of a multi level home
- One in the same room as each gas fired appliance
Where Not To Install
Improper placement may delay detection, prevent gas from reaching the sensor, or cause nuisance alarms. Avoid all of the following.
- Garages, crawl spaces and unfinished attics
- Dusty, dirty or greasy areas, which clog the sensor
- Within 10 feet (3 m) of a bath, a shower, a sauna, a humidifier, a vaporizer or a dishwasher, where steam and humidity can reach the sensor
- Behind curtains, behind doors or behind heavy furniture
- In turbulent air from ceiling fans, air vents, air conditioning or an open window
- In very hot or very cold unheated spaces, outside the 32 F to 120.2 F operating range
- In hazardous locations as defined by NFPA 70
What A Correct Test Looks Like
Press the TEST button on the front of the alarm. All of the LEDs light up, the green LED then flashes three times, and the red and the yellow LEDs turn on and remain solid. That sequence means the alarm is powered and working. If you get no response at all, check that the power switch on the back is fully on, and if it still does not respond contact support@chesguard.com rather than leaving it on the wall.
Never test the alarm with a cigarette lighter. Lighters burn propane, and the CG-GD1 detects methane only, so the test proves nothing and introduces an open flame into a room you are trying to protect.
Mounting To A Pipe
The alarm can be secured to a gas pipe or a similar vertical run where drilling into the wall is not practical, for example in a plant room or against a masonry surface. Cable ties are not supplied in the box, so you will need to provide your own. Pass two ties through the holes at the top of the alarm, wrap them around the pipe, and draw them tight enough that the unit cannot rotate or slide down. All of the placement rules above still apply, so check the height and the distance from the appliance before you fix it in position.
After You Install
- Write the installation date somewhere you will find it again. The service life is approximately 10 years from activation, and New York City owners are required to keep a record of the manufacturer's stated useful life.
- Press TEST once a week. The manual specifies weekly testing.
- Keep the alarm clean. Wipe the outside with a dry cloth and vacuum the vents gently. Never spray cleaner, polish or air freshener at it.
- Never attempt to remove the battery. It is built into the unit and removing it disables the alarm permanently.
- Make sure everyone in the home knows what the alarm sounds like and what to do when it sounds.
What Each Signal Means
| Signal | What it means |
|---|---|
| A long beep sounding for 1 second and repeating on a 0.9 second cycle, with the red LED flashing every 2 seconds | Natural gas detected at 10% LEL. Evacuate. |
| Two beeps, yellow LED flashing twice every 60 seconds | Fault. The alarm needs servicing or replacing. |
| One beep, yellow LED flashing once every 60 seconds | Low battery. Replace the alarm. |
| Three beeps, yellow LED flashing three times every 60 seconds | End of service life, approximately 10 years after installation. Replace the alarm. |
If The Alarm Sounds
A long beep sounding for 1 second and repeating on a 0.9 second cycle, with the red LED flashing every 2 seconds, means natural gas has been detected at 10 percent of the lower explosive limit. Do not look for the leak yourself.
- Do not switch anything on or off, and do not use a light switch, a phone or a doorbell inside the property
- Do not light a match, a lighter or any other flame
- Open doors and windows on your way out if you can do so safely
- Shut off the gas supply at the meter only if the valve is safe to reach on your way out
- Leave the building, take everyone with you, and call 911 or your gas utility from outside
- Do not go back in until the utility or the fire service tells you it is safe
If you smell gas at any time, leave the area immediately and call 911 or your gas utility. Do not wait for the alarm to sound.
Once the gas has cleared, the alarm stops sounding and the red LED stops flashing on its own. There is no reset button and there is nothing to press.
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