Despite the recent carbon monoxide-related poisoning of students in a Virginia dormitory, Penn State students living on campus are at no risk for similar death by suffocation, Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said.

There were no carbon monoxide detectors in the dorm building at Roanoke College in Salem Va., where a carbon monoxide (CO) leak is suspected of killing an elderly man and hospitalizing dozens of students and adults.

Kendig said Penn State also does not have carbon monoxide detectors in its dorm facilities. However, there is no potential source of carbon monoxide to threaten students' health, he said.

"We do not have any centralized CO sources that could cause injury to students, staff or others," Kendig said. "If we did have sources, it would be prudent to install detectors, and we would quickly make that investment. But there is no need at this point."

But this doesn't apply to off-campus housing. The odorless gas that sickened the people at Roanoke College could also put State College apartment residents at risk, Centre Region Code Administration Senior Fire and Housing Inspector Tim Knisley said.

Carbon monoxide sources are present in rental buildings that use a solid fuel heating system such as wood and coal, or a liquid fuel heating system such as gas or propane, Knisley said.

Knisley said a law was passed in December 2004 mandating that all rental buildings in Centre County have carbon monoxide detectors installed. The law took effect in January.

He said the changes were considered after two people died of carbon monoxide poisoning in December 2003 in Centre County. A third death occurred after the law was signed. None of the victims were students, and none of the deaths occurred downtown.

Knisley said according to the law, apartment buildings with carbon monoxide sources must have a detector on the floor of the source as well as the two floors above and below the source, if applicable.

If apartments choose to install detectors in the hallway of the surrounding floors, they must be interconnected, otherwise each apartment must have a detector.

Detectors are not required in every apartment, and Knisley said students would need to ask their landlord if they have met code.

Depending on the heating system used in the apartment building, some may not be required to have any detectors.

Landlords of rental homes are required to have detectors installed as well, Knisley said. Placement of the detectors is determined by a Centre Region Code official.