Edwardsville, IL – Much like the Illinois Smoke Detector Act, the new Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm Detector Act in Illinois hopes to save lives.
In 2006, the Act was passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by the governor.
Known as Public Act 094-0741, the new law will require owners of homes and buildings with sleeping facilities to install and maintain CO detectors.
The law will become effective on Jan. 1, 2007.
Edwardsville Fire Chief Brian Wilson said the intent of this law is to protect people from CO related illness or death.
CO is a gas that is produced when gasoline, propane, natural gas, oil, wood, coal and tobacco are burned.
Under the new law, anyone who has a type of fossil fuel burning appliance in their home will be required to install and maintain a CO detector.
However, Wilson did note the act does exempt buildings that do not rely on combustion of fossil fuel for heat, ventilation or hot water and is not connected to an enclosed garage and is not sufficiently close to any ventilated source of carbon monoxide as to be at risk from those gases.
However, final determination of whether a building is exempt is left up to the local building commissioner to determine.
In addition to all home owners, the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act will require all building owners such as those who own apartment complexes to install carbon monoxide detectors in all dwelling units within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping purposes.
The failure by the building owner to comply with this act is a Class B criminal misdemeanor and a second offense can result in prosecution for a Class 4 Felony.
Wilson said the law allows for fines to be levied for non-compliance if either a smoke detector or CO detector is either not present or not in operational condition, such as a dead battery.